Does Showfax give ALL of the breakdowns? I’m asking because I want to know if there are other auditions out there I could submit for and if there are, how do I find them? Which leads me to my next question: Is there a proper way to submit your headshot to a CD? Do I need a cover letter and if so, what is the standard way to do it? If not, should I just send a headshot with the name of the role I’m submitting for on the envelope?

Great questions. First, a few points of clarification: Showfax doesn’t provide breakdowns. Breakdown Services does that. Showfax provides audition sides that correspond to some of the roles put out through breakdowns as well as some that never were released through Breakdown Services (like those that CDs send directly to specific agents). Actors Access is the actor-level version of Breakdown Services. Casting directors can choose to list their breakdowns through one service or both services simultaneously, choosing to accept electronic or hard copy submissions (or both). We make this choice based on a number of factors, one of which is the number of submissions we want to weed through, initially.

So, in overview, Actors Access lists breakdowns that CDs want to have out there in front of actors for direct submissions. Breakdown Services lists breakdowns that CDs want to go to agents and managers only (and they can also choose to send breakdowns to select agents and managers, meaning only a handful of people ever see those breakdowns). Showfax provides sides pages for auditions for roles that may or may not ever have gone out through any of these services. Still some CDs may fax or email sides directly to agents and managers and bypass the system here altogether, if their projects are highly classified.

Certainly some actors buy bootleg breakdowns that are intended only for agents and managers who subscribe to Breakdown Services, but that brings up issues such as scam casting notices, altered breakdowns, and the increasing trend of CDs releasing fewer and fewer breakdowns system-wide and sending them directly to select trusted agents and managers, thereby basically ensuring their casting notices do not get bootlegged. And, yes, there are other services out there that offer casting notices to actors, each with varying fees for the access, level of projects listed, and authenticity of the casting notices.

For me, when I list a breakdown through Breakdown Services only and then receive actor-direct submissions, I’m pissed. I know that actors have spent money to get bootlegged breakdowns and that they are now submitting to me in hopes of getting a shot at something they have no shot at. I knew actors without agents and managers would have no shot on this project, which is why the breakdown went out only to agents and managers to begin with! So, not only have these actors spent money to get info that is basically of no use to them, but they’ve also invested in a mailing (postage, office supplies, headshots) thinking they have a shot. When I have a project for which actors should self-submit, I put the information out there for actors to see for free! And I’m not the only one.

Now, on to the rest of your question: Is a cover letter necessary? I’m actually going to send you to read columns here on the subject. And let me take this opportunity to remind all readers to use the outstanding SEARCH function here at the Showfax site. As of this date, Mark Sikes and I have created 220 different advice-filled articles for you! These articles do not disappear into some password-protected cavern once they hit the archives. They’re yours to read again and again. Please do yourself a favor and read up, especially if you’re a new reader. Try to tackle an article a day to catch up and take your career into your own hands! When in doubt: SEARCH! After that, shoot me an email. Good luck to you all!

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Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!

Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000283.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.