Demo Reels

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Guidelines for a
great demo reel

Your reel is the second most important marketing piece in your arsenal. What makes a good demo? Here's some thoughts on the topic

THE STANDARD LA DEMO REEL

These are the guidelines to editing a great demo reel:

1) Opening - Open with 3 seconds of just your name, preferably white type on a black background. Then cut to...

2) First Scene - Open with your best scene first. It should be 20-45 seconds. Make sure that the scene "features" you. Cut out or edit around anything that doesn't feature you. See below for more details. Then cut to...

3) Second Scene - Same instructions as above. Then cut to...

4) Third Scene - Same instructions as above. Then cut to...

5) Fourth Scene - Use a fourth scene only if needed to show a special talent. Same instructions as above. Then cut to...

6) Closing - End with 3 seconds of just your name, in the same manner as the opening.

Additional Notes:

A standard up-and-coming actor's demo reel should be between 1 and 2 minutes. Most casting directors never get past the first or second scene, so keep it brief. It's always better to leave them wanting more than showing them too much. Usually a minute or so is more than enough to show them who you are, how you cast and how you act. It can be longer only if you have a large amount of great work, especially if it's notable work on studio or network projects.

Every scene on your demo should feature you. It's about you, not the other actors. Whenever possible, start each scene with the camera on you and end with it on you. The second another actor starts to take the focus of the scene, cut out or edit around their lines or actions so that it doesn't distract the viewer from you. Don't worry about showing us context or the story line. We don't care. All we care to see in a demo is how you look on camera, how you cast and how's your acting ability. That said, don't cut the other actor(s) out entirely. Great acting is always about chemistry. So, we need to see the chemistry between you and the other actor(s).

It's best if the first three scenes of your demo reel show each of your primary three types or essences (as we discuss and determine in our classes). You can have a comedy and a drama version if you like but a combo of both in a single demo is preferable. There is a lot of talk these days about posting individual clips on your Actors Access or LA Casting pages but most casting directors still prefer a good demo reel with several scenes. They'll easily see more variety that way. No one wants to sit on your page all day clicking through clips. They just don't have the time to do that.

Some additional thoughts

Jeremy Gordon on what makes

a good demo reel

“For a recent pilot I watched more reels with the online submissions than ever before. And I'm noticing that so many of them are HORRIBLE...really, really crappy reels.

There was a trend (in the 80's and 90's) where actors started their reel (which should really be 2 minutes max) with a 30-45 second introduction/music montage with their favorite song and random pictures displayed on the screen. Then somebody had the terrible idea to put very short "cool" clips in there, too, underscored by music (like you shooting a gun or jumping off a building). This was a bad idea. Sorry, it's true. If you think we're sitting through all that just to get to your first scene.....well, not so much. Get to the point.

They should start with your name and your first and best scene should start within 3 seconds of pressing play, literally. When we have to look through 2500 submissions for a guest star, all that montage time adds up. PLEASE be smart about your reels. We don't care about the fancy editing skills you probably paid a lot of money for. We just want to see you ACT. Trends have changed since the good ole days. Just like headshots are no longer B&W.”

- Jeremy Gordon, Casting Director