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Your “secret” Pinterest board has your friends convinced you’re a celebrity. Your YouTube channel has been in “subscriber-only” mode for the last six months. You’ve taken some modeling classes in college, curled your hair, and decided that you “look the part”. It’s time to get hired by a casting director. But oh no! Another problem! How do you even begin contacting a casting director?
Before you start, ask yourself the following:
Why do you want to contact a casting director?
What would you like to achieve?
What specific skills and acting experience can you present?
A first impression is lasting and it wouldn’t hurt if you took the time before making a decision. You must also exert effort when planning your approach. To kick things off, here are some tips and tricks on how to contact casting directors.
Why do you want to contact a casting director?
What’s the main reason that you want to speak to a casting director? Are they offering a role that you’re particularly interested in? Do you just want to network and put your name out there? Are you seeking some guidance? Focus on what your reason is, and think of the best approach to execute it.
What would you like to achieve?
What is your endgame? You should set your expectations, especially before you hit the “send” button on your email. Maybe you’d want them to respond with details for an audition, or you just want them to keep your headshot in mind for future roles. Once you’ve determined what kind of responses you’d like, you can tailor your message accordingly.
What skills can you bring to the table?
It’s no surprise that casting directors must get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of emails and instant messages on a daily basis. They don’t have time to skim through all of those, that’s why you should highlight that part on your resume that makes you unique. You’ll have a better chance of getting a response if you can show them something that makes you stand out.
Once you’ve determined your purpose, the easiest part comes next. You need to find their contact info. There is almost always some information online about anybody. Some casting directors have a contact form on their websites, while others have a dedicated email address. Didn’t find any contact details? Then maybe they’re not open to unsolicited communication. If that’s the case, you can try to ask your agent or your manager if they can make an introduction, or if they know someone who can.
When you’ve determined that you’ve gotten the right contact info, it’s time to make an introduction. Here are some tips that you can use when drafting your message:
Be respectful and professional – You don’t have to suck up to anybody to get a response. Think of how you’re going to message a boss or a colleague at work. Use correct spelling and grammar, and it’s probably best if you avoid the use of emojis.
Keep file sizes at a minimum – If you’re including an attachment to your message, make sure it’s the appropriate file size. Your attachments should download the moment they open the email. It’s best to resize your headshot until it’s a perfect size.
Double-check your links – If your CV, website, and showreel are available online, make sure the links are working smoothly. Additionally, if any of them require a password, include it in the body of your email.
Put contact details – If you want the casting director to respond to you directly, include a number and/or an email that you frequently have access to. You can also opt to include your social media handles, as these could serve as “extra” samples.
Be patient – Casting directors have a lot on their plate. If they don’t respond to you but you know you’ve made an excellent impression, then they’ll most likely remember you. It could be possible that they have you in the back of their head, even if they didn’t reply.
Avoid reaching out to them on social media – While there are casting directors who prefer being contacted on social media, don’t do it unless it was specifically stated. Social media is a personal space for some people. Sure, you can react or reply to their posts when appropriate, but maybe they won’t be as welcoming when you send a direct message.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, you can take your first step in contacting a casting director. Nothing in acting is ever truly easy. However, if you’ve already built up a decent background and plan your next steps accordingly, then everything that follows will be as smooth as silk!