New Demo Reel:feedback, please

abreu-canedo

abreu-canedo

Well-known member
I think this section may be an ok place to post this.

I've just been putting together a demo reel, and wanted to see if folks might be kind enough to answer the following questions.
-Two favorite shots
-Two least favorite shots.

https://vimeo.com/204690660

Feel free to use the time stamp on the player or describe the shot.

I'm still a the stage in my carreer that no single project that I've done speaks for itself, nor do I have a list of credits that speaks for itself. As such, I still need a demo reel to get work. But I'm bad at knowing what my best stuff is, since I'm too attached and subjective. Not that there is an objective opinion on it or anything. If it makes a difference, I want to do more scripted drama (shorts, features), but also would love to get some more commercial work and music videos as well.

But I do know my reel could be shorter, and other things. As such, I wanted to get several opinions, to start seeing where opinions differ, where they overlap, and help me think outside of my own perspective a bit.

Thanks in advance for any help.
-All the best, Rafael
 
SOme nice shots.

Overall the reel.. what work are you pitching for? This reel does not fit in a box marked corporate, or drama or pop vid?
 
I dont see a need for the second shot, Im not a huge fan of 'my girlfriend in the woods' sequence. The chap in the car (rapper?) looks stronger.

A couple of the 'drama exts' are dodgy flat grade. The drama is great but not up to the standard of those that pay for drama to be shot (aka broadcast television and cinema)

Firefighter (?) looks like a real job but is a little too punchy. Id bring that up.

No one cares. Make it one minute (I need to learn this myself!)
 
Keep it WAY shorter!!

I know what you mean about being attached to your work - I have the same problem. You have a number of solid shots here but none of them need to be showcased as long as you feel like they do, and I know how it feels internally to drastically cut down a shot you have personal attachment to. But pretty much everything here should be 50% length or less of what it is currently at, with just a few exceptions for already short shots.

I would also try to cut out shots that you may feel were well composed but won't impress people as the content is a little blah. For example a guy opening a fridge. Yes it's a nice shot pallete wise to show a simple interior but it can also look a little amateur out of context in a larger real - like you shot it in your house for test footage. Now i know in context that's not the case, but it can *feel* that way at a quick glance. I also think it's particularly weak to end the whole real with household kitchen shots as they look like the stuff camera tests are made of (and I am not knocking the shots as they are just fine, they are good, but this is your big ending and so leave people with something a little more striking).

I think the assumption for most viewers is of course you can shoot good looking simple kitchen footage if you can shoot more impressive looking more setup/professional looking shots.

The firefighter shots are the most visually striking - sure, it won't be every clients style, but people respond well and get hooked by something that pops. I'd open with those.

I'd keep all your cuts much quicker and target a 2 minute max running time.

I'd cut your wedding shots as you will be better off targeting this toward more corporate, commercial, or narrative clients. There isn't enough wedding footage to justify it, and if there was, that would be better served as a separate wedding reel. For commercial people there's a little attitude that "oh, you shoot weddings..." so keep them separate. I don't think I've ever heard a more corporate or business/narrative oriented client be super impressed that someone could shoot weddings too. It's sort of the assumptive "break in to the field" job for many. And out of place here.

You could keep the close up wine/table shots though as they could look like a live corporate event or footage for a winery or something.

I'd move the opening shots back just a tad, they are good and they show capture of emotion but they look a little shakey. Nothing wrong with shakey that can be an intentional style BUT you want to FIRST show that you have a clean professional stable look so that a viewer can asses their first impression based on that VS the first impression looking like *possible* amateur handheld work (I am not saying it looks like this - I am saying the internet is crowded with crap and people make snap assumptions, and have ADD to boot).

BOOM - stun em. Hit em hard. Hook em.

Keep it quick and clean and be ruthless. This is a trailer to get eyes on you, don't bore people in your trailer. Make em want more.

and then OUT - end just as impressive

I might get a more gripping music track too, this one is pretty low key la la la...
 
Thanks ya'll for the feedback.

Yeah, definitely trying to get it shorter.

I supposed that if I got a range of opinions on what are peoples two favorite shots and people's least favorites, I could start moving commonly regarded favorites towards the front, and least favorites could get left out. And it is helping. Seems like the firefighter add is consistently a favorite. Drama interiors seem lack-luster...specially at the end?

Yeah, the projects I'm working so far, specially on the drama world, are very low budget so I'm always struggling with not having enough flags, or some haze, etc...It's definitely not my fault ;) haha

I also am not doing a separate reel for each segment of the market, although I know that can be a very good idea. I may end up doing a doc reel also. But for now, it's just a montage of my best work...or at least that is what I hope it will be.

Keep the feedback coming. and again, two favorites and two least favorites would be very helpful.
-Thanks again!
 
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