Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Tips
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Question
Hey Taylor, I'm going to an audition for a small independent film soon. do you have any tips that would help me increase my chances in the audition process?
Thanks, Eric
Hi Eric,
If you can, hire a great acting coach for a session or two, in a one on one situation. It's worth the bucks! It's not "cheating", it's like tutoring, or more like a musician with a good producer who tells him what to ditch and what to save or emphasize!
Read the story, not the words. What does the character want in the scene? (That works GREAT in cold-read auditions) What would you do? What does he do? What is the difference in your personalities?
Learn, learn, LEARN the lines! Know them in your sleep!
The biggest thing? Learn the part several ways. Even if it seems ludicrous, learn it funny and sad and angry and apathetic, and way over the top. Learn it deadly serious or as a mentally challenged person. Why? Because a director will often ask you to "do it like:...." They just want to see how creative you can be as an actor. They want to direct you, but if they get stuck, they may need you to save their ass with something unique and brilliant!
If they ask you to do it a different way than you learned it, and you don't prepare some other delivery, I can GUARANTEE you will either: A. Do it exactly the same, even though you try not to, OR B. You will forget the lines on the spot. Trust me. It ain't pretty! I watched this happen in a workshop to 6 actors in a row! It has also happened to me. In real life. In front of a BIGTIME director. I licked my wounds and hobbled on, bleeding mentally, but wiser.
Best to you, break a leg Eric!
Taylor
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Answers by Expert:
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).
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