Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 1/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Mr. Sheppard,

I'm Brooke and I'm a 17 year old senior at a performing arts high school.  First off, let me just say I COMPLETELY understand about acting being a tough business to get into and how timing, the look, and luck have a lot to do with it...and obviously skill as well.  

Another thing I'd like to say right off the bat is that because I understand how tough this business is, I'm going to try to possibly get into it in the smartest way I can (I want to get my bachelor's degree in communications in three years instead of four first and then possibly move to LA so I can have a good-paying job and be in the area for auditions).

Singing is my forte, but after transferring to a performing arts high school for my senior year, I've been taking acting lessons in school.  I fell in love with the art.  I'm not trying to come across as boastful because that's not my intentions, but I've found that I have a gift for it as well.  I had to do a monologue for a musical audition and I chose to do the scene at the end of West Side Story where Maria breaks down after Tony is shot.  I knew I was biting off a lot to chew on that one.  I did it for my mom and she cried.  I didn't really think much of it because, well, it's my mom haha but then I did it for my acting teacher and she cried too!  That was the really critical moment for me because I was so moved that I had the ability to move others so much with my acting.

My question is just what are some of the finer tips on acting I was reading about in your profile?  What are some things to avoid?  

Anything else you can add in to help me?

Thanks so much =)

ANSWER: Hi Brooke,

I'd swear I answered this question from you before. Maybe it didn't post successfully.

The most important thing in acting is listening.
In real life, people listen to the other person and then they react emotionally (or with lack of emotion sometimes) to what they have heard. You do not react with MORE emotion or less emotion, just the correct or appropriate amount. How do you do that? Focus. Being able to block out everything but the people and the situation you are in. When you can narrow down your focus, you can crawl into your imagination and believe, for the moment, that its really happening to you. If you "do" too much, it looks overdone and silly. If you do too little, you are boring to watch and wooden. People will believe if you just "BE" and don't "try" to act. My acting coach, James Harrell, taught me to act "as if" -not "like". If YOU were a princess, how would you eat a meal, greet people, brush your hair?
What responsibilities would you have to your people? (royalty has lots of responsibilities).

Watch people in public. What is it that they are "in to"?
A sports nut may be all about broadcasting his pride for his team or that he is "crazy" in his devotion by his stance, gestures. etc. Watch in real life how he carries himself. I spend a lot of time trying to put myself in situations that I will never be in, just to practice. What would it be like to know you will die in 6 months? What would you say to the doctor who told you the bad news? How would you tell your friends and family? What if you were trying to keep the news to yourself but act normal around everyone? Like I said, its great practice for your craft.

What else? Never be petty with others in the business. Welcome competition. It will work for you, not against you!
Never talk badly about anyone or yourself to anyone in the biz. It gets around! If you say "I have bad hair!" They will believe you after a while, even if you don't.

Do not tell your agent your troubles. They are not shrinks!
Do not complain about your part! Do whatever you have to do with love for your craft. "There are no small parts, just small actors!"
Don't act for fame or money. If those are your only goals, you will ruin your chances to be good and succeed. You will seek shortcuts and avoid doing the work necessary to be a great actor. Great actors always work. Guys who get "lucky" fade fast. Be patient, be dedicated, never give up! The darkest of times are followed by good.

Break a leg!

Taylor


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for the advice...one other thing that relates to the advice you gave me (being real and believable)...i recently went to an acting workshop. The workshop was for acting on screen (not for musicals and plays).  A piece of advice that the director gave me was not to push my voice so much. He said that I have the emotions necessary but not to try as much and it'll be believable.  

I think part of the reason i have this problem is because i'm used to acting in musicals where everything has to be bigger to register on stage.  I understand what he's saying but do you have any advice on how I can actually do it?  I know i need to be in the moment and focus on what's going on...

Answer
Hi Brooke,

That is a problem which has plagued actors switching from theater too film forever. You are not the first by a long-shot. I don't know a magic bullet for it. It is easier to start with film and go to theater, I think.

Practice will make perfect. The more you work at it, the sooner it will come. Just resist the urge to "perform". Microphones will pick up whispers, no need to worry about getting your voice to carry. If you get hung up on this, you could pull your focus from your character and into being vigilant of your voice. Working with a coach to remind you should help you. Just do it until you get used to it. Be patient!

Best,

Taylor