Author: Glynis Rigsby, Chair, Acting Department, New York Film Academy
From personal experience, professional casting notices are well thought out and built specifically to streamline the process for those filtering submissions. An easy way to make sure that your submission is immediately dismissed is to ignore instructions in the casting notice, so READ CAREFULLY.
1. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. In a profession in which taking direction is a necessary skill, it is imperative that you demonstrate this immediately. If there are no instructions for the subject line of your email, it should include the name of the character and your name: Submission for Caroline by Samantha Potter.
2. If the reply address comes with a contact name, make sure you address that person in your email and make absolutely sure that you use both the right gender (Ms. Brandon Marie Miller) and the correct spelling. Again, these small details give potential employers a sense of who you will be in a casting session and on set. Also give a brief(!) description of why you would be a good fit for the project or what makes you eager to join this production team. Make sure you send this from an address that you check often. If you will be away from email, provide another means of contact like a cell phone number. Be sure to include your name and a warm but professional closing such as “Thank you” or “Best regards”.
3. The body of your email should reiterate your name and the role you are submitting for, preferable in the form of a short, polite note:
Please find attached materials submitted for the role of Caroline in THE BEAST STALKS ITS PREY. I have admired the work of Director Tony Souza for many years, particularly in the series WHEN ROME BURNS and believe that my experience as a zoologist would be an asset to the role.
Best regards,
Samantha Potter
4. Attach a headshot and resume to your email. You may ALSO provide a link to additional materials and content, but do not expect casting office staff to go the extra mile to retrieve your materials. The headshot should look like you but if you have a new look that reflects a significant change, you can send a second photograph to show this. You should be fully clothed in both photographs. Headshots should be in .jpg format and viewable in the body of the email. Do not attach pictures larger than 400 X 500 pixels. 300 X 400 is even better. The file name should be simply your full name: first_last.jpg. If you send more than one picture, simply add the number 1 and 2 to the file name. If you have a long and complex first or last name, simplify by replacing your first name with an initial. Long, complex file names can complicate the process and crash browsers. Your name should appear at the bottom of the image and be readable. This will help the casting staff if materials are separated.
5. It is recommended that you submit your resume as a .pdf to preserve formatting. The .pdf can have the same file name as the headshot since the file type is different (jameson_jones. pdf and jameson_jones.jpg). This will also help if the files become separated. Resumes should fit to one page. If you have additional credits, list them as “available upon request”.
6. Your email address should reflect your professional self and not include graphic or unprofessional language or ideas.
7. Refrain from asking questions that are addressed in the original post.
8. DO NOT submit if you are:
– Unavailable for the dates of the project
– SAG/Aftra and the project is non-Union
– So significantly different from the description that your casting would change the nature of the story. For example: a 24-yr old actress submitting for a 68-yr old grandmother. Casting notices are written specifically to filter submissions and ignoring those filters will not endear you to anyone in the casting office.