Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Cornwell and Brooke Jaye Taylor.
Matthew and Brooke, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Both of us have had a love of acting since early childhood. Brooke pursued it professionally as early as the 90s, graduating from the University of Florida with a BFA in Performance. She then spent a few years in NYC before moving back to Gainesville, FL, to teach. She was ultimately led to move to Atlanta in 2005. I took a longer journey to my chosen profession. I graduated from Duke with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and then came to Georgia Tech to get my Masters. After a couple of years in corporate America, I finally let my “hobby” of acting become my focus.
We both were growing our careers at the perfect time because as 2008 rolled around, the state legislature boosted the tax incentive to attract more TV and Film production in the state. By then, we had started to build respectable acting resumes and were with one of the top talent agents in the southeast, Houghton Talent. That’s also around the time we started dating. We were married in 2010 and as God would have it, we built a business together called Get Taped. Originally, it was just a service for taping auditions for actors, but it’s grown to include classes and other services. We have grown our business (and our marriage) steadily over the last ten years, and being able to help actors and dispel fear has become our greatest joy as business owners.
Has it been a smooth road?
Choosing the life of the actor is a terrible idea… on paper. People are drawn to it for different reasons, but for us, it’s the desire to be storytellers. Fame and fortune are attractive, but once you become a journeyman (or journey-woman) actor, you have to find a deeper reason. A more compelling “why”, because the industry is a continuous rollercoaster of emotion and financial stability. We’ve had seasons where neither one of us generates acting income, and then we have other seasons where “work begets work,” and we are able to actually save money. There’s no rhyme or reason to it either. Feast or famine, as they say. And unfortunately, talent does not guarantee success. Hard work, persistence, and an indomitable spirit are what get you through the ups and downs.
So with our Christian faith to anchor us, we’ve been able to remind ourselves periodically of our ultimate “why”, which is to make others feel known through the stories we tell. Stories connect us and help us to not feel alone. So regardless of whether we’re blessed to be in a $100 Million Box Office sensation, or we upload a video to YouTube and get only 300 views, we’re fulfilled by that continuous ability to tell stories.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Get Taped! – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As the TV/Film industry started to grow back in 2010, there was a shift away from in-person auditions, creating an ever-growing demand for actors to tape themselves. We saw that need and created Get Taped. We were one of the very first businesses in Atlanta dedicated to taping auditions for actors. Because of that, we helped to pioneer the standards of pricing, quality, and service. Now there are numerous other services around the city who have followed the model we set.
Even though our services are the same as many other places around town, we stand out because of how we make the actor feel comfortable and at ease, so that they are able to produce their best work. We are a “judgement free zone”, and it’s why a lot of our regular customers come back time and time again. They could invest in the equipment to tape themselves at home, but many actors don’t want that technical burden and have come to love the environment that we provide. Not mention the technical quality of our tapes is top-notch!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The best part of Atlanta is the diversity of people, ideas, and opportunities. As an actor, it has been a blessing because Atlanta has jumped to 3rd place in the world when it comes to TV and Film production, but it’s more affordable than Los Angeles and has a much greater sense of community and, of course, southern hospitality.
On the flip side: pollen. I never had allergies growing up in South Florida, but in 2015 after 15 years of living here, I developed chronic sinusitis. Brooke, who moved here in 2005, is now starting to suffer as well. The trees are great, but the pollen is unbearable. That, and the roads of Atlanta. They are categorically the worst roads I’ve experienced in any major city.
Pricing:
- 20min audition taping – $20 ($15 if you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA)
- 40min audition taping – $40 ($30 if you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA)
- 60min audition taping – $60 ($45 if you’re a member of SAG-AFTRA)
- 10min “Happy Hour” appointment – $10 (restrictions apply)
- Demo Reel Editing – $50 for first hour, $25 for each additional hour of editing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.get-taped.com
- Email: get_taped@comcast.net
- Instagram: @gettaped
- Facebook: @GetTaped
Image Credit:
Kurt Yue (Brooke’s Photo), Robbie Glen (Matthew’s photo)
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