Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Post Question

Ask Taylor Sheppard a Question about Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

Important:

Please read the following and "Instructions from the Expert" carefully before you post the question:

  • Please don't set your question to private unless it will personally identify you. The public questions will get high priority to be answered and can benefit more users. Don't put your personal information in the question.

  • After you submit your question, we'll send you an email as a receipt. You will be notified when the answer is ready. Please make sure your email server does not block or filter out emails from allexperts.com.

  • AllExperts is a 100% free site. Our experts spend lots of time to answer your questions. We ask only that you thank and rate the volunteer's answer upon your return.

Instructions from the Expert:

Read our NO SPAM! guarantee

65000-character limit

Please Note:

By clicking below to send your e-mail, you understand and agree to the following:

  • The information you receive is not professional advice and is provided solely for educational and informational purposes only; all investment decisions you make are your own responsibility.

  • AllExperts.com has no responsibility or control over the content of any information you receive.

  • Click to send your message only if you agree to these terms.

Click to send your message only if you agree to these terms.

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

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).

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.