A new perspective about the Demo Reel
By Casting Director Carmen Aiello “Developing your reel and collaborating with professionals who are familiar with the industry will only help to get the word out about your craft.”
In the 1959 musical Gypsy by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, the song is about strippers who need to have a gimmick in order to get ahead. The Broadway musical went on to win accolades and dozens of awards through the course of the last fifty years. “You gotta have a gimmick if you wanna get ahead!” This is a line from the a song “You Gotta Have A Gimmick” that has audiences laughing during this moment of comic relief.
But…is creating your demo reel a “gimmick?” ABSOLUTELY NOT.
A REEL is not a GIMMICK! J
Welcome to the new world! It’s a decade of VOD, online streaming and theatrical releases that will soon be available for viewers at home. It’s a hashtagging #networkuntilyoumakeit kind of life for an Actor. But what about the Actors that do all of that networking and auditioning and have not had the opportunity to fully shine?
Actors are cast in roles that suit the production, but for many, the co-stars and supporting roles do not always indicate the full abilities of the talent.
Q: But there are so many roles out there but how can people see the intimate work that I can do? My reel only shows a couple projects I’ve worked on!
A: Create your work! So many Actors have told me in meetings, “I can be this” or “I can do that”, making sure that I knew they were elastic in their abilities to interpret several different characters and situations. Out of sight out of mind! Unfortunately many projects move so fast that casting director’s need immediate material that is available in the push of a button.
REAL VS FAKE
A demo reel is REAL work. Your demo reel needs to show your ability as an actor. It gives you the center of attention for a couple minutes so we can just focus on your talent and ability. If you don’t have what we are looking for – we move to the next contender. It’s your AUDITION to get into the room. If you are one of those people that thinks that you, “can’t do anything but Act.” Then you need a reel in order to show your talents and what you are capable of doing.
I HAVEN’T BOOKED MUCH – WHY DO I NEED A REEL?
You’ve gone to school and learned your craft and you are constantly working on your craft to nail it in the audition or on set. You are doing breathing techniques and singing lessons and training at the gym and making sure you are memorized and available for every phone call from your Agent/Manager. You are always preparing yourself to book and the demo reel will keep the endurance of your career as you continue to do all the things you do. Not only is it a potential marketing tool – it’s your soul pouring out into a role for a minute to show the producers, directors, casting directors that you are who you say you are and you are more than a one trick pony.
A REEL IS NOT A GIMMICK – IT’S THE NEW GENERATION
With a simple link, you can connect your reel to your YouTube, Facebook, Email, Text by Phone in order to get the word out that you have something new to show. People are always looking for new material and news from the Actor. We don’t want to know you got new headshots or that you moved into a new home, became Vegan, learned how to ride a motorcycle, went skydiving, got married or learned how to be a rock climber. Not many people do postcards anymore; unfortunate, but true. Many Agents are so busy concentrating on clients that have booked pilots and studio films but are always looking developing talent so they can cultivate a new career. A degree can take you so far with good connection but what we REALLY we want to know that you are constantly working on your craft for TV/FILM.
END RESULT
Developing your reel and collaborating with professionals who are familiar with the industry will only help to get the word out about your craft. YOU make your career! YOU are always in the moment. YOUR work deserves to be seen, auditioned…and booked.
Dream Reach Media is the industry leader in high-end content for actors. You should check them out at dreamreachmedia.com
Calling all actors! Your reel alone isn’t enough – save a spot in my online actor career program to learn more about the assets every actors needs to take their entertainment career to the next level.