Holy crap, most reels are so bad. Because it’s often requested by reps and casting, actors are so desperate to have footage to show that they throw anything they have—no matter how unflattering—into a movie file and put it up and call it a “reel.” No, no, no, my fellow thespians. A reel, that is not.
From a casting perspective, there are two purposes for reels. First and foremost, to see what professional work you have done, so we know you’ve been vetted by other professionals in our industry and have experience in speaking roles on professional sets. And if you don’t have that, which none of us do when we first start, a reel will just allow us to gauge your skill as an actor, which can easily be shown with great self-taped auditions.
That’s it. We just want to be impressed for either the first or second reason.
READ: Backstage Experts Answer: 13 Tips for Creating Your Demo Reel
If you haven’t done any or enough network TV or studio feature film work, or indie or web content that is up to that professional standard of acting and production, to make a professional reel, then don’t try to fool us that you have. We get it. Just focus on showing us how skilled of an
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