So you've done some regional film and television work. You've may have even stared in your own commercial or have been featured on a sitcom. And now, your various production reels are starting grow and grow. So, what do you do with all of this work you've compiled throughout your budding career?An actor's demo reel is video or audio presentation that's used to show off your acting skills to an individual or company you'd like to work with. It's full of clips of your past work. Demo reels are sometimes called demo tapes or show reels. They're a crucial marketing tool for actors, so it's important to learn how to create an effective actor's demo reel.
This demo reel is all about YOU, and not about the other actors. Sometimes you can't help but have a few other actors on your reel, and this is okay - but only in extreme moderation. This may take some editing to do so, however, only choose the works that YOU are featured in. You can include footage from ACTUAL television shows, film or commercials. If you have done an industrial video, you may include a short clip from that if you feel that your performance is beneficial to showing your range as an actor. If you don't have any professional production footage, start working harder. Because not only do you want to build up your resume, but you also want to build up your demo reel.
Include your best material in the beginning. More than likely whoever is watching your demo reel has about a hundred other demo reels to view, thus the outcome that they will watch the entire video is extremely slim. This is why you MUST put your strongest pieces of footage first. Pick the scenes that showcase your raw talent as an actor in the beginning. After these scenes, then put the secondary scenes in. But this is the most important step, because if you put a "so-so" scene first, the likelihood of having the agent or casting director view any further is very slim. Most agents, producers or casting directors know about an actor's talent within the first few moments of viewing a demo reel. So ensure that that the first thing they see of you is perfect and professional.
Don't use any stage performances, unless you're making the demo reel for a theatrical agent. This is very important. The video quality of most theatrical performances is extremely poor. This will make your demo reel look amateurish and is both an annoyance and an inconvenience for the agent/casting director that is viewing your reel. Keep all of your material of the same style. If you are sending your demo reel to a theatrical agent or casting director, than it is appropriate to only include your stage performances, but if not, steer clear from them.Contact the directors of the various projects you've worked on. Get them to send you clips of the sections where your work appeared. Sort through the clips you get from directors. Select only the absolute best. Be brutally hard as you eliminate some clips. You need to make the best impression possible on your demo tape, and one lousy shot could ruin your chances of getting the job. Make your demo reel the length of an average television commercial. An actor's demo reel should only be 30 seconds long. When you make the reel, see yourself as the producer of a TV commercial that promotes you. If you must make your demo reel longer, never exceed 4 or 5 minutes. Hire someone to compile the best clips onto a professional DVD. Get a digital file of it so that you have the option to post online on your website. Here is a sample Demo Reel by Sean Velie:
