Demo Reel Critique

K

Knal

Member
Hey Everyone.

I think that I finally finished my demo reel. I am making so that I can possibly start doing tv commercials, but I am also sending it to film schools (I'm 17). I'm sending it to NYU Tisch and Emerson.

Here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/2655657

Password: Demo

Let me know what you all think. I'd like to get it perfect before I send it out in the next few days.

Thanks!

-Joey
 
Now I'm not trying to sound like I know everything so don't take this message as me acting as if I'm on a high horse cause I'm not, I'm a struggling filmmaker like most people, but I have been through a few things to know what I'm talking about.

First off, great work!! I think the reel is good, no editing suggestions, you get what you need across to the viewer just fine. As long as the schools can get an idea of how you work as a director. You might already be planning this but one important thing to do when sending your reel to any film school is to make sure and add a couple of the short films you've directed to your reel and not just the montage of your films. Film schools want to see how you handle actors.

Also, I have to be honest but it's really hard at your age to get into commercial work as a DP or a director, unless you've shot an amazing ammount of commercials and short films and have won significant awards for all. From a directors stand point the one problem with your reel is there are no commercials, which you really need if you want to work as a commercial director. Honestly you'll almost never get commercial work without at least 3-5 solid concept commercials, no matter how many short films you have directed, companies want to see a specific style and a concept you can pull off in 30 seconds.

Commercial companies get 100's of reels from DP's as well as 1000's of reels from directors. You have to stand out and you have to have a specific style. I really think that by going to film school you can really find that style and better define what you want to do. You can make more short films and concentrate on building your commercial reel, meet new people, make contacts, learn from professionals, tricks of the trade, etc, etc.

At the end, your film degree means NOTHING unless you have a rockin reel to back it up and even then the degree means nothing, ha ha! I have to say film school really gives filmmakers a good kick in the ass and allows them to question whether or not they really want to work in film. Film school can give a good jumpstart on your career and MAKE you a better filmmaker, but it's all up to you.

I've got a lot more info about film school if you really want to know. There is no guarantee with film school it's all up to the filmmaker. There are filmmakers that make it without film school, it really is up to the individual.

You've done some really wonderful work especially being 17, wow! The stuff I shot on my VHS camera when I was 17 looks like piss, ha ha! You've already got talent, I can see that, you'll have no problem getting into a good film school with this reel. It's going to be a nightmare at this point to get into directing or shooting commercials. As a DP there is a lot more you can learn and need to learn, that goes for being a director as well.



Nate Fackrell
the F A C K R E L L B R O T H E R S
www.thevaultla.com





 
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I must say, your work at 17 is amazing! The camera tracking of the paper where your info was put is clever. Stuff like that will indeed make you stand out. I only wish I had the resources that are out today when I was 17. I have to agree with Nate... I'd get some commercial examples out there if that's what you want to do. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your outcome.
 
Thanks for the comments guys!

I just sent the reel to NYU yesterday. I also sent a short film with it.

Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/2152649

It was made in 36 hours and won first place in a local film festival. Hopefully it will show them how I direct actors.

As for commercial work, these are local commercials that I am trying to direct. I can honestly say that the majority of the stuff here is really bad. That's because the companies pay something like $500 to the local TV station to do a commercial for them, and at that price they all turn out terrible.

I am planning on teaming up with a professional photographer doing these commercials as well. He handles the business and lighting, I handle everything else. He was told by a friend of his who works at a local marketing company that if we have a good reel, he'll hire us. I can say for sure that the marketing companies here don't get 1000's of reels.

As for film school, I am very interested in going there just to hone my skill. Like Nate said, to "really define what I want to do."

Nate: I'm very interested to hear what else you have to say about film school. Did you go? I checked out your website and very much like the work that you have on there.

Mozingopj: Thanks for the kind words. I'll definitely keep you posted!

thanks!

-Joey
 
Looks great. What was the part with the tracking from outside the door black and white to inside color? How did you get the characters to look so still? Can you post that video? Great job.
 
Im 16 and have begun working on my NYU reel. I have a few friends who are graduates from NYU tisch film. Seems like the best school in the area.
 
Knal said:
Hey Everyone.

I think that I finally finished my demo reel. I am making so that I can possibly start doing tv commercials, but I am also sending it to film schools (I'm 17). I'm sending it to NYU Tisch and Emerson.

Here is the link: http://www.vimeo.com/2655657

Password: Demo

Let me know what you all think. I'd like to get it perfect before I send it out in the next few days.

Thanks!

-Joey
Click to expand...

this is a good reel dude, really creative man. i'm sitting here looking through a dozen DP reels at home that were submitted to me for this film I'm trying to raise $$$ for and yours looks more interesting than a lot of these guys stuff who claim to have "been doing it for x amount of years" and have a listing of all the latest expensive cams and equpiment they've used yet the demo reels look mediocore....
 
WOW! I am blown away. The quality of the film is incredible. I just dont know how you are able to shoot such sharp and clean images with the HVX as you have just done.

I would be really greatful if you could PM me some info / settings and how to export if from Premiere, because I have tried everything but nothing works out good.
 
jealous of the car shots, that's what I try to shoot a lot of, but havnen't shot any high end cars yet.
 
young talent

young talent

keep it up dude, really think about what ever choice you make!

Michael Carberry

I'm an 18 year old filmmaker living in L.A. with my twin pursuing the hell out of directing and filmmaking with out film school.
 
Thanks for the comments guys! I'm glad you all liked it!

Ksun83: Sorry for the delay, I just finished all of my college applications. The shot that you are talking about was from a 36 hour film festival movie I did in 2007. My team and I actually decided to make two films in 36 hours because the 8 minute time limit was a bit restraining.

Here is the link: http://www.connolleyphotography.com/kevin/finalcut07/flash/movies/main.htm

So, each individual film was made (shot and edited) in about 16 hours. So, we really rushed it in a lot of parts.

Liarhair: Good luck with getting into NYU. If everything works out and I get in, I might see you there at some point! By the way, I saw your reel and I really liked it!

Mickey Monday: I'm glad that you like it Mickey! I feel honored that you are comparing my reel with that of professional DPs. Thanks!

frezko: Thanks for you comment! I'm glad you liked it. I'm not sure if I can help you with exporting from Premiere. I use FCP. I can say though that I believe my camera settings are straight out of the box, nothing changed. As for the images being clean, I just shoot with a lot of light.

xyouthx: Thanks for the comments on the car shots! They were from a video for my church that I worked on. It was a chase scene between a Porsche and an Escilade. It turned out pretty neat.

MDCFILMS: Thanks, I know it's a huge choice wherever I go, it'll change my life. Good luck with your pursuit! I've heard LA was a great place for getting in without film school.

Thanks guys!

-Joey
 
that has to be a lot of light, mr. knal. because I do shoot with light as well, but my images are still noisy :/ and I pretty much have my settings to default..

thanks anyways!
 
I'll definitely let you guys know if I get accepted! I should know on April 1st.

Thanks for the comments and support!

-Joey
 
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