Graduating Cinematography reel
- Thread starter Dli151
- Start date
Demistate
Veteran
Don't say "student graduating demo reel" that will turn off a lot of people when trying to get a job because they'll think "oh fresh out of film school, newbie, doesn't know what its like to be on a real set..." etc.
Treat your self as a professional, I can see good professionally shot footage on this reel. Nobody will question you.
Drop any shots where you don't have lighting, From what I could remember: Drop the candle, the shower turn on, the smoking. People will look at this negatively. Anything that doesn't look high budget I would drop it. Remember that most producers will only look at the first 30 seconds of your reel.
If you can, try to get your reel on Youtube as well. I know that base quality suffers, but when you're communicating with producers sometimes all they have on them is a mobile phone, and Youtube runs on most mobile phones. Also if any of your footage is HD, Youtube can support HD frame sizes at 720P.
Unless you plan on changing your mobile number soon. Put your phone number on there. Alot of producers still talk face to face to get the job done, and you can't be afraid to talk to people over the phone or in person. Since your demo reel runs with a bunch of different shots, It would be a good idea to put your name and number in the corner of the frame so that anybody planning on hiring you doesn't have to watch the whole video.
This is a good reel for somone "just out of school". Now Front like you're a DP that's been doing this for a few years becuase its obvious that you have been at your craft for some time. Good luck.
Treat your self as a professional, I can see good professionally shot footage on this reel. Nobody will question you.
Drop any shots where you don't have lighting, From what I could remember: Drop the candle, the shower turn on, the smoking. People will look at this negatively. Anything that doesn't look high budget I would drop it. Remember that most producers will only look at the first 30 seconds of your reel.
If you can, try to get your reel on Youtube as well. I know that base quality suffers, but when you're communicating with producers sometimes all they have on them is a mobile phone, and Youtube runs on most mobile phones. Also if any of your footage is HD, Youtube can support HD frame sizes at 720P.
Unless you plan on changing your mobile number soon. Put your phone number on there. Alot of producers still talk face to face to get the job done, and you can't be afraid to talk to people over the phone or in person. Since your demo reel runs with a bunch of different shots, It would be a good idea to put your name and number in the corner of the frame so that anybody planning on hiring you doesn't have to watch the whole video.
This is a good reel for somone "just out of school". Now Front like you're a DP that's been doing this for a few years becuase its obvious that you have been at your craft for some time. Good luck.
ChrisHurn
Well-known member
+ 1 for the poster above.
When you're done with this, make sure you put your reel on a website. .Com domains are cheap, hosting is cheap, just get a reallly simple website done with a black background, video in the middle, on the site make sure it lists your name, and contact info (or on the vid as well). You could have like a small bio, links, etc. on your site too if you want. Although the site should be simple just make sure it's not a quick job, get someone with web design experience to help you make something really subtle but good. You could also put your reel on youtube and vimeo, if anything that will just get people going to your site, make sure you mention the high quality version is located <here>.
As for the reel - this looks great! It actually makes me want to call you right now and see if you want to shoot something. Too bad we're on opposite sides of the world.
But it looks good. Obviously you have shot some quality stuff! Are these films available somewhere? A lot of the shots in this reel stick out for me as being really good.
So definitely treat yourself like a pro, working DP and just get out there.
Good luck to you.
When you're done with this, make sure you put your reel on a website. .Com domains are cheap, hosting is cheap, just get a reallly simple website done with a black background, video in the middle, on the site make sure it lists your name, and contact info (or on the vid as well). You could have like a small bio, links, etc. on your site too if you want. Although the site should be simple just make sure it's not a quick job, get someone with web design experience to help you make something really subtle but good. You could also put your reel on youtube and vimeo, if anything that will just get people going to your site, make sure you mention the high quality version is located <here>.
As for the reel - this looks great! It actually makes me want to call you right now and see if you want to shoot something. Too bad we're on opposite sides of the world.
But it looks good. Obviously you have shot some quality stuff! Are these films available somewhere? A lot of the shots in this reel stick out for me as being really good.
So definitely treat yourself like a pro, working DP and just get out there.
Good luck to you.
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks for your guys input I really appreciate it, it will help me graduate in march.
I have a friend who is setting up my hosting and website for me. I'm going to go through and replace some of the footage with some that I'm shooting this weekend. I'm shooting a commercial and this fashion show type deal. Do you think the first 30 seconds of my reel is strong or which shot do you guys think should go.
Here Is a link to some of the trailers and projects.
A Tale Tale Resurgence
Excess Baggage
Something Like Life
Ballad of Foggy City
Lame Again
Thanks again
Thanks
Thanks for your guys input I really appreciate it, it will help me graduate in march.
I have a friend who is setting up my hosting and website for me. I'm going to go through and replace some of the footage with some that I'm shooting this weekend. I'm shooting a commercial and this fashion show type deal. Do you think the first 30 seconds of my reel is strong or which shot do you guys think should go.
Here Is a link to some of the trailers and projects.
A Tale Tale Resurgence
Excess Baggage
Something Like Life
Ballad of Foggy City
Lame Again
Thanks again