Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/my child

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Expert: - 7/7/2007


Question
i have a 12 year old child with no prior acting skills but is doing well in Drama at school and she is very good at singing. Is there any where i could get her into the acting path? i live in basingstoke (not far from London)

Answer
Hi Pamela,
Sorry for the delayed response! It's one of those weird quirks of this life I lead, NOTHING but nothing going on, then everything at once! Please forgive me!

It sounds like your daughter has a promising start! I will admit that I am a little stumped as to information on schools in your locale. I know of the big ones, but for her, she will need a leg up from a lower step, until she's a bit older.
I found these, however:

London Language and Drama School   
30 Brondesbury Park, London NW6 7DN - ENGLAND
TEL + 44 - 20 - 8830 0074  FAX + 44 - 20 - 8830 4992
Website http://www.startek-uk.com
E-mail enquiries@startek-uk.com

http://www.socapa.org/youthcamps.htm (Youth Film + Acting Camp)

http://www.nyfa.com/summer_camp/

Beware of John Robert Powers. I know no one who has been through them that speaks well of them.
Have her teachers been asked for their suggestions? They may be more familiar with good schools that are less well known. My first lessons were in university, but in the shadow of a bigger school and I feel I received a better education from the smaller classes and teacher/student ratio of interaction.
I would definitely keep up with the singing lessons. Here in America, the singers keep getting younger and younger! I think they must start training in diapers!
Hope this helps!
Best, Taylor  

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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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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