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Question
My daughter is an attractive, talented actress/singer who is too short for regular modeling at 5'4", but could do tv work, voice overs, and definitely face/other modeling (She is a trainer at a sports club, swims rides horses, etc.). She has gotten in a lot of non-paying productions and gets a lot of calls for day of work, but how does she get an agent? People have suggested that she do commercial work, but what are reliable sources? Is it worth it to sign up for something like NYCasting or is that just wasting time and money?
Hi Terry,
I am not familiar with NYCasting, a casting agent is just that: a person who calls agents to see talent for a specific job and then when they pick the faces they want to see, there is a date set for the actors to show up and audition. There is no reputable agency that guarantees work and expects a fee beforehand. NONE. She should type up a resume of what she's done and what classes she's taken from whom and then get good headshots done and submit to real agents in the city. That's how she should proceed. Do not put age, weight, height hair/eye color on the resume. Let the picture get her in the door. Any unnecessary info might just prevent her getting past pre-conceived notions of what they want. Many a director changes their mind when confronted with a dynamo of an actor!
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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