Dear Bonnie,
Thank you for your articles at Back Stage West. I read them online. You had a feature article on pilot season. At the end you gave us some very important CD name and address information. Thank you.
My question is, I am new about one year to acting. I just got my headshots a few weeks ago. I am SAG-eligible but have not joined as of yet. Should I send my headshot and resume (have done many indie films, etc., and many skills) even though they have not specifically requested a audition for a specific role? If so, do I send a short cover letter mentioning where I got their information? Please advise.
Sincerely,
– Leslie
Dear Leslie,
Thanks for writing. Hope your year is going great! Do you have an agent? Manager? If so, defer to them on their advice about contacting CDs directly. If you do not have representation, I would suggest that you send either a postcard or a headshot and resume to the CDs who are working on projects you feel you’d be good for. If you send a headshot, make sure to include a short, but professional, cover letter, introducing yourself.
Do not follow up with a phone call. CDs generally do not like receiving phone calls from actors. They do, however, generally like receiving a postcard following up on the submission, or alerting them to an upcoming performance (where they can see you work in theatre or on TV).
Just because you’re “new” doesn’t mean you should shy away from getting in front of CDs, just know that they are very busy during pilot season, and you may not get very far doing just a blind submission.
Wait for another month or so before targeting agents and managers. During pilot season, agents and mangers are really focused on serving their current clients. A dedicated mailing to CDs would be good right now, but only to commercial CDs or indie film CDs (no one doing a pilot). April will be your go-ahead time for the agent search. At that time, grab The Agencies, a guide by Acting World Books. I highly recommend it, for the most updated agency information.
Whatever you do, stay professional and courteous. I find it is always best to be honest about where you are in the business (that you are SAG-eligible, etc.). Do as much non-union work as you can, while you still can, and learn learn learn! Are you in a class, now?
Check out an actors’ web-board like The Bone-Yard or Wolfesden. They are my favorite places to keep up on the business with working actors, managers, CDs, and writers. Lurk for awhile, and ask questions after you’ve searched the archives.
Oh, there are so many resources! Spend some time at Samuel French, looking through all of the guides and books there. And get connected with a group of people — it’s always great to have people to bounce ideas off of, run scenes with, share stories.
Let me know how it goes! Best of luck — and thanks so much for reading (and writing). Have fun, keep at it, and keep doing good work!
Take Care,
– Bon