ABSTRACT
How can actors best represent themselves in a first e-mail or cover letter to casting, talent representatives, directors, and other entertainment industry power players? In this chapter, “Cover Letters and E-mail—Covering Your Assets,” the author encourages the actor to toss aside all educational precepts for composition. He guides the actor in how to leverage the actor’s personality—the actor’s brand—and create messaging that promotes individuality while maintaining the professional expectations of the entertainment industry. Exercises for finding the actor’s natural voice are implemented as well as how to make mass mailing appear as if each message within the blast was written personally for each individual on the actor’s mailing list and, most troublesome for the modern actor, how best to include the actor’s picture and résumé—that is user-friendly—in an electronic message. Other tips include how to strategically place and highlight information that strengthens the validity of the actor’s entire message.
