Expert: Kitty Kavey - 6/3/2004

Question
Hello,
i live in London and i am 26. I want to become an extra or have a walk on role in movies,soaps and other tv programmes. However firstly i need to find an agent, i want to write a letter and send in some photos of myself. Please could you help me by telling me what sort of information should go in my first letter to the agent.
Im not sure if you can help me as it may not be related to your filed however i thought i would ask anyway.

Many thanks for your advice.
Best wishes
Varsha

Answer
If the industry there is similar to ours, you may not need an agent to start doing extra/background work.  Here we have companies that book talent specifically for extra roles in film, television and commercials.  None that I know of require a professional headshot and resume, nor do they ask you to audition--unlike a regular agent.  If you watch a movie filmed in your location, the credits at the end will tell you who did the "extras casting", and you can use your favorite search engine to find "extras casting, London", or type in the name(s) of the casting companies you've seen at the end of films to see if they have a website with contact information.  Our largest extras casting agency here (Central Casting) has a detailed website, and I would hope casting companies there do as well.  On the other hand, if you want to do more than just extra or featured extra roles, you will want to seek out regular talent agencies.  Again, if the system there is set up in a similar fashion, you will be asked to send in a professional headshot with your talent resume on the back, along with a cover letter for their consideration.  They may also require you to audition for them, perhaps doing a prepared monologue, or doing cold reading.  Your cover letter should be brief, and contain something interesting about yourself--Perhaps mention a play you've just done, or that you are originally from France, or that you speak three languages fluently--something that catches their attention can work in your favor.  It's really something that introduces you, mentions what specifically you are interested in doing, and includes all your contact information.
Good luck to you,
~Kitty