OT: Acting Reel Questions

Harold Brown wrote on 12/30/2007, 10:11 AM

I am working on a DVD for an actor. I plan on having three chapters.
1) Acting, 2) Modeling, 3) Special Talents.

Acting will be a few minutes long and have short clips from various commercials, etc.
Modeling will be still photos from the various modeling jobs (quick simple transitions)
Special Talents will be examples of music talent, etc.

I have not done an acting reel before so I am not sure if there are any standards that are followed. Right now I don't plan on adding any music to the DVD menu or still image montage. Just simple straight to the point images. Is there anything I should know about or take into consideration? Should I include music? Any special attention getting ideas?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide,
Harold

Comments

richard-courtney wrote on 12/30/2007, 11:32 AM

There was a post a few years ago. If I find it will edit with a link.

Say what is to be expressed in the first 30 seconds.......................
your tape / dvd will quickly be dismissed if they don't see what they are looking for.

No bars/tone have it cued to play. You can expand on specifics later on.
No flashy graphics but actors name/agency ok.

craftech wrote on 12/30/2007, 11:46 AM

If they are commercials ask her which ones show off her talent the best. If there are scenes from movies or plays, CDs and Agents would rather see a whole scene than bits and pieces.

If this is for a website as well as a VHS/DVD reel provide both low and hi-res QT and Windows Media versions.

John

UKAndrewC wrote on 12/30/2007, 6:20 PM

Here's a few, may give you some ideas.

http://www.ukedit.co.uk/showreels.html

I never put music on the DVD menu, just in case it becomes annoying to casting people watching.

Andrew

Harold Brown wrote on 12/30/2007, 7:06 PM

Thanks everyone for the input. Thanks for the website link Andrew. All very helpful.
I know what I need to do!

craftech wrote on 1/1/2008, 11:35 AM

Here's a few, may give you some ideas.

www.ukedit.co.uk/showreels.html

I never put music on the DVD menu, just in case it becomes annoying to casting people watching.
============
The acting reels were kind of disjointed and too dark to see very well. They should have been color corrected and more focused. Remember, it is not your editing talents that are being evaluated, it is the skill of the actor in the situation of the scene itself. The CD or Agent needs to have a reason to call them after viewing this stuff.

Take a look at these:

Julia Winter

John

Harold Brown wrote on 3/11/2008, 7:48 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input on creating an acting reel. This is the "Magic Promotional Reel" that I did. There are 2 other reels that need to be completed but will have similar look and feel. Feel free to comment. No grudges from me.
Thanks again.
http://www.edellismagic.com/Actor.html
The Horton commercial starts playing so you can stop that unless you want to watch it. The Magic Promo Reel is below the Horton commercial.

craftech wrote on 3/11/2008, 9:34 PM

Looks good Harold. A little jerky on my PIII 1GHZ computer, but plays well on my 2.4GHZ Core 2 rig.
Personally I think you should have included a QT or WMP version though.

John

JackW wrote on 3/11/2008, 10:45 PM

Make sure all the contact information for the actor is printed on the face of the DVD.

Audition materials, like sports recruiting videos, have a way of getting scattered around a casting director's desk. A bright colorful label makes the disc easier to find in the clutter, and the contact info on it means not having to look for the box.

I liked your magic promo. Looks good.

Jack

Harold Brown wrote on 3/12/2008, 6:30 PM

Thanks for the comments. The acting website isn't complete but I will make sure to include several versions of the file.