Got some really good input from an old hand yesterday that I thought worth passing on.
Most people just cut together all the juicy bits of stuff they've done or worked on, oftenly to some music. I doesn't really work well at all.
You need to tell the viewer more. Who it was for, what it was for, what the budget was for it and what your role in the production was. If you're putting it on a website or DVD and you've got a good body of work catagorise it.
People who are looking for someone have a specific requirement in mind. Make it easy for them to find if and how well you can get done what they need doing and for what budget.
It's remarkable what skills people will pay for if you tell them what you can make happen. Case in point. This gent has the right contacts within the local aboriginal community to get entry and shooting permits. So his showreel and his revised website will not just have a shot of some black fellas dancing around, it tells prospective clients that he was the guy who made that shot happen and his website is being setup so search engines will find the right keywords. Just knowing local customs and regulations so you can grease the wheels for an out of town or overseas crew can earn you money.
Even if you've never thought about that side of the business because you just swing a camera and edit the stuff remember along the way you acquire other skills and knowledge that can be valuable to other people, some of them with big budgets. And don't forget to send them a bill for your expertise.
Bob.
Most people just cut together all the juicy bits of stuff they've done or worked on, oftenly to some music. I doesn't really work well at all.
You need to tell the viewer more. Who it was for, what it was for, what the budget was for it and what your role in the production was. If you're putting it on a website or DVD and you've got a good body of work catagorise it.
People who are looking for someone have a specific requirement in mind. Make it easy for them to find if and how well you can get done what they need doing and for what budget.
It's remarkable what skills people will pay for if you tell them what you can make happen. Case in point. This gent has the right contacts within the local aboriginal community to get entry and shooting permits. So his showreel and his revised website will not just have a shot of some black fellas dancing around, it tells prospective clients that he was the guy who made that shot happen and his website is being setup so search engines will find the right keywords. Just knowing local customs and regulations so you can grease the wheels for an out of town or overseas crew can earn you money.
Even if you've never thought about that side of the business because you just swing a camera and edit the stuff remember along the way you acquire other skills and knowledge that can be valuable to other people, some of them with big budgets. And don't forget to send them a bill for your expertise.
Bob.