Clive, Congratulations on landing the talent for the film. So "just what did it take to get her to agree to act in your film?" Carol Rose
Actually it was really simple, I contacted her agent explaining that this was our second feature film, what plans we had for the project and asked whether she'd be interested in reading the next draft of the script. When the agent said yes, I sent over my forty page treatment so everyone would know what kind of project we were looking at, along with that, I explained why I was coming to her first for the role and some background on the character. I got a positive response to that, which I followed up with an email a few weeks later telling them when the script would be ready.
Once I was happy that the script was right, I sent it off with a covering e-mail (having already established that she was happy with an electronic, rather than paper version). Four weeks later I got an e-mail directly from the actor saying that she loved the script and that providing we could work out the contractual details and get the film green-lighted, that she'd love to work on the project.
This is, of course a long way from having the film completed with her in it, however, at this point it validates my script and will help get the distribution deals I need to get a green-light on the project.
I think that the reason that this worked is that I targeted the right script at the right actor. I knew what she'd done and what she was like as a performer and rather than sending her a script that was identical to work she'd already done, I sent her something that would give her the opportunity to take on new acting challenges. My theory has always been that once you get past the money issues, all any actor wants, is the chance to do good work. I think the challenge for the indie filmmaker is to provide a credible pitch for the project, attached to good material.
to this 
in two and a half years.
