Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/starting an acting career

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Expert: - 9/26/2007


Question
hi, i was wondering how you start an acting career and what are some pointers on it...im 14 and i live in a small town where there arent a lot of places to go to act i take drama classes and my teacher told me i wouldnt have a problem at all with finding a job because i was great and im very pretty but i was wondering where to start

thanks

ashley

Answer
Hi Ashley,

When you don't have many options of what to do, do what you can do! There really isn't an ending to classes and training. Keep training, reading books and take every opportunity you get to perform. At some point you will get out of your area/situation and be able to branch out in your career. When you can get to a bigger city, or an acting magnet like California, Chicago or New York, you will all the activities you can dream of...just try to be patient and hone your craft!

Best,
Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Volunteer

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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