What to say to Starnow advertisers

[Flosmom]

Just puzzling over something and wondering whether anyone with more experience can give me some advice, please?

You know when you apply for a job through Starnow, there is a box where you write a message to the advertiser. What sort if things should we be writing in there?

Should the message come from Flo herself, or from me to prove that there's some parental control going on?

What sort of things go down well?

It seems pointless to repeat things that are in Flo's profile, but is it...?

We've applied for a few things so far and not had much success, so any advice would be very much appreciated!

Thanks

Deb and Flo x

[pg]

I think your approach sounds great ruby95!

I think I would be inclined to apply on behalf of your dd Flosmum (depending on her age - obviously if she's 23 you're not going to be doing so ).

Ruby95's advice covers all the things that one would normally include in a good covering letter, so if you follow that format you won't go wrong (as long as you try to keep it concise and resist the temptation to repeat all the information that is on your CV).

The only thing I would add is that if you look right for the part and your experience/CV suggests that you have the capabilities, then it won't matter if your message is really brief - if they are interested in you then the message won't be very relevant: you've applied for the job, so they know you are interested. On the other hand, if you don't look right, or your experience isn't what is required, then it won't matter how good your covering letter/message is - you won't get called for audition.

I used Casting Call Pro to cast something a few years ago and to be honest I didn't take all that much notice of the covering letter/message. It was the look of the person and the experience that counted. It might be more useful to list the things that put me off (though I'm sure you'd never do any of this!):

1. Several pages of waffle
2. Really dreadful spelling and grammar
3. Addressed to the wrong person or company (cut and paste job from an application to a different company where they hadn't changed the details)
4. Arrogance : e.g. "I'm a superb actor and you'd be foolish not to see me"
5. Pleading: e.g. "Acting is my passion, please, please give me a chance..."
6. Sycophancy : e.g. "I am in awe of the brilliance of your company and it would be such an honour to be involved...

[pg]

Aargh!

I'm not sure whether it was something I did, but ruby95's post seems to have disappeared!

I do hope it wasn't my doing

ruby95 gave a really great summary of what could/should go in a covering letter. If you have time ruby95, could you post it again please?

[ruby95]

Hehe. This is what i said before (and don't worry PG it wasn't you who deleted the post it was me):

I am 16-years-old and I always write my cover-letters myself (and did so when i was 15, before I was considered an 'adult' in the acting world) but if I had been on Starnow when i was younger I am not sure what would have happened.

I usually begin the letter by saying how I fulfill the age/looks requirements to show that I have read the casting description carefully and to grab the CD's interest in me as a potential candidate.

I tend to tailor what I say to the requirements of each individual casting. I obviously don't make anything up but depending on what the audition is for different aspects of my skills/ experience/ personality may be more or less relevant.

I usually also give a short summery of my experience. For example "I have professional experience in feature films, short films and adverts". Before I had any 'recommendations' on starnow I used to sometimes include short snippets of references.

I think this pretty much covers what i said before
I hope this helps.

P.S. PG - If I have missed anything out said anything wrong this time then please tell me.

[Flosmom]

Thanks for your advice - that's really helpful.

Flo is 9. She is very capable of writing her own stuff, but would this be taken seriously (especially as I'd have to get involved at some point!) Or would they assume that I'd written it for her anyway?

There's a limit on the size of the message - just 500 characters - so they have to work hard!

Thanks again

Deb x

[OutoftheShadows]

Id definately write it for your daughter if she is only 9. My youngest Ds is 10 & all correspondance/ applications have my name & (FATHER) , at the end. Any production Company be it student or professional would need to speak to you to confirm that you approved of the application, & it saves them the effort of having to seek assurances..