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I’m a recent film school graduate who just moved out to LA and I’m trying to land an entry level job as a script reader. I’d always heard that creating a generic letter with interchangeable titles was the way to go, but after sending out dozens of those with no response whatsoever, I’m starting to wonder if my technique needs work. Is it utterly out of the question to use humor in a cover letter in an effort to make your name memorable, or would this be perceived as unprofessional, even in an industry as liberal as film? I don’t want to keep hitting a brick wall with my submissions, so any advice would be great. I just need to get noticed without it costing me another lost opportunity.
Film is a glamour profession and it can take years, even working for nothing, to break in. I appreciate your problems because I have been trying to hawk a script idea for years.
I do not know any better than you but my approach is to be brief, highly professional, try to talk the talk and send them something easy to handle in terms of an example.
Film is indeed a very difficult industry to get into, and I would consider taking absolutely any job within the industry, not just limiting yourself to the role of script reader.
I'd probably avoid the use of humour unless you're certain it sounds highly polished and would make them laugh with you, not at you. You have to leave them wanting more. Don't just use a generic letter – do your research. It might sound dull, but the way you communicate what you have learned from research is what makes the recruiter realise you are serious about the job. I read my university interviewers past years' papers so i could use his own interests to seduce him at interview- it worked!
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