About 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).
Question my name is hannah and i'm 13. i really want, more than anything, to be
on disney channel. i know, i know. i am among thousands of millions of
people who share the same dream i do. i am familiar with the whole
finding an agent thing but i need to know if you can tell me, do i need
an agent who specificlly works with disney channel or no? i was sooooo
close to auditioning for jrp( john robert powers) but then my friends told
me it was a scam. i want a real agent who can really help me, and see, i
really want to do this, or at least get started, before i get too old. i guess
i am fortunate, because i live in california, because los angeles is not to
far away. my other question is; where can i find a good agent near me?
do you have any suggestions. i know the work and dedication this takes,
and i know i can do it! it is something i have always been interested in,
and now is my chance! please help me and thank you so much! this
means soooooooooooooo much to me!
hannah : )
Answer Hi Hannah,
Sorry for the delay, sounds like you dodged a bullet with JRP, they are definitely not the way to go!
You didn't mention experience in acting in your email. That is going to be needed to do what you want to do!
An agent is going to want to see that you have had experience, I am not sure how they feel about Screen Actors Guild eligibility, as I know older talent is expected to be
eligible as a general rule. An agent represents you for everything -not just Disney shows. You will need headshots to get an agent, of course, and that will cost some money. You will need a photographer who shoots those kind of pictures for a living, not a mall store photographer. Then, you will need copies and there are services on the web to locate them. You will need to also look on the web (google "acting resumes" for examples) to put together a resume to staple to the back of each picture (two staples at top only, spaced about 6 inches apart). The headshot/resume should be trimmed to match in size to each other. Then you will send them with a note saying you are seeking representation in the Los Angeles area. You can look up talent agents for the area in google. Do not put height, weight, age on your resume...DO put skating, dancing, singing...whatever it is that you can do under "abilities". Put down classes you have taken (as a substitute for experience, if you have none).
