quote:

Originally posted by Robert Wilde Photography:
Another possibility would be:

attend a short film festival. Jot down the people you like. Approach them, and tell them you truly love their work.

Chances are, that they, like you, do not have much money, and if you throw in a little money for a co-production, you will get highly personal work.

What an interesting idea--love it!

Yeah, great advice here, as I had this problem too! I know photographers do photoshoots called TFP or TFCD-- "Time for Print" or "Time for CD." So you can probably find someone on Craigslist or Mandy.com looking to do the equivalent if money is an issue.

I went to one of the companies mentioned in this thread.

I don't know if a reel that is edited like a short is that good.

Doesn't a casting director want to see YOU act, and not the camera? Any edit, and it's not you who acts. And then there are other guys in the scene.

Maybe it's best to have a reel like those screen tests that you can see in DVD extras sometimes: just one, continuous take, and you can watch the actor acting. And it's also cheaper to produce.

Marcus, a reel is not a film short. Whatever you got from BestShotFilms.com should have been edited artfully down to your parts to showcase your skills. It is important to get a good reel editor too.

Anyone who wants to act in films should have a demo reel. It doesn't need to be long or perfect or the highest professional quality, but it needs to exist. Anyone with a $250 digital camcorder can record one for you. The most important part is to get someone with the right editing software to edit it for you so there are no rough spots or unwanted fotage. I would suggest at least three different bits on the reel....not 20, because no one will watch that much. Three different samples of what you can do. The choice of material is less important
than what you convey, so make sure 1)your voice is clearly audible; 2)you include both long shots and closeups; 3)wear a different outfit for each bit and maybe change your makeup and hair; 4)figure out how you are going to get copies made once the demo is edited, so you can send it to more than one place at a time. Make sure you or your editor keep the master copy. Of course if you can afford it, you should hire a reputable production company or videographer to do all of this; but if you have no money and desperately need a demo, find somebody with a digi camcorder and just DO IT.

quote:

Originally posted by zdirector:
Anyone who wants to act in films should have a demo reel. It doesn't need to be long or perfect or the highest professional quality, but it needs to exist. Anyone with a $250 digital camcorder can record one for you.

When an agent, casting director or producer asks to see "your reel," they are most definitely not referring to an amateur video of you reciting Hamlet in your parents' basement with a borrowed camcorder!!!

Industry professionals want to see "what you've done..."-- legitimate, bona fide film clips from filmed productions that someone actually produced. It could be a student film or a major feature, but when someone requests your 'reel,' you can bet your union card that they aren't referring to a taped scene that you shot in your parents' basement.

Demo reels represent REAL PROOF -- not just of acting ability (which could easily be ascertained with a simple reading in the office or a respected agent's recommendation) but actual, filmed evidence that can enable them to pitch you for a prospective role or agency representation. A reel represents your history and track record in the business, the backbone of your entire professional career.

Anyone can do a taped scene, and actors often lie and exaggerate on their resumes. Thus the need for filmed reels.

www.robertkim.com

A recent Back Stage article on producing your own content for reels:
http://www.backstage.com/bso/search/article_display.jsp...ontent_id=1003724590

Check it out for ideas and referrals.

quote:

Originally posted by Jackie:

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Wilde Photography:
Another possibility would be:

attend a short film festival. Jot down the people you like. Approach them, and tell them you truly love their work.

Chances are, that they, like you, do not have much money, and if you throw in a little money for a co-production, you will get highly personal work.

What an interesting idea--love it!

Incidentally, I did this yesterday, and just came across this piece of advice right now. If you or a friend has an American Express card, it'll grant you access to their shorts screenings in Union Square through Friday for the TriBeCa Film Festival. There was one short in particular that really stood out from the nine or so I saw, and I couldn't let the opportunity to meet the director slip by.

Oh, and there's free food and drinks...

Great tip!

Do you suggest reels for children?

My daughter has been doing print for the past 2 years but has recently been in two commercials and two stage plays and now wants to do more commercials as well as TV. Would it be a good idea to have a reel made now or perhaps wait until she has more experience?

How old is your daughter? I have heard that little kids do not need reels. Supposedly, the younger you are, the more you can get away without having one.

The biggest issue with producing your own content for a reel is the quality of the footage. You definitely will need good lighting, sound, and direction. If you have friends who have all the equipment and knowledge, putting together a series of scenes is not hard. I've seen it done with good results that do not look canned.

Just a quick response to Robert Kim: I don't think you read carefully what I wrote. I said nothing about 'amateur', 'Hamlet', or basements. My advice was directed to people who do not already have enough established commercial film credits to put together a reel, because those are the folks who will benefit most from this advice. I am a professional director who views many, many reels, so I do know something about this. The point of my message was that if you do not have established screen credits and cannot afford a fully produced reel of the highest quality, it is still better to put some kind of demo together than nothing at all.