Critique my demo reel

You have a few really nice shots interspersed with lots of stuff that isn't too remarkable, and a few clips that should never have made the cut. And your better stuff doesn't enter until later in the reel. Shots where the highlights are terribly blown, shots where the lighting is bad, shots that are plain-ole-everyday... all those should hit the cutting room floor.

Remember that any serious producer that may be screening DP reels isn't going to watch past the first 30 seconds, if that, so always put your best foot forward. You start with some stuff that, honestly, is blown out in an unappealing way in my opinion. I would pare it down to the best of the best, put a better editing pace to it, and end up with 2:00 of really good stuff.

But that's just my take on it.
 
I wouldn't consider a "serious" producer one that only looks at the first 30 seconds. But apparently that's how things go.

I agree with C2V, 4 minutes is probably too long.

You have some excellent shots in this, and you should be very proud of that. There definitely are a number of shots in there that while they are still good, should probably could be cut out of your reel.

I don't actually know much about reel standards etc, and what's the norm, but I would agree with two minutes. And maybe have a longer version on standby... can't hurt to have an extra couple of edits.

So IMO just tighten it up a bit and you'll have a nice reel! Good work.
 
ChrisHurn said:
I wouldn't consider a "serious" producer one that only looks at the first 30 seconds. But apparently that's how things go.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, that is how things go, at least in the States. Most folks I know who screen DP reels... or any demo reels, really, know within the first 30 seconds if they are even remotely interested in that person. The vast majority of the reels are ejected from the deck within that time period.
 
An opinion from the semi-uniformed (myself):

You have too many shots looking into the sun and a few too many blown out shots. A couple of them were really cool. i.e. the guy smoking a cigarette on a hill. Too many of them hurt my eyes. :D . Probably the same with the timelapse shots. A couple of them were really cool. After a while, they got boring. I suppose if you trim it down to around 2 minutes like others suggested, you wouldn't have to worry about that.

Also, I have to agree with the other posters. There are a few scenes or shots that have bad lighting or are kinda off that could have been dropped.

i.e.

The shot of the professor was weird when I immediately noticed that it didn't follow the rule of thirds. He was just there, dead center. I don't know if that was done on purpose or whatever, but it didn't feel right.

About 35 seconds in, there is a scene with a guy and a girl talking or arguing and the lighting is not good.

53 seconds in, another guy and girl talking. It was quick, but still weird for me.

I loved the muscle beach sign and the bit that followed. I thought it was very cool.

Oh, and when those guys in the car turn their heads toward the camera at the end. That was cool. Trim about 3 or 4 seconds out and it would have been really really cool. The guys heads turn, the music cuts out. Cut to the car already parked and them throwing the person out of the car. Quicker, possibly more impact, and it keeps the integrity of what you were showing.

Just my humble opinion.
 
Much, much better.

I'm still not a huge fan of the skateboarding piece, as the footage from that is blown out. Maybe that's intentional, but it doesn't work for me. Anyway, a vast improvement, much better pacing, and you put a much better foot forward.
 
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