Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/i want to be a disney channel star

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Expert: - 7/14/2007


Question
Dear Taylor Sheppard,
my dream is to be atleast a guest star on the disney channel orignal show called hannah montana or even have my own show.I havn't really had much experience with acting the only thing i'v been in is my play at school called "tom sower" or how ever you pronounce it. im also a very good singer i have had practice on that and tutoring. Beileve it or not im only 12 and have so many dreams already. And if you were to answer my message i would so much appreciate it. Do you know anywhere around cinncinati Ohio or Dayton Ohio i could audition for disney channel. If not is there anywhere near around ohio. if not then, what is the address for the disney channel studios in LA? It would be so nice if you could help me. Thanks a bunch.

Answer
Hi Natalie,

The Disney Channel does audition/cast for their shows out of Los Angeles. The bad news is, they audition talent whose agents submit them to casting. Unless you are at a level of acting that you have an agent, your chances would be kind of slim to get on the program.
I know that Hannah Montana is a popular show and millions of kids want to be a Disney channel star, but trust me, you will want different things as you get older. What I mean by that is, so...you don't have an agent or much experience, NOW...that doesn't mean you can't continue to try for parts in plays and maybe go to acting camps or take lessons where you live. That way, you will have a head start for shows that haven't even been thought of yet! And when you do audition, other kids will be nervous because they don't know what they are doing, and you will!

Best, 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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