yet another demo reel question

[Hunter Hempen]

Ah damn. Answer this if you want, but I just noticed the Demo Reel forum. 😛

My apologies.

—–
Too bad she won’t live! But then again, who does?
-Gaff
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[Cory Petkovsek]

You are assuming a hiring manager or client will watch your demo reel to the end (or at all) among 5-50 other reels. Instead assume they will watch 5-10 seconds, if that is good they might watch another 10-20 seconds, if that is good they might watch another 30. Arrange your content appropriately.
Cory

—
Corporate Video

[Chris Tompkins]

I would lead with a few of the strongest but spread them out thru the whole reel too.
Keep the whole thing Short & Sweet!

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Scott Carnegie]

Best stuff first. Here are my personal reels

https://scottsdemo.mediacircus.tv

http://www.MediaCircus.TV
Media Production Services
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

[Mark Suszko]

An idea: Lead with the best high def stuff you have, then composite your SD stuff into an HD video wall effect of six or more PIP windows. Keep them large enough to appreciate and understand what’s goong on.

This lets the clients see a lot more stuff at once, plus continues to show off your compositing/effects chops, and keeps the whole reel essentially HD and 16×9.

[Chris Tompkins]

A great call Mark.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta LLC

[Todd Terry]

I watch every demo reel that comes across my desk. Well, I might not watch them the second they come in, but I do eventually watch them.

That’s not to say I watch every bit of each reel. It’s not uncommon for me to pop a disc out after watching it for 15 seconds (but hey, at least it made it into the machine).

Put the very best thing you have right off the bat. You can save some of the other good stuff to sprinkle deeper in the reel, but if you don’t grab them right from the start they likely will never see the “best is yet to come” parts. Never make them sit through your not-very-best-stuff in hopes of a payoff later in the reel.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Hunter Hempen]

Alright, thanks again guys. I did the PIP and fitting everything to HD right off the bat, so that’s good.

How about a second question if you’re just finding this thread.

Song choices? I’ve read that a lot of people lay a simple beat/loop down through the entire 50 seconds, whilst some people use modern day hits. The latter puzzles me because isn’t this copyright trouble?

Thanks again to the great Cow community.

-Hunta

—–
Too bad she won’t live! But then again, who does?
-Gaff
—–

[Hunter Hempen]

That, and some of the reels I watch up on YouTube make me a bit suspicious. Frequently…and I mean “frequently”, I come across editors/graphic artists who have big-time brand names in their clips. Such as Coca-Cola, Target, etc. Compared to the rest of their graphics, I don’t understand why the Cola King would’ve picked up on these artists, because the shown clip just doesn’t make any sense in relation to the company’s theme.

I also read somewhere that if you’re lacking content in the reel, “…go make up graphics for some company…”. This blatant borrowing of company logos doesn’t sound right.

But then again, that’s why I’m asking you.

Thanks,
Hunta

—–
Too bad she won’t live! But then again, who does?
-Gaff
—–

[Mark Suszko]

Rule one is don’t show work that’s not yours, or let people falsely assume which parts you really did. Deal breaker. If you have to make explanations for what’s YOURS on screen, that’s awkward but better than being branded a thief and liar.

My own Lesser rules: don’t break copyright when you don’t need to. Who wants to hire a guy who’s judgement might get the production company dragged into lawsuits? Use only cleared music and images you own the rights to.

Making your own fake/ replacement brands is a great way to show your editing AND compositing chops.