Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 9/26/2007

Question
Hello Taylor,

My name is Ryan and my question is what does it take to begin a SUCCESSFUL acting career? I am fully aware of the fact that the likelihood of an overnight success is VERY low so I am prepared to do the work necessary. However, i just don't know what to do...Could you help me?

Thank you very much,

Ryan

Answer
Hi Ryan,

I am glad you are willing to work hard to get there and know that it won't be overnight. Those don't really happen.

You didn't mention experience, so I would advise taking classes even if you have had experience because training never ends as an actor. You have to practice and exercise your abilities so as to have them ready and sharp. You don't want to practice at auditions or jobs.

Classes are important to develop skills for acting for cameras, auditioning, learning how to develop a character (breathe life into him), improvise on the spot and a multitude of other necessary tools.

You also need a killer headshot. That is your business card that represents you in the business. If you had a cheap, grainy card that was cut crooked and faded and of poor  quality, what would it say about you? Same as your headshot. It needs to be stellar-quality although, not airbrushed to death, as you must look like the headshots.

You should expect to pay around $300. or so just to get the headshots taken, then more for copies to give out to your agent, etc.

You will need a good agent as well. You may have to start off with one agent and as you get established, change if they are not representing you well. It is worth noting, that sometimes things get slow and your agent may not have anything for you at that time. So you have to be careful when you make that decision.
Be sure to attend mixers for industry events (casting, actors groups, etc.) they can be a great source of info to get you places. Also, without getting in the way, try to make friends with people on sets. Matthew McConaughey happened to have a friend who was bartending one night at an Austin hotel and he had come in to snag some drinks. The friend mentioned to him that there was a producer at a table for a movie that was getting ready to film. Matthew walked over and introduced himself and said he was in directing school (RTF) at the University of Texas. Well, he sat down and the producer said he thought there might be a part for him in his film by the end of the evening of drinking. Now part of it was Matt's charm and BS, but much of it was his taking the initiative. That is a lesson to learn. Be assertive, not pushy, but promote yourself!
Apply to imdb.com to list yourself and if your agent has a website and has a page for video links, film a clip that will show your best stuff. Usually they charge for the webmaster fee, but it is worth it!

Hope this tips have helped!

Best, Taylor