Creating a demo reel can seem like a daunting task. It took me 2 years to actually update my demo reel. It can be quite rewarding though when you finish it and look at all of the work that you’ve done. Here is my latest demo reel:
The thought process behind my latest demo reel.
MUSIC – The music is everything for this reel. It is licensed through audiojungle.net and once I heard the song, my search was over. I truly felt that this song is a reflection of my style at this moment. It is impactful and epic, but yet emotional and classic.
MY FOCUS – Since i’m focusing on more narrative work, I wanted to craft a demo reel that felt like a story. I chose to find key phrases in my work that I could use to somewhat drive a story. I wanted the phrases to be positive and leave the viewer feeling inspired. I also believe keeping some of the natural sounds under the music also helps bring the audience into the reel. I’ve grouped particular genres, like horror and action in the same section so that the edit would flow better.
A great demo reel should always have your best shots in it. I’ve made the mistake of not putting older shots in my newer reels because it was old. Including the best work you’ve done is exactly what you want to show on your demo reel.
There are different ways you can approach making your demo reel.
One approach, which is the most common, is making a montage style reel. This reel takes your images and places it over music. If you haven’t done much narrative work, this will be the best approach. Another approach is having certain scenes play out, basically giving the audience an entire clip so they can get a feel for a scene, context of the commercial, etc. My latest demo reel is a little bit of both. However, here is an example of an earlier reel that I did that was a montage:
Just to be completely transparent, here is an even earlier demo reel, which was a montage as well. This reel was more focused on music videos and commercials. You should be able to see the transition in my reels to more narrative pieces. Also, notice the improvement in cinematography. Everyone starts somewhere.
Tips for making a demo reel:
- START WITH YOUR BEST WORK
- Shorter is usually sweeter. You want to leave your audience wanting more.
- Focus on the work you want to attract
- Be mindful of different aspect ratios and frame rates.
- Find impactful music you can license.
- Try not to show duplicate footage
- Make your demo reel a reflection of you.
- END WITH YOUR BEST WORK
If you have any questions about making a demo reel, feel free to email me at info@gaddisvisuals.com. Also, feel free to share your demo reels.