Reel for Directors

C

CoenBro

New member
Hey all,

I have a few short films and commercials to my credits. I was thinking about putting together a reel of my work to help me look for Features and such.

Questions:
1) Will having a Reel help? Or will IMDB credits be enough?
2) If Reel, how long should it be?
3) What do you recommend i add in the reel? Montage of Clips or Scenes from the projects? I understand DPs typically create a montage of their work with some kinda music in their Reel, is there a specific format for Director's Reel?

Thanks !
 
Terrible projects get on IMDB. It means nothing. You'll need to show people. So yes, anyone on the production side needs a reel. People in the art department at least need stills of past work.

As for format, just make sure to show the thing you want to show. You wouldn't want to use music and the like because the acting and all that needs to be noticed, not just the shot. I don't know a good number for a reel. Keep it long enough that you can include your best work while being as short as possible. Succinct is what matters in that regard.

Make sure your name and the word 'Director' are at the front and maybe end, as well as contact information on one of those. I like to do that pretty plain and formal, since it's practical and not a way to show off that I can keyframe text and stuff like that. But you might want something different.
 
Many directors reels that I've seen include a short montage and then a series of full scenes. I've never much seen the point of the montage, so my own reel doesn't have it... just a DVD menu with 5 different pieces to view: a scene from a film, a short film, a music video, two spots.
 
a reel means everything. Even if other people likes your work, howe can your next customer know if your filming stile will suit them?
 
Directors need not make demo reels. Entire works have to be seen to get the direction. This is far different than say an editor's reel or an animator's reel. Shorter is better for those in the name of leavin' em wantin' to see more. Do that with a director's reel and they'll assume you can't tell a story. Today it's real easy to throw entire smples on your website, along with those credits you mentioned.
 
That depends entirely on what sort of directing you're talking about. If it's feature films or television, then sure, you're right (but how many people around here are realistically putting themselves out there as directors in that way). But for music videos or commercials I think most production companies still definitely expect to see a reel.
 
a relative of mine was in contact with a woman that worked for the management company of a very well known actor and i asked him to forward my demo reel to see what feedback she could give to me - an up and coming director. i had my demo reel setup like a DP reel at the time. music videos, scenes from some of my films, etc....with music playing and no audio. the woman's main issue with the reel was that there was no dialogue and was just music. she also mentioned i may want to put an emphasis on the thing i'm trying to do the most since directing narratives and directing music videos are two very different animals. at least i got some advice from a working professional on what NOT to do i guess.

to this day i still havent seen what a quote unquote directors reel is supposed to look like. i've never seen one that just by looking at it makes me say "wow, this guy has directed some really impressive stuff, etc..."

i can find tons of cool DP reels, hardly any director reels.
 
dougspice said:
That depends entirely on what sort of directing you're talking about. If it's feature films or television, then sure, you're right (but how many people around here are realistically putting themselves out there as directors in that way). But for music videos or commercials I think most production companies still definitely expect to see a reel.
Click to expand...

Not really, no. They expect to see a complete work. A music video "reel" is absolutely retarded. It's much better to have just complete music videos available. They are not long, it's not tough to see a director's best 3 music videos, and if you're too lazy to do that when hiring you probably won't find a good director, one, or two, you don't give a crap and already know the director you want based on connections, in which case reels won't matter worth a crap anyway.

Same with commercials. They are 30 seconds long. You don't make a "reel" of your commercial work. You just have your commercials available.
 
You're confusing reel with montage, as many people do. Read what I said about my reel. It includes all of the pieces in their entirety. There in fact is no montage on my reel. That doesn't mean it's not a reel. Nor does it mean that a reel can't be entirely montage, but for most positions that's a big mistake. In other words, we agree. :)
 
Wow, I had never thought of this. Hmmm. So a director's reel must be much different than an editor's reel. What if you like to do everything?
 
So based on all the feedback, should i assume the following? I re-iterate, this is for getting Feature Films:

1) No reel per say for Directors
2) If i want to show my work, show the entire work? What about a key scene from each of my movie?
3) Include original lines, sound, etc.

Having summarized above. What kind of stuff should i have on the DVD Cover? Suggestions, anyone?

Many thanks to all those that responded.
 
I've stopped sending reels out and just have the clips posted on exposureroom and links provided either through my websites or, in the case of copyrighted or other not-for-release materials (like, for instance, commercials that haven't been aired yet), I send individual links to prospective clients.

Dramatic work - well I've not done features yet, but I'd expect to send them a DVD of the movies I've directed if they requested it. Maybe some kind of VOD/downloaded system for out of town people?
 
dougspice said:
You're confusing reel with montage, as many people do. Read what I said about my reel. It includes all of the pieces in their entirety. There in fact is no montage on my reel. That doesn't mean it's not a reel. Nor does it mean that a reel can't be entirely montage, but for most positions that's a big mistake. In other words, we agree. :)
Click to expand...

Well we'll just have to agree to ... agree, then! ;)
 
I've seen a number of working directors reels and they always include elements from the following list:

Full commercials
Full music videos
Full shorts under ~5 minutes
Trailers for features
Written resume with credits and awards

DVDs of content over 5 minutes are mailed hard copy

Anything not on that list will hardly ever be on a typical directors reel.
 
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