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TRAINING,
TIPS & TiDBITS
7 Ways to Make the Best of Your Reel (Even If You Don't Have One)
By: David Green
1. If you are trying to get professional roles, you should only have professional material on your reel. [It] should look like it came from network television. It’s better to have someone just see what you can do in person if your reel is going to disappoint them.
2. [D]on't bring it out unless you are going to show it to someone who understands the value it brings [i.e. Casting Directors]. It will serve you far better than sending it out over Twitter or putting it on your website for all to see. Do you really think casting directors are Googling “actor reels” and may stumble upon yours and cast you in the next “Die Hard” installment? [AND NEVER, EVER TELL AN AGENT OR CASTING DIRECTOR TO "GOOGLE ME".]
3. Show your reel only to people for whom it was made. It was made to help you convince people that you can do a job.
4. Your reel should be as short as you can make it [1-2 minutes total]. If someone can’t tell you’re a good actor or right for a part in the first 30 seconds (which is where you have your best stuff), how is [another] five minutes going to help? You want the best up front and it all has to be the best. Have [multiple] reels and submit the one that is relevant for the project you are interested in.
5. Don’t use your reel when you can use yourself. If you meet someone at a party and they are producing something and you both agree that you might be right for the part, don’t tell them to watch your reel. You are just giving them reasons to change their mind.
6. The best way to show your reel is with a private link that can only be used by the person you send it to. Put it on your website if you have one, but it should be viewable on request.
7. .[Yo]u don’t need to put everything you have ever done on display for the world to see. A bad reel is way worse than no reel at all.