A great question from a video producer: "Is the Demo Reel still necessary? Does it bring value for me?"
The Demo Reel is the bane of a creative's existence. They feel that their entire opportunity lies within this slickly edited video that showcases what they can do.
For me, the Demo Reel is just a business card. It's a teaser. It's NOT the one thing that will get you hired.
What WILL get you hired is your portfolio.
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Full transcript, apologies for any typos.
0:00 I got a great question the other day about the value of a demo reel for video editors, motion graphics designers, animators, and the like. Are they still useful? Or how do I create a really, really good one?
0:14 For me, the demo reel is really just a gateway, a business card, if you will. Hey here's a quick look at what I can do. If you're interested, I'd love to talk more. So think of it like as a gateway, it's not the end all, because you know, the demo reel. I don't put a lot of value in the demo reel, other than the fact that at least shows me the kind of work that you've done.
0:38 If I want to hire you as an artist, especially as a video editor, I want to know what you can really do. And in order to see what you've really done, that takes a portfolio. So yes, demo reel, give me a 60 second teaser of what you can do. And then more importantly, you should have a website that has a portfolio of your entire work. Start to Finish.
1:01 And if you've got an entire TV show, if you've cut an entire short film, if you cut commercials, I want to see the entire thing start to finish. I need to know where your strengths lie. Because you know think about it. Documentary storytellers, are different than commercial editors, are different than trailer editors, are different than episodic television editors. Everybody kind of has a style and a sweet spot.
1:25 And yes, all editors can do everything. But if I'm looking for an editor for a specific project, or a specific hire, I need to see if it's a 10 minute piece, I want to see the entire thing. I can't tell in a demo reel that's been slickly edited to music. What exactly did you do? Did you do that animation? Did you do the graphic? Did you do the color grading, did you... What exactly did you do?
1:51 So for me, the demo reel should only be, first of all should be no longer than 60 seconds. And it should just be an introduction. A teaser. Into who you are and then lead me to a portfolio where I can really see what you can do.