We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rick Shepherd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rick below.

Rick, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

The first dollar I earned as a creative, aside from some smaller childhood commercials, was when I was cast in my first short film my second month living in NYC.

I had just moved to the city a few months prior and was semi-familiar with Actor’s Access and Backstage, both of which are fantastic resources for aspiring actors.

Anyways, I wanted to get on set as soon as possible. so I auditioned for every film I possibly could, regardless of the time-commitment or pay.

I ended up getting cast as a principle character in an independent short film, via Backstage. It paid well and was a couple days of shooting. I was so psyched to be kicking off my New York career. The shooting location was about an hour and a half away from me so taking the subway at 6AM for that long wasn’t the most exciting, but I was grateful nonetheless. I had a few big scenes and because I wanted to be perfect so I spent the next two weeks prepping even though I was a bartending (usually getting off work at 6AM) a lot of nights during that time.

The shoot went well, I was paid and after six months of waiting the project was shelved and I never received the footage. I was definitely disappointed in the turnout. but regardless I was proud of myself for earning my first buck via acting. The next three projects I did for free, but I still felt great because I knew I was making progress.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the son of a roofer and come from a lineage of blue-collar Ohio workers. I don’t come from an industry-inclined family. Most of my life was navigating the challenging waters of the entertainment industry without much background-knowledge or professional advice.

I take pride in having made it this far in the industry without much external guidance on how exactly to succeed in acting. Luckily, this forced me to think outside the box and execute my game plan with a vicious dedication to my career. I couldn’t lean on anyone who was apart of the industry because I didn’t know anyone in that position. Of course, no one should be faulted for doing that, in fact if you have any contacts, please explore them! All of them! That just wasn’t the case for me.

My greatest stroke of luck came from the fact that my grandmother submitted me for a child pageant when I was a kid, which did initially land me some Cleveland-local work, but ultimately that faded after a short time and no one from that time really stuck around to help with future. Regardless, that sparked the fire in me.

My passion for performing was the only thing that carried me through my journey as a person. I had my own handful of hardships I faced in my younger years and needed acting to help process those difficulties. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t continue to express myself through pretending to be someone else.

All that being said, my mother has always been my biggest fan and I’ve had countless friends who have supported me throughout the years and for that I am eternally grateful. I take pride in the fact that in my personal quest, I have had to dig in, pay my dues, take punches and keep going, which I believe shows in my acting, writing and filmmaking.

Having no idea where to begin in any industry is difficult, but it shouldn’t stop you from trying. Otherwise, simply put, you’ll never reach what you aspire to achieve.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I’m glad you asked about this because I have a list of resources for aspiring actors/filmmakers!

Acting-wise, please familiarize yourself with Actor’s Access, Backstage and CastingNetworks. These are all websites that provide listings of projects that one can submit their materials to for a possible audition. They all are subscription based, but they are truly an industry standard, specifically AA and CN. Even agents and managers use those two sites to connect with casting directors and production companies. This is a vital investment.

Also, if it’s affordable, please find an acting studio to take classes. Some may think, “oh, I don’t need class”, which I think most performers at one point or another have, but it will help you in the long run. Some are only one day a week for six weeks, while others can be more of a time-investment. When looking for a studio, do your research! Ask if you can sit in on a class or meet with the head of the studio or someone who teaches there. Each place is different and will be more fitting for some than others. One thing that a studio can also give you, that I think is crucial to an actor, is a community. Acting can be a lonely road and having classmates, who are working towards the same thing you are, is invaluable. I studied at T.Schreiber Studio in NYC, under Peter Jensen, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. On that note, don’t forget that acting is a skill that needs to be practiced and improved upon. We rarely get time to be in rehearsals or on stage/screen so it’s important to find ways to get in those reps!

For filmmakers and screenwriters, if you’re not familiar with Film Freeway, please check it out! This is the main portal for you to submit your work to festivals. This is not entirely subscription based, but you can become a gold member for a monthly payment that will discount how much it will cost to submit to festivals. It helped me get my work seen by so many people and also gave me great insight to the festival scene.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I recommend Matthew McConaughey’s book Greenlights. It’s available in hard back and also in audio format (McConaughey narrates it too). It really dives into his journey as an actor and person; intertwining some of his personal anecdotes of sorrow, wonderment and joy. It’s easily one of my favorite books.

Also, Michael Caine has an acting masterclass on Youtube. I watch it one every couple years because of how insightful it is. He gives in-depth tips and trick about acting technique. He also shows what it looks like to have a true passion for one’s craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rickshepherd.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrickshepherd/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9195401/

Image Credits
Griffin Riley