Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/requirement on acting

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Expert: - 6/4/2007


Question
Hi Mr. Taylor i have one question for you. If a kid cant sing or dance and his acting is alright, and he is good looking, can he still be an actor. Also is www.InstantCast.com a trustworthy website. Thanks a lot.

Answer
Hi Rodney,

Short answer, yes, you can still make it in acting. However, you shouldn't cut yourself short by not thinking about learning other talents. There is not room in acting for complacency -basically saying "I don't want to bother with improving myself, I'm good enough as I am!" When you think you don't have anything left to learn in acting, or life, you have a lot learn!
That's why I never look down on someone that is not as experienced in something, because they always surprise me with something amazing that I didn't know about.
I have said it before, even pro actors train, just like athletes, because you need to stay sharp! John Leguzamo, Tom Cruise and many others got where they are from digging in and working hard to make it. They took classes while doing crappy jobs to pay their bills. Cruise worked as a building super dragging trash to an incinerator. It is a terribly demanding profession, but the rewards can be great!


As to www.InstantCast.com, I would be very suspicious. Anyone who guarantees "you can get a role in 30 days" should make you wonder. How would they know if you can act, are two inches tall, or bright blue? Put yourself on imdb.com or actors access or some other reputable site.
NEVER PAY FOR AN AUDITION!

Break a leg!

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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