How to Make a Demo Reel for Auditions — Top 5 Tips
A well put-together demo reel that showcases your best performance is key to booking more acting jobs. Although demo reels tend to vary, here are some suggestions for making sure your acting demo reel or production demo reel positions you well for potential acting opportunities.
1. Keep it Short
Every editor will give you a different opinion about the length of your demo reel… but most will say the same thing: KEEP IT SHORT. A demo reel should highlight your best work, not everything you’ve ever done. Ideally, your reel should be 60 to 90 seconds, and rarely over two minutes. A video editor must know how to edit and make a demo reel for auditions so as to demonstrate your talent and tell a clear story in a condensed amount of time.
2. Make it Specific
Production work these days requires one to have multiple skill sets. When you apply for a position you should target your demo reel to an individual skill or job function (i.e. Director, Editor, Director of Photography, etc.). You may have to create multiple reels, but this will present a more focused application.
Potential employers have limited time and prefer to see examples that pertain to the position they are hiring for. Demonstrating that you know how to make a demo reel for auditions will tell them that you’re serious about the job.
3. Collage or Samples?
Demo reels are typically either “collage” type reels that show quick shots cut to music or “scene-based” reels that show short samples of clips cut together in some context. The choice is yours. Collage reels work best with spot, commercial, and short-form work, while scene reels are ideal for spotlight, narrative, documentary, and journalism-based projects.
Pick one style and use it consistently throughout your reel. That’s how to make a demo reel for auditions that stands out for the viewer!
4. Put Your Best Foot Forward
For demo reels it is very important not to save the best for last. It is imperative that you lead with your strongest work…you only have a few seconds to grab the viewer’s attention.
5. Your Work Only!
Don’t be deceptive by representing someone else’s work as your own. Make sure that you had some part in whatever footage you show. Don’t apply for a job if your work doesn’t meet the qualifications. Instead, keep improving your craft so as to get hired in the future. Especially in small production markets (where word travels fast), dishonesty could mean the end of a career. Be smart and be honest!
Get Started with Michelle Danner Acting Studio
Still struggling to come to terms with how to make a demo reel for your audition? Struggle no more! Enroll today for our Demo Reel classes. Get ahead of your competitors with professional coaching and help to create an outstanding acting demo reel. Explore more acting classes at Michelle Danner Acting Studio — the premier performing arts school in the L.A.
Breaking Into The Industry -The Business of Acting
The must know business aspects of launching your acting career and marketing yourself.
Prepares students with the tools required to break through in Hollywood.
Michelle Danner uses her years of experience within the business as a director, teacher, and actress to give actors a head start, and bypass years of trial and error.
This class is for actors who need an agent, who are trying to get to the next level, who are unsatisfied with the amount of auditions they are getting, and who have an agent but need to book work.
Reasons to join this class:
*Just moved to L.A.
*Just starting your Acting Career
*Been Acting for a short/long time
*Don’t have an Agent / Have an Agent
*Not getting auditions
*Getting auditions but not booking
You can reach our acting school in Los Angeles at (310) 392-0815. Let us know if you have any questions about in person classes in Los Angeles or online course please email us at [email protected]
Free online acting classes are not available but we do have discounted online acting courses and beginner acting classes-
