Tuesday, 14 February 2017

What makes a good showreel + showreel plan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcD06KLnm0
Kelly Swint

This showreel consists entirely of self-made footage, none which is of real show performances. This way of filming shouldn't be relied on entirely, although you may want a clear, cut down version of a performance. It doesn't show how you transfer your talent and skills on stage to an actual audience, which requires a lot more confidence and cannot be re-done, unlike self-made clips.


There are no difference in the clips throughout, which suggests they were filmed on the same day. This can come across as a lack of effort, as it was not carefully edited over time.

However, this person shows her variety of skills, as well as verbally explaining her preferences and suited styles. This interview-style clip is a good way of connecting to the viewer, and could encourage them to get in contact as she shows her professional side that knows what kind of actor/performer she is.


Becky Lawrence


The video jumps straight into the showreel with a quick, clear intro displaying her headshot and name boldly. A helpful edit into her showreel was the labelling of each performance, to spot exactly where she is on the stage, her character and the title of the show. This is useful to viewers who can be swiftly directed to where she is on the screen and focus on that person only.

The video contains a large variety of performance, from singing to tap dancing. However does she need all the material that she has provided? I found from research that some performers can make the mistake of 'cluttering' their showreels with a lot of unnecessary clips. She could keep her clips that she is leading in such as her role in the ugly duckling, and keep it as a whole clip instead of chopping it up and spreading it out through the showreel. Particularly at the end, her performance that she had also separated in the showreel built up massively at the end. This should be near the beginning as a lot of the time, directors etc. won't get through your whole showreel. That's why it's best to push your highlights toward the start of the video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5XEiTMWDw4
Hayley Cooper

This showreel is simple yet effective. There are 3 main performances which are clearly her strongest yet, as opposed to inserting other little roles/less impressive performances in the showreel, as this could drag the whole video down. It is a good length and doesn't drag as the chunky sections she chose were impressive. Research into what makes a good showreel state 'less is more'.
This showreel also has a quick intro which allows viewers to jump straight into what they want to see, as well as quickly being reminded of the person.
Acting and singing must be her biggest strengths as the clips did not include any dancing performances. Although musical theatre showreels likely want all main skills, there is no point in including clips that aren't impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF6otHPLA8g&index=11&list=PLl8RU1N6TfpIlehxQwXJXcsW20-xQIf7H
My presentation
These are the sources I used to initially find out what makes a good acting showreel. I then applied these to the showreels I watched on Youtube, picking up on what they could improve and what they did well. This research has helped me think about how i will approach making my own showreel. I focused on Musical Theatre showreels in my presentation, as this would reflect my own showreel. However, I could of included some straight acting showreels, as you may adapt it depending on what role/production you're going for.

https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2014/8-ways-to-make-a-better-showreel/
http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/guide/getting-the-perfect-showreel
http://www.danieljohnsonfilms.co.uk/11-tips-for-creating-a-memorable-acting-showreel/


Showreel Plan

Include:
WWRY performances (scenes and songs)
Antigone
Dance show (Love stories prologue)
Rent (Take Me Or Leave Me) & (Goodbye Love)
Dissocia

Time length: 2 - 3 minutes long

Order of clips:
WWRY
Rent
Dance show
Antigone
Dissocia

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