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If you want to be a professional actor, having a SHOWREEL of your work, on DVD, VHS or whatever format is applicable, as part of your self-promotion package is important. Most casting directors and agents will want to see you on film before they hire you for an acting job or represent you. Having a showreel also gives you a little "hook" when you send your photo and CV to agents and casting directors, and you can mention in your cover letter that you have some samples of your work available on film.
Ideally, your showreel will include work that you've done professionally, such as clips from a few commercials, or clips of film scenes that show you at your best. Professional editing is a must. Not only will you appear unprofessional if your showreel is not of good quality, but a professional editor can also help you decide which clips to use and in what order to present them.
If you haven't yet done any film work, there are other ways to get film of yourself. Many universities have film-making courses in which the student filmmakers use non-union and / or local actors - because they have no budget and these actors will work for free!
Films made by junior and senior students can be very well done. This is also a valuable way to gain experience in front of the camera. If you live in a large city, check the local newspapers and call around to local arthouse cinemas, universities and colleges to find out if they post audition notices for student films. Even smaller universities may have film courses, so check their websites.
If you audition for and are cast in one of these, ask the director to sign a written agreement (it can be short and simple) that states they will provide you with a copy of the finished film. Do keep after them to get your copy to you, as students are often so busy that getting copies of their finished film to can get forgotten!
Unless your Dad's Spielberg, making a home-movie of yourself acting will probably not impress anyone in the profession, as they will be looking for professional acting work, professionally edited. In fact, it's often best if you wait until you have some good professional acting experience under your belt before you create your first showreel.
Remember, creating a great first impression is what a showreel is about. So a badly filmed, poorly edited, amateurish showreel will not put you in a good light! Once you have several scenes from which to choose, invite some other actors (preferably those with good experience, and whose judgment you trust) to view your scenes and to offer their opinions on which moments show you at your best.
If you're taking acting classes from a teacher you respect, you might ask them to have a look at the film and suggest some clips for inclusion in your showreel. The reason for this is that we all view ourselves and our work subjectively, rather than objectively, and a scene that you don't think much of may show something that others find very appealing.
In general, you'll want to choose scenes where you and one or two other actors are the primary focus. Don't use scenes where the focus is on others and you have only a line or two!Bear in mind that professional editors usually work by the hour and are not cheap, so you'll want to be as prepared as you can before your appointment. If the scenes are from a movie, note the "counter" numbers where each scene begins, so you can tell the editor where each scene is in the movie. If you have to spend time searching for each scene, you'll waste valuable time.
If you're going to take clips along from several sources, make sure they're all labeled so you can find each one easily. You can usually find professional editing services in your local business directory or you may try finding students studying practical editing in local colleges or at university.A professional editor will put titles and your contact information on your showreel. The showreel should be three to six minutes long and well-paced, so that it keeps the attention of anyone who's watching it. It's better to choose short scenes (a page or two of dialogue), in order to keep the pace going, rather than putting in an entire four-minute scene.
Often, beginning the clip in the middle of a scene will create a strong impression - conflict usually builds in a scene, and starting in the middle usually means starting with a heightened intensity - think about movie trailers - they're usually made up of some of the more dramatic moments in the movie.
First impressions are most important, so it's better to put your best work first rather than starting with some of your lesser work and building up to the best - you want to grab the eye of a casting director or agent right off the bat… BEFORE they have a chance to switch off!.Once you have your edited showreel, make several copies and put your contact information clearly on each copy. Some actors glue their postcards (the smaller version of their 8 x 10 photographs) on the showreel cover, along with their name and contact information.As your career progresses and your work becomes better and better, you'll want to create new showreels every few years or so, just as you update your photographs and CV.
REMEMBER: Never loan out your original 'master' copy! Even if you have to tell the biggest agent in the World that they will have to wait to see your showreel! Even the most careful people can lose things or spill coffee on occasion and your original master copy of your showreel represents a large investment of your time and money. Keep it in a safe place and never loan it out!
DON'T FORGET TO CLEARLY MARK YOUR SHOWREEL AND THE CASE YOU PUT IT IN WITH YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION / AGENT'S CONTACT DETAILS.
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