So let’s say you’ve done a few acting gigs and the productions you’ve appeared in have been televised or the film you were in has had its premiere. This means you’re probably ready to get a ‘showreel from existing footage’ or a ‘from footage showreel’ made. 

That’s how Slick Showreels actually started don’t you know. Back in 2010 we launched creating only showreels made from existing material and the majority of our clients had VHS they needed converting. Digital clips were a rarity so It was a much bigger task to get all the clips you needed. Nowadays, it’s so easy. Isn’t it? Well it is but there’s still a bit of ground work to do. So below we’ve outlined some helpful tips.

Sourcing your material:

If you have all the material already… #Winning. If not, the best place to start is by contacting the production companies via your agent or even better, go direct if you have the contacts to do so. It’s usually a standard term in your contract for the production company to supply you with a DVD or some sort of copy of the production. It is extra effort for the company so they won’t hand it out to you unless you ask. They are not obliged to do this whatsoever if the production hasn’t been released publically though, so find out the release date.

Short films can be especially difficult as they don’t have a standard release date. They usually have a festival run before any potential distribution which can actually last a couple of years. Again, just check with the production company where you stand. They may be lenient if they know you will just be using the footage for showreel purposes only.

If the production has been released already it should be quite straightforward to get hold of but still might require a bit of chasing. The key is to be persistent without becoming annoying.

If for whatever reason you can’t get hold of a copy we might be able to help source your material. We have certain tools that can source footage in HD quality. We can’t guarantee to always be able to source it, but 75% of the time if a production has been released we can find it for you. 

When it comes to DVD’s these are still currently at a good quality and can easily be converted for very cheap at Snappy Snaps but If you have a production on VHS you might want to consider not using it. As far as we know you can still get this converted at Snappy Snaps but the quality will look a bit retro (not in a good way). This is simply because the technical quality of production has improved so much that anything less than HD is going to look poor. You don’t want that to reflect you as an actor. The best files you can get for your showreel will be digital files. Everything has to be converted into digital files anyway now so you might as well push for that.

Timecodes: 

So if and when you have all your footage the next thing to do is consider the layout of your reel. Unless there is a specific plan or reason from your agent, there is a rule that ourselves and every casting director in the world would probably recommend. That is to KEEP YOUR SHOWREEL SHORT.

Not only will this be cheaper as we base our pricing on the length but it will have more of an impact for casting directors trawling through hundreds of showreels. 

The truth is you will get a better showreel if you don’t just hand the editor all of the footage and make them choose for you. What do they know about your acting? We guarantee that you are more qualified to select the best bits of your performances than any editor would be. Yes our editors have an opinion and yes they will guide you through and comment on what looks best but they don’t know your work like you do. So, be picky and choose only your best bits. Look for variation. There’s no point having a showreel full of 3 dramatic scenes of you crying. Try and select clips that will showcase your versatility.

Your showreel timecode notes should look a little bit like these from Freddie Fox and Miles Higson:

Get to the point:

We appreciate how difficult it is to select your footage. You are so close to it. It is your work and your art. Just try to be brutal. If you have a good body of work you will probably have lots of little clips that you like because you look good at a certain angle or you like what you’re wearing in a particular scene. Ultimately that won’t matter to a casting director. If they want to see how you look they have your headshot. What really matters are two main aspects of your performance; how you deliver dialogue and how you react to dialogue. In our opinion anything beyond that can be made into a 60 second montage or sizzle reel which you can have as a separate clip on your Spotlight page. 

Not all montages are bad, some are done very well and contain little key moments of dialogue. They are like micro scenes. The montages we are referring to are the ones with no dialogue and are just self indulgent shots over music. Avoid where possible. 

If you are in doubt, ask your editor or your agent (if you have one).

We hope this helps. If you want any more advice about preparing yourself for editing your material into a Showreel then just email info@slickshowreels.co.uk or Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for inspiration. 

Thanks

Slick Showreels