Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 12/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my name is Gabriella. I'm fourteen years old and I really want to be an
actress. Currently I haven't had any past experience, and I live in Portland
Oregon, So there arrant many agents in my area.
Me and My friend Aimee are trying to get an agent, but first I need a few
questions answered.
I have no idea, whatsoever, what my resume should look like.
I know I need a picture, and Aimee's dad is a professional photographer. We
have already taken a few shots, and we plan on taking more. I just don't know
how to make a complete and professional looking resume.
Also, I have been doing research, and so far all I have found are two talent
agencies (murphymanagement.biz, and ryanartists.com) that I know are real.
With my lack of experience I know its unlikely to be considered, and I plan on
taking drama as soon as the semester ends, and try to get an acting coach to
help me get better.
I was hoping that by the end of next summer I will have enough experience
that I can send in a resume that shows some kind of potential.
anyway, I was just wondering what kind of things I should have on a resume,
and if you knew of any other ways to find out about possible agents.
Also, Aimee really wants to be part of Disney, like thousands of other girls. I,
personally, will take whatever I can get.
I think Disney would be nice, but isn't it kind of hard to be taken seriously
when your with them?
I know that its a good way to start because it puts you out there, but it seems
like its a hard thing to break away from, and once you get older, being with
Disney really isn't something to be all that proud of.
I know im not one to talk, but I think alot of the new disney shows and stars
really don't have that much talent. And alot of it is really cheesy. So if I did
end up with Disney, I feel like people would think that I don't have all that
much real talent either, because its kind of the easier way in. Do you think
that is at all true?

Well, we would be grateful to receive any information you have on the
subject. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my E-mail.

-Gabriella





ANSWER: Hi Gabriella,

Your plan sounds pretty good, although I would at least try to get into drama classes before I start looking for an agent. While an agent may be willing to take you on with little experience being younger, you wouldn't want to be totally inexperienced, because basic things like knowing that you have to "hit your mark" and how to stand and cheating are all very necessary. You want to be able to handle the basics if you want to hit the ground running and not be known as clueless.
Does your friend's dad know headshot photography? Or does he do "portrait" photos? There is a difference. Headshots may look like portraits, but the are shot much like modelling shots, where you are taking shots quickly. Most people will hold their breath when getting pics done and it shows. My brother is an excellent photographer, but he would shoot so slow that your eyes would twitch as your face "froze up". If you can, look at agency headshots online in their galleries to see what they should look like.

You're right about every girl wanting to be on Disney. It isn't their fault that they look cheesy...that is the grown up's idea of cute and wholesome. The thing is, it looks deceptively easy to do, because theses kids have been acting since birth and grew up in front of the cameras. It's not as simple as goofing around with Dad's handycam.

Will Disney hurt or help? Can't say. Depends on the actor and how much drive they have, how hard they keep working on their acting skills and choices they make in their careers.
Historically, child actors didn't make the leap from kiddie shows to mainstream, but that isn't always the case these days. Although they are singers, Brittany, Timberlake and Christina made the jump from being "Mousketeers" to successful careers. My personal thought is too many are looking very shortsighted at their lives. I am glad you see there will be a long life for you past all that.

I would say, take the classes, look for an agent and see if you can get on as an extra in movies if they shoot near you. You can learn a lot if you watch and listen. Just don't be "pushy" and try to get in front of the camera at every turn if you are an "Background Artist"...they don't like that.

Best,

Taylor

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

QUESTION: Thank you so much for answering my questions. If you don't mind, I have a
few more.
I was reading information you gave other girls and I was wondering if you
knew anything else about "pilot season."
Lucky for me, L.A. is only about a 3 hour plane ride from Portland, So I could
get there without to much difficulty.
But I heard that when it comes to auditions people tend call you a day before
asking you to show up, and I don't know if it would be possible for me to
come on command like that. I have school, and my family doesn't have all the
money in the world to waste on flights for whenever I may need.
They also don't understand how important it is to me, so its difficult to
convince them to do things like that. They will support me with whatever I
want to do, but I think they think im just going through a faze, and I will
eventually get over it.
But I have wanted this ever since I could talk. I mean, when I was younger I
wanted to be a singer, but unfortunately, I don't really have the voice for it.
Im not going to say im horrible, but im not cut out for it. And I had always
wanted to be an actress, but I felt like I couldn't do it because I had no
experience, and being young and terribly shy, I didn't want to ask my parents
for help because I was scared that they would laugh at me. October 30th of
this year was when I started talking to Aimee. we had known each other for a
long time, but we were never really friends. When we started talking, we
realized that we both wanted to accomplish the same things. Although, she's
a singer. And she hopes to connect with Disney through Hollywood records.
And we have been helping each other out, but at the same time, if I keep
going along with her plan, I know I will be dropped out, because I don't have
that kind of voice. But I guess that probably doesn't really matter to you.
Her dad takes pictures fast, and I mean, I have a pretty good idea of how it
should look, natural and spontaneous, right? Thank you for the warning
though, right after this I'm going to go look at some other shots to get an
idea of what they should look like. I have recently found that getting your
picture taken is alot harder than taking them of yourself. Because I know how
I want it to look in my head, but I don't know what angle they are seeing me
at. And since I can't see how its turning out, I can't change to make it right.
Now I know why people say modeling is so hard.
Anyway, thanks for your opinion on Disney Channel. I know that it is alot
harder than it looks, but i've been paying alot more attention to how people
handle themselves on camera lately, and I was just trying to figure out if
Disney wants them to look like that, or if they just arrant that good. Thats
just my opinion I guess, But it just seems kind of cheese to me, and if I was to
go for a Disney role, I wouldn't want people to see me the same way.

I have been doing so much research lately. I have found the address to send
my resume, for disney shows that is, and I have found talent agencies in my
area. Im not against doing the work on my own. But I just don't know where
to go from here. I know I need some experience, and some skill.
Do you have any suggestions on how to find an acting coach in Portland?
Because Google doesn't tend to always be all that accurate.
And I do plan on taking drama before I go looking for an agent. I don't want
to make a fool out of myself, and although I feel like I can do this, I need to
be more confidant in myself and get some experience. So, I know im getting a
little bit ahead of myself, but I would just like to have an idea of what im
getting into.
Also, You said you need an agent in California. And If I do happen to get an
agent at all, is it possible to get another one down there? Or switch to one in
the necessary location?
Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions, it really means alot.


-Gabriella  

Answer
Hi Gabriella,

Wow, so much!

Yes. They will ask to see talent in a day's notice. That's why kids come with one of their parents to stay in LA when it's pilot season, because unless you have 14 day advance tickets, it's too expensive to fly!

You can have more than one agent, but it is hard to get one in Los Angeles without previous work and/or a SAG card. (Screen Actor's Guild...which requires having had a speaking part in something before).

I don't know why you had problems googling talent agencies in Portland, Oregon. I found these in one try:

Actors in Action www.actorsinaction.com

Ryan Artists www.ryanartists.com  (see their submission guidelines -follow them for any agency you submit to!)

Avoid John Robert Powers or anyone that includes "training" in their description. You get your training elsewhere, not from an agent.

For acting classes:
Barbara Kite www.barbarakite.com/cms/
Karen Lavoi www.lavoie.biz/
The Brody Theater www.brodytheater.com (improv classes to teach you how to think fast on your feet)

I saw a couple others, but didn't trust them. If they sound too enthusiastic, like "WE'LL MAKE YOU A STAR!" walk away. Quickly. Real agents don't make promises of fame and fortune.

As to taking the pictures: You want the picture to draw the viewer in with warmth, energy and a relaxed look. BREATHE! Always BREATHE when you take the pics and if the photographer is funny and you are at ease with them, the pics will be great. If it's a film camera, expect to shoot a couple rolls or more. Digital is better, because it takes a lot of shots to get it right! My new headshot guy can be called and for $4.00 a pop, print me out headshots to pick up that day. That way, I don't have to send off a headshot for reproduction and spend $400.00 or more all at once. Your agent will likely send your headshot/resume by computer, but you still need to take 2 headshots or more to each audition you go to. You also need to keep a few in a portfolio carrier with you wherever you go in case you meet someone you need to give one to. I carry mine in my car, because you DO NOT want to "forget" your headshot and show up to an audition! It is VERY amateur, "unprofessional" to do that!

I would also encourage you to take singing lessons. In life you don't want to "avoid" things that you aren't good at. Always face your shortcomings and try to make them better. You may find you CAN do things you thought were impossible. If you avoid everything you can't do, you will put yourself in a corner in time. I was terrible at math in school. I managed to make my way around it without facing it. I regret it all the time. While I will never be a math natural, it has made some areas of my life way harder because I didn't work on it.

Which brings me to facing your shyness. You need to look at people and ask yourself: "Why am I worried what they think?"
People are wrong all the time. Even adults. If someone says you are no good, you have to say to yourself "Their opinion isn't necessarily true." Don't reject the idea you may need work on something, but just realize that you have very few people in your life that you should truly care about their opinions. If stars paid attention to their critics, they'd never act again!

Here is something to think about: many shy people are afraid everyone is staring at them. They also believe that no one even knows they are there. How can that be? "No one looks at me, but everyone is staring!" It's perception.
You will need to learn for yourself how to "just be". To relax and be yourself around people without worrying about what they think. That is the biggest "secret" of acting. If you can't get lost in the moment when in a scene, if you are too aware of the people standing around you, and not just "be" in the scene with the other actor, it won't work. There is no way to make everyone like you. There are always going to be people who say things about you. Learn that now, and you will be better.

Best,

Taylor