Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/PLEASE HELP ME

Advertisement

Expert: - 6/27/2007


Question
My dream is to be an actress you have no idea how long i have wanted to do it. and i have tried so hard but i dont know where to start. How can i start becoming an actress and get agents and everything i need and to get int films and productions?? please answer.

Girl with HUGE dreams and wants to follow them,
Michelle

Answer
Hi Michelle,

How to start:

1. Get prepared.
"How do I get prepared?"  By taking classes. By auditioning for anything for any acting opportunity you can find in your area: school plays, community theater, local cable channel ads...anything that gets you up and performing, because it will give you practice and confidence. I audition for jobs I don't even want. Why? Because auditioning is a skill of it's own beyond acting. I know some actors who are excellent but don't book jobs because they haven't gotten the hang of auditioning.

What I recommend is taking classes, for at least a few months, then once you have a solid foundation, you can get your headshots and put together a resume of training and experience and start looking for agents.
Please refer to my archive of previous answers to find out more about that when you get to that point!

Break a Leg!
Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Taylor Sheppard

Expertise

I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.

Experience

I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.

Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).

Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.

Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.