Helpful

~ Bones ~

For Your Bag

by Peter Maxtone-Graham

     We all know how incredibly hard it is to crack the codes, to break into the channels we all want access to. Every angle has it's pitfalls. The Bones to be found here are for all us "bottom feeders,"  us low-level operators.
     
     Trying to land an agent can consume time and resources, and even then, when you do land one, what's to say they're going to be going to bat for you, with so many other clients.
     
      So, it's up to you, yourself, and you to  agitate the system...stir things up a bit. How do you do that? One way goes without saying, but I say it anyway - Backstage West / Drama-Logue every Wednesday, that's a given.
     
     Now, the information I am about to give here is of the utmost top secret in nature, and more importantly, its use is entirely up to the discretion of the user, and may or may not end up with the result of auditions, roles, and/or other certain degrees of success (tax, title and license not included, warrantee isn't implied nor stated, but excluded therefore making it null & void). You see where I'm going with this?

1. The Post-it Note

     The Post-it Note is a very interesting little sticky. The Post-it Note contains a hidden power. It has the power to say something. It's actually very exciting. What's the Post-it Note going to say? That's where you come in. The character you are submitting for and a Post-it Note. Hmm, interesting. If you were this character, & had the power to say something, to the person casting, what would you say? 
    
      I myself for example, when submitting for the role of say, a hit-man,  have slapped a Post-it Note right on the front of the head shot saying things like, "I just as soon slit your throat as I do shake your hand! You wanna job done, you call me!" and then signed it with the character's name (was called in).  For detective Hugo, "What are you look'n at?! Yeah? Detective Hugo. How 'bout I run your ass downtown? No. Okay, how 'bout an audition then?" (called in). A lawyer, "Hear you're looking for a little representation ...blah, blah, blah." You get the idea. I've been called in for a ton of stuff with this  simple and fun technique, and I blame it all on the Post-it Note
     
     The beauty of this is it makes your submissions more interactive. They make your headshot's speak. And seeing as how you are the creative type, you just never know what you're going to come up with, and that's the idea. The more you do it, the more creative you become. It's a great way to make your submissions a little more interesting, a little more fun. 
     
     Those Post-It Notes are usually still on my headshot when I go in for the audition, and  their power to provoke a response still lives. Granted, we are talking about Backstage West / Drama-Logue here. As you move up the Hollywood chain, I don't recommend this technique in the higher echelons.

2. The Envelope

     Envelopes are not so much a sticky matter, nor should they be. Imagine if you're a casting person casting a project. They get headshots upwards into the thousands. 
     
"Oh they probably gotta letter opener or two lying around the office..."
    
      Don't kid yourself. Those envelopes have clasps on them for a reason. Easy access! Clasped envelopes are a casting person's dream come true. In fact, who's to say they don't open those clasped ones first. I mean, I would. Who wants to tear at hundreds of those sticky, stuck, gummy, gooey, flaps when those "clasps" are just singing out to you like that? I also might first crack open those envelopes that had a  little thin strip of tape directly over the clasped area of the envelope, instead of using the clasping technique, but either will work just fine. Some Extreme submitters out there will even go a step further with the envelope "tuck." Just tucking the flap under, and into the envelope. This isn't our personal favorite, but you can decide for yourself which is best.

3. The Continuing Bone

    We hope you've found these Bones useful. If you have any Bones of your own you would like to share, hit the box directly below and let us know.

The Actor's Bone
Box

     If you're interested in bigger heavier Bones with slightly more meaning, then follow the major Bone below...no Bone intended.

BONE