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Question
hi,
i know you must get many of these questions and are probaly tired of answering them. i have been interested in acting for around two years now and have been unable to do anything about it. my parents and family aint exactly the best help, my mam told me she didnt want to spend money on everything if i wasnt determened to carry it through . i love acting and open minded enough to make a career out of it. what has also pushed me is my english teacher that says i am a natural. i am only 14 years old and only have 2years left of school. please help im stuck!
thanks for reading and replying
blissx
Hi Bliss,
I can understand your mom's point. Does she have any reason to believe you pick up a "hobby" and then lose interest after a little while? (be honest with yourself)
Acting can be hard to stick with. The reality is that you may audition for lots of parts and not get one callback, then sometimes you will get a few in a row. Thing is, it is a lot of work to get to the point where you can get an agent and start to audition for roles. Can you study in classes for a year or more to start? You would definitely get an idea if you have talent that way.
I have had times where I got no jobs in a single year and then several jobs in one year. The only thing that kept me going was loving to act. If you are "seeing stars" and want to be famous and rich, please don't consider acting. You would only be disappointed. I am rich in that I have many wonderful stories of my career and have loved being allowed to be an actor. Do I have money? not really. Am I famous? To a few people, but fame fades quickly.
My advice is show mom that you are responsible, start reading a lot of books on acting, because you need to be very good at reading and writing to succeed in acting, and if it is REALLY what you want to do, don't...give...up...!
Best,
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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