Showreel

[ruby95]

I created a showreel for myself yesterday. It still looks pretty amateur to me so any recommendations for how to improve it would be much appreciated. Also, if I were to put it on my spotlight in its current state, would that seem really unprofessional?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWeoonH9zDU

[JTBmum]

HI, I think its very good, but you could cut it down and get rid of the montage bits and a couple of bits of repetition. When I did ds's showreel with a company, I was told that CDs etc do not like montages and you need to demonstrate different qualities in a very short time. I would try to edit it down a bit to keep it to clips where you are heavily featured and possibly 3 mins? Although I am not an expert!

[ruby95]

Thanks! Sorry to be thick but what do you mean by montage? Do you mean the 30 seconds at the begining with the music?

[JTBmum]

Yes, btw ds was done at Pelinor, who have some examples on their website. Actually, some have a short montage at the beginning, but most of the showreels are not really longer than 4 mins. Maybe try to edit it down to a bit to about 4 mins? Im not an expert tho Still think its v good.

Anyone else got any ideas?

[pg]

You have some really great material that shows you in a good light, but I agree with JTBmum that it's too long -especially with the material you have. I think you could cut the material down to around 2 minutes or even less and have a better showreel that would garner more interest. Less is more - and other cliches Most CDs watch between 30 seconds (sometimes less) to one minute of a reel.

I would ditch the montage too. All the CDs I have spoken to prefer showreels without. I have one on mine and am intending to ditch it at the next go. The editing is great, but it doesn't really get on quickly enough with the job of providing CDs who don't know me with a clue about whether or not I can act and whether I am right for the job. All it really shows is that I can give interesting "looks" and walk about a bit - and most of it shows me looking downright miserable...

I don't think you need the books, either - nor do you really need to say what it is from - your CV will do that if someone is interested.

I think you need to get straight in to your best acting scene.

Pelinor did mine too. They are good editors and have lots of experience but I am actually going to ask one of DS's friends if he will edit my next one as I think he is even better!

Great material though - congratulations!

[JTBmum]

I'd be interested in your ds's friend's details pg if you could dm me

[ruby95]

Thanks so much to both of you. That is really helpful!

I've cut the showreel down by removing repetition - its now 3:36

I've moved what me and my mum both considered to be my best scene to the start

I've kept the montage just because there are clips in there that I couldn't include as part of longer scenes that I still want in there to demonstrate my range. But I have moved the montage to after the slide with my agency on it so its not the first thing you see anymore.

Here is the new, and hopefully improved, showreel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cdmu0cy8a0

[pg]

I think that works much better! Congratulations on some great editing too.

I would recommend asking your agent for further advice. They may say it's fine as it is, or they may suggest a bit more trimming. My agent gave me some very specific and helpful advice about my showreel edit - what to leave out and what to put in - and she is the one who does the bulk of my "marketing", so I felt it appropriate to follow her advice.

[ruby95]

Thanks so much PG! I've sent it to my agent. Now I must get back to my A level revision!!!!!

To reference my other thread, you know you're a young performer when... you take breaks from revision to make a showreel

[pg]

I'd be interested in your ds's friend's details pg if you could dm me

I'm sorry! I realised that I never replied to this. I've been in touch with ds's friend and unfortunately he is busy pretty well flat out until October . I have asked my nephew to take a look at mine. I will let you know how it goes!