March 29, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Get Reel

by Guy Camilleri

Can you book a gig without an acting (demo) reel? Heck yeah! Would it behoove you to have a demo reel? You betcha!

Now that we got that out of the way, one of the most frequent concerns I hear from actors at my acting studio in Venice is the need for a reel.

What exactly is a demo reel? A demo reel is an opportunity to showcase your work from television and film. In literal terms, it’s a compilation of your acting clips arranged in a specific order and typically two to four minutes in length.

In truth, if you want to be regarded as a professional and hope to gain productive employment (paid gigs), sooner or later, you will need to have a demo reel, especially in today’s climate. On a typical day, casting directors, directors, and producers can quickly and efficiently view demo reels any place, any time. And, the last thing you want, is to be known as a ‘reel-less’ actor, resulting in lost opportunities that very well may have been yours had you had this essential tool.

But how the heck do you get a demo reel if you don’t have on-camera credits, or worse yet, update your reel when you haven’t booked a gig in a long time?

Fear not, here is a list of 8 REEL-RULES to create an undeniable demo reel!

1.    Make a list of your on-camera moments. When assembling the clips, lead with your best work, period. Be sure to mark down the time-code, leaving a 5 second time lag before and after each clip for the editor.

2.    Hopefully, you are using professionally produced content. For beginners with little experience, that can be unrealistic. In speaking with many casting directors and reel editors, the industry has become more accepting of reels that aren’t professional, as long as the picture, lighting and sound quality is acceptable.

3.    Create new content! In place of sitting around waiting for the phone to ring, grab a good camera and film an original scene with your friends. Or, take an excellent, unique, monologue and shoot it in a medium shot with professional equipment. Some of my clients are using self-tapes they nailed, (or even booked) to add to their current reel or to create their first reel.

4.    Your clips need to start and end with you, not the other way around! Remember, this is an opportunity to showcase your work not the actor opposite you in the scene. I’m sure you are a very generous, but this is not a ‘two actors for the price of one reel.’ If scenes don’t start with you, a casting director spends precious minutes trying to figure out whose reel it is. Worse yet, once they figure it out, they have already moved on to the next actor who they can recognize.

5.    As a guideline, reels are typically 2-4 minutes long, but in reality, every reel is a speed reel (1 min). Those in the position to hire you will watch what they want for as long as they want, so make it count.

6.     Post the demo reel on your website and video sites (Vimeo, YouTube) and be sure to upload them on your casting profiles (Actors Access, LA casting and ImdbPro). Break the reel into individual clips and upload them as well.

7.    Once you have assembled the files, hire an editor or recruit a knowledgeable and reliable friend to assist you.

8.     Always update your reel as you gain on-cameral credits and create content that belongs on your reel.

Go get ‘em!

Guy Camilleri is a Venice-based actor, acting coach, and poet. He teaches regular classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Electric Lodge, in Venice. His private coaching specializes in audition preparation, self-taped auditions, original reels and career consultation. To audit a class or book a coaching session, email guy@rawactingstudio.com. Follow Guy on Instagram @guycamilleri and Facebook.

Related Posts

New Program Can Help Protect Southern California Homes in the Event of an Earthquake

May 13, 2023

May 13, 2023

Residents Have Until May 31 To Apply For Seismic Retrofit Grants By Janiele Maffei, Chief Mitigation Officer for the California...

Venice Shorts: Tree Trimming Underway Thanks to the Vsa!

April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023

VSA Has Taken up the Task of Trimming Italian Stone Pine Trees. By Nick Antonicello Following the recent toppling of...

Venice Stakeholders Association’s Comments on Traci Park’s Broken Bridge Housing Promise

April 24, 2023

April 24, 2023

By Marc Ryavec I have been struggling with how to address the phenomenon that someone I and many others in...

Column: Tired OF Declinists? Some Enduring New California Positives

April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023

By Thomas D. Elias California has taken a beating lately, with (mostly Republican) governors of other states blasting many aspects...

Venice Shorts: The South Venice Blvd Encampment, Is It a Candidate for a City Cleanup?

April 14, 2023

April 14, 2023

One of the last of the large encampments closest to the beach, Venetians are hopeful help is on the way!...

Venice Shorts: Averill Defeats Tyminski 63%-37% to Become President of Venice Neighborhood Council

April 3, 2023

April 3, 2023

In second bid for top spot, surfer/photographer Brian Averill coasts to an easy win against Venice attorney and outgoing Vice-President...

Column: Install at LAX Tiny Homes From The State Grant

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

By Clark Brown On March 16  Governor Newsom announced in Sacramento, his first stop on his State of the State of...

Venice Shorts: Night & Day – Flower & Lincoln Transformed, Back in Business

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

By Nick Antonicello In what was a Venice eyesore just a few months ago has been transformed into a place...

Opinion: Please Vote for Daffodil Tyminski

March 25, 2023

March 25, 2023

This is Tom Williams, your neighbor at 1011 Main Street.  With the upcoming VNC election this Sunday, I wanted to reach...

Venice Shorts: Popular Local Jim Robb Seeks Vp Slot, Endorses Brian Averill for President of the VNC!

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

By Nick Antonicello  VENICE – In a twist of events longtime Community Officer Jim Robb will now be seeking the...

Venice Shorts: Tabor Family Legacy Amara Hordt Seeks Seat on VNC This Sunday!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Local realtor looks to follow a family legacy of engaged community involvement here in Venice By Nick Antonicello VENICE –...

Venice Shorts: Erica Moore, A Cheerleader For Venice In Her Run For Community Officer!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – Local caterer Erica Moore is making a second run for the Venice Neighborhood Council, but...

Venice Shorts: Running Unopposed, Nico Ruderman’s Deep Dive Into Politics and Government Continues!

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

By Nick Antonicello VENICE – It has been an interesting two years of political action, involvement and advocacy for Nico...

Venice Shorts: “V” for Venice Volunteer

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Media professional, local business owner and Dad, Eric Alan Donaldson is defined by his volunteerism and love of Venice. By...

Deborah Keaton, a Consensus Building Candidate for VNC Community Officer!

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Creative director, global brander and private business owner seeks a general consensus on what’s best for Venice moving forward.  By...