Rip me a new one...rough cut of demo reel...

arhartman

arhartman

Well-known member
Hey guys,
Its me again, and I just created a rough cut of my first demo reel and i would like to know what you think. I've never made one before so I am just going off of what I have seen of others. Tell me what I need to do differently. 90% of this is shot on a DVX.

Sorry for the low quality, but I don't know where else to post this to make it accessible to you all. Try and enjoy the youtube. The quality is much better, trust me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P35e7KVFhHo

again tell me what you think. Everything form format of demo reel, to shots, to cuts, and to well what ever you can think of.

cheers.
 
try again in ten minutes? i just uploaded it. But I would really like for you to see it Brandon, and others. On my youtube account it says its processing. I think in ten it should be legit.
 
Hey watched it. Overall some nice shots in there. It didn't really feel boring to me... a few shots could be tightened a little. I also think doing a little more CC work on some of the outside shots especially would be good, and that last shot of the car pulling away was kind of a weird shot to end on... end on a better shot.
 
Actually, the quality isn't that bad. I don't know if you've noticed or not, But a couple of days ago, YouTube made MAJOR improvements on their compression...their vids don't like blocky and pixleated anymore.

2nd off..the song SUCKS...I absolutely hated it. And you may be one of the rare individuals besides that bands fans, to like that type of music. OKgo and The Fray are making inspirational music. I'd rather seen it muted...but to focus on the video...ok. I'm pretty sure you've shot more dramatic shots..I'd go for the action scene...like the guy jumping in the pool..just the fact that you shot underwater impressed me.
 
I only have a big recommendation, IMHO.
If you want to show a demo reel as a camera man, the one you did it's ok.
On the other hand, if you want to sell yourself as a Cinematographer/Director, put a shortfilm or a small story, or even fragments of somtehing you did that doesnt fit the demo-reel standards.

my two cents
Regards.
 
awesome. and keep it comin' you guys.
But first off, I don't like the Strokes, but I did take a certain liking to that song. Maybe because it is in the Science of Sleep trailer.

And I don't know if this will make me sound like a newbie, but what is 'IMHO'?

and lastly, I was planning on putting this onto a dvd, and on the dvd also putting several projects in their entirety. Is that a wise idea? and will that cover the cinematographer/director portion?

cheers.
 
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion or In My Honest Opinion, but usually the first.

I thought it had some good stuff in it and the song didn't bother me at all. I agree that it could be tightened up a bit.

How many other things have you done?
 
Good stuff man, you can work for me anytime (when I have a job for you that is... which isw few and far between)! Anyway, I agree with the comments that you should put in some actual dialogue related footage if you are demoing that you are a director as well. This seems like more of a cameraman/lighting/DOP sort of reel.

Also cool that you did some underwater footage. Which underwater case do you have?
 
hey, thanks you guys.
I've done several projects, of all sorts. Music videos to commercials, a 70 min film to a 2 min film.
I am thinking about using this as my cameraman reel and just creating a new one altogether for a directing/writer reel.

as for the underwater housing. I have the equinox pro-pak 8. I think it is great for the DVX, given it is a bit heavy, and pretty big a bright yellow.

cheers.
 
Honestly it felt a little flat. The reason I think is 1) the music is kind of boring (and I am a big fan of the strokes too!!!) you might want to find something a little more rhythmic that you can cut to and 2) you should try to edit together shots of varying focal lengths, angles, moves, etc. Maybe this is a personal bias but I tend to like cinematography that is "in your face", literally....rather than landscape types of shots I like stuff with movement and the subject takes up a lot of the frame....varied of course with establishing shots, etc.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I thought it was really good. It came accross as fun, original, while still professional.

Also, how'd you do that shot where he jumps after the ball before falling in the pool?
 
I'll just echo the sentiment that while it's well shot material, I'm not sure that it's doing what you want it to do. I'd think about identifying what it is you're trying to do with this reel. It certainly seems like a DP reel, but I get the impression that you were trying to make it a Directing reel. Regardless, I'd do two things - cut the length and tighten it up, and put a tag at the beginning that lets people know what you're showing them.

If you're trying to do a directing reel, I agree with what someone else said about just putting up some quick scenes, or a complete short. That's one of the major points of making a really short, tight 5-10 minute film; that you can use it as a showcase to potentially attract investors or work.
 
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