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What do I send with headshots?

Question:

Anyone have any cover letter templates or know where some could be found on the web?

Response:

Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However,

If you know that they also sell "workshops" or audiences or indulgences you may want to send a ten dollar bill. This way you save your time and their time. Seriously, if you just want to get in their files, you don’t need a letter at all. They will know why you sent p/r. If it is a one time mailing for a particular role then of course a short letter to let them know which role you should be considered for. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Anyone have any cover letter templates or know where some could be found on the web?

Just keep it brief and light, to the point, upbeat, first name.  If there were a template, it would no longer reflect your personality, right? Ed Hooks

Response:

Mary, A Friend of mine recently started hand-writing short sweet notes on nice stationary, and paper clipping them to the photo. He says that before he started doing this, he rarely got responses from mailings, and that since he’s started he’s gotten several. The added advantage to this (imo)  is that you can use smaller stationary, so that when the cd/ agent/ fish/ etc. opens the envelope he/she/it can see your headshot winking back at them right away. Also, I’ve been told it’s advantageous to write Union status (if your union), the name of a current project, and the role your interested on the outside of the envelope… Good luck, Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However, I’m not sure what sort of letter (if any) to enclose with my shots. So far, I’ve sent out a businessy letter, as if I’m applying for a job: "Dear Sir/Madam: I wish to audition for so and so film, advertised in the so and so issue of so and so," etc. I’m wondering if just a short memo, including the name of the film/casting director & my telephone number, will suffice. I’d really appreciate if someone could e-mail me back & let me know what the best type of letter/memo for casting directors is. Thanks! Mary — "Make me always a man who questions!"–Frantz Fanon "All men are mortal. Socrates was mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates."–Woody Allen Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Dear Starmaker How the f—k did you get to be a starmaker? Was it by living in a f—king cloud, or hiding under a rock? Who the F—k do YOU think you are? Does anyone know who the f—k you are? Do you know who you are? I think I know who you are. Your a little coward who gives really bad advice, potentialy dangerous advice, to inexperienced, often young, aspiring actors. You admittedly have no experience in the field. You’ve admitted that you have no credentials to back up anything you say. You’ve just "decided" that this is what you are going to do. You advise people to hold people in the industry with contempt and disrespect. You malign agents and casting directors, who, in fact should be considered peers and colleagues; perhaps a necessary evil, but still people with whom we must work. You advise people to do anything and everything possible, regardless of any legal or ethical consideration, to achieve what you call Stardom. You express disdain and contempt towards anyone   in the industry who has any other goal then this so called stardom. You condone having sex with strangers for roles. You condone bribery and deception and trickery in ones quest for "stardom". You have no love for acting or the arts. You are not even an actor. While a lot of the morally questionable  things you advocate doing, may have worked for some  people, have you considered that these tactics while fruitful may be "wrong"? Have you considered that a lot of people in this industry   have worked hard to make this industry a safe and fair environment for actors to work in?  Your efforts to bring people down to this juvenile way of looking at what a lot of us consider to be a noble aspiration sickens me and many other people who use this ng. On that note F—k off, we’ll do it our way. Sincerely, Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Re: "film title" Dear Casting Director: How did you ever get to be a casting director? Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m submitting my picture and resume to the person who *really* makes the final decision…thats the producer/director! Kiss my ass! I make my own rules. ps. Nobody ever thanks casting directors during the oscars! You don’t deserve it!! The Starmaker

Response:

Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However, I’m not sure what sort of letter (if any) to enclose with my shots. So far, I’ve sent out a businessy letter, as if I’m applying for a job: "Dear Sir/Madam: I wish to audition for so and so film, advertised in the so and so issue of so and so," etc. I’m wondering if just a short memo, including the name of the film/casting director & my telephone number, will suffice. I’d really appreciate if someone could e-mail me back & let me know what the best type of letter/memo for casting directors is. Thanks! Mary — "Make me always a man who questions!"–Frantz Fanon "All men are mortal. Socrates was mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates."–Woody Allen Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However, I’m not sure what sort of letter (if any) to enclose with my shots. So far, I’ve sent out a businessy letter, as if I’m applying for a job: "Dear Sir/Madam: I wish to audition for so and so film, advertised in the so and so issue of so and so,"

Mary – You ask a good question.  I suggest you keep cover letters brief, breezy, informal and first-name-basis.  Treat agents and casting directors as equals, avoid subserviance.  Sending photos/resumes to agents and casting directors is a whole different thing than applying for a job at Intel or Coca-Cola Company.  You’re not talking to a Human Resources Department.  It’s family. Ed Hooks author "The Audition Book (Winning Strategies for Breaking into Theatre, Film and TV)"

Response:

Dear Mary, Ive got a little info for you that may be helpful.# 1 Do not ask to be in the picture or program in which they are in the process of casting. This they find imposing and your beautiful photograph will be scraped. It also sounds like you are begging for the part dont do that. # 2 make sure that you are some one very stable in respect that you are self sufficient and provide a way of support for yourself while trying to break into the field of your dreams. This always makes them look at you as a more serious prospect for entertainer material, they do! In the entertainment field, it is always best to provide a short self biography  to acompany ones photo shot. This gives the individual whom recieves it  an idea of what type of person they are taking the time to review. Include as follows: your full name,address etc.,then go into a description of yourself. Hight,measurements,eye & hair color (natural) expierience if any.(This would meen any and all parts youve played,wheather it was in a production or just a school play, any pagents what ever you can provide them to concider you. Also insert where you were born, grew up,likes dislikes. This my dear should at least get you in someones hands, even if you start as a corus girl thats a start. Make sure you include all your talents.   I give you this imformation in hopes that you do find happyness in your dreams. At my sight you can here me sing,I’ve done a little entertaining my self. From time to time. Here is my sight: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Suite/4099/index.html                 Good Luck!    Stephen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However, I’m not sure what sort of letter (if any) to enclose with my shots. So far, I’ve sent out a businessy letter, as if I’m applying for a job: "Dear Sir/Madam: I wish to audition for so and so film, advertised in the so and so issue of so and so," etc. I’m wondering if just a short memo, including the name of the film/casting director & my telephone number, will suffice. I’d really appreciate if someone could e-mail me back & let me know what the best type of letter/memo for casting directors is. Thanks! Mary — "Make me always a man who questions!"–Frantz Fanon "All men are mortal. Socrates was mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates."–Woody Allen Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Mary: I was given the following suggestion from some friends of mine that make a very succesful living acting.  The best is to have all your important info printed on the back of your head shot.  This should have been suggested to you by the people that did your pics.  The info should include stats, past experience and talents and skills.  Also, those skills can be ANYTHING – rollerblading (you’d be surprised), singing, owning a dog, etc.  An agent who needs to cast an extra or a bit part with your "special talents" will remember what’s on you’ve listed and may pick you simply because he/she knows you can skate instead ofcalling several people to find out if they know how. The best part about having all this info on the back of the pic is it can’t get separated from your pic.  Then, you can send a short note saying all your talents/accomplishments are on the back. Chriss Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

The best part about having all this info on the back of the pic is it can’t get separated from your pic.

Unfortunately, this is not a be-all or end-all solution.  Many, MANY directors do not like this, as I’ve met some and heard stories of others who like to actually look at your photo while looking side-by-side at your credits. I think we had a long, lengthy discussion of this about three months ago, and nothing was really accomplished.  We just all ended up sharing viewpoints, and no one really agreed.  I wish there were an industry norm though……. — Opus    (:   Member #4 of the Gage Brigade. "Our doubts are traitors and makes us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."  –Lucio, Act 1, Scene 4, Measure, for Measure http://www.Carla.Coble.com – Acting site; not all links are viable yet. http://members.home.net/coble/OpusGraphics -Websets and Graphics http://drewcarey.acmecity.com/kate/43 -Blade Pro Presets

Response:

IMO, based on the habits of casting directors in Toronto, Canada, you are unlikely to be called to audition following a letter to a casting director. It is not impossible, and it is much more likely in theatre. It is simply more efficient for CDs to make audition calls from submissions from agents, knowing those actors are curently available and at least marginally suitable. However, your letter might arrive at just the right moment, and it is ALWAYS a good idea to promote yourself out of the great mass of out of work actors. If a series of letters gets you even slightly remembered when the list is compiled, you’re ahead of the game. Think of your CD letters as laying a foundation. I don’t agree that you will be seen as a begging actor — every actor that comes across a CDs desk is by definition out of work, so any could be unsympathetically described as ‘begging’. The basic information (union, sizes, experience etc) should be on your re’sume’; your letter’s job is to tweak their interest. Start with a hook that will persuade them to read on. Say something specific that’s nice about them. Not ‘You are an important CD’, that could be said about anyone. Look for their history — ‘How did you manage to find the terrific line-up for GRIM REAPER?’ or for a personal contact — ‘Jim Condine always says your auditions are the best prepared and most pleasant in town’.     Then tell something that makes you different for the current job. Not ‘I had excellent dance training at QRZ School’, but ‘I am the only North American dancer who visited the First Nations Dance Pow-wow last Fall’. — *  Peter Messaline is The TaxXman, an actor’s tax preparer (416)960-1785  * *   Not all the bulbs in the marquee are working, but he lives your life. *

Response:

Dear Paul- I have to say that was beautiful! Kimber – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dear Starmaker How the f—k did you get to be a starmaker? Was it by living in a f—king cloud, or hiding under a rock? Who the F—k do YOU think you are? Does anyone know who the f—k you are? Do you know who you are? I think I know who you are. Your a little coward who gives really bad advice, potentialy dangerous advice, to inexperienced, often young, aspiring actors. You admittedly have no experience in the field. You’ve admitted that you have no credentials to back up anything you say. You’ve just "decided" that this is what you are going to do. You advise people to hold people in the industry with contempt and disrespect. You malign agents and casting directors, who, in fact should be considered peers and colleagues; perhaps a necessary evil, but still people with whom we must work. You advise people to do anything and everything possible, regardless of any legal or ethical consideration, to achieve what you call Stardom. You express disdain and contempt towards anyone   in the industry who has any other goal then this so called stardom. You condone having sex with strangers for roles. You condone bribery and deception and trickery in ones quest for "stardom". You have no love for acting or the arts. You are not even an actor. While a lot of the morally questionable things you advocate doing, may have worked for some  people, have you considered that these tactics while fruitful may be "wrong"? Have you considered that a lot of people in this industry   have worked hard to make this industry a safe and fair environment for actors to work in?  Your efforts to bring people down to this juvenile way of looking at what a lot of us consider to be a noble aspiration sickens me and many other people who use this ng. On that note F—k off, we’ll do it our way. Sincerely, Paul

Response:

Dear Mary, Ive got a little info for you that may be helpful. In the entertainment field, it is always best to provide a short self biography  to acompany ones photo shot. This gives the individual whom recieves it  an idea of what type of person they are taking the time to review. Include as follows: your full name,address etc.,then go into a description of yourself. Hight,measurements,eye & hair color (natural) expierience if any.(This would meen any and all parts youve played,wheather it was in a production or just a school play, any pagents what ever you can provide them to concider you. Also insert where you were born, grew up,likes dislikes. This my dear should at least get you in someones hands, even if you start as a corus girl thats a start. Make sure you include all your talents.   I give you this imformation in hopes that you do find happyness in your dreams. At my sight you can here me sing,I’ve done a little entertaining my self. From time to time. Here is my sight: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Suite/4099/index.html                 Good Luck!    Stephen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Question: I’ve started sending my headshot to casting directors. However, I’m not sure what sort of letter (if any) to enclose with my shots. So far, I’ve sent out a businessy letter, as if I’m applying for a job: "Dear Sir/Madam: I wish to audition for so and so film, advertised in the so and so issue of so and so," etc. I’m wondering if just a short memo, including the name of the film/casting director & my telephone number, will suffice. I’d really appreciate if someone could e-mail me back & let me know what the best type of letter/memo for casting directors is. Thanks! Mary — "Make me always a man who questions!"–Frantz Fanon "All men are mortal. Socrates was mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates."–Woody Allen Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

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