ARCHIVE ARTICLE 11
- How To Shoot A Cheap Showreel
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Okay, I realise that not all of you have the necessary funds to get a showreel produced! But it is a crying SHAME that some of you have NO TAPE AT ALL!
Do you know that a nearby showreel production company has a showreel database of over 700 people and only 200 of those have produced showreels! Almost 500 people are procrastinating themselves out of a job!
By having NO TAPE means you will have NO JOB! So here are a couple of tips to doing it on the cheap - by the end of this article you should have NO excuses!
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1. GRAB A KEEN MATE!
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You must have a friend who owes you a favour! Ask them to film your showreel. A couple of basic lessons and anyone can do it!
I would suggest using a tripod. You do not need a $800 per day cameraman to simply point and shoot, but it would help if the camerawork was steady!
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2. DUPLICATE BY YOURSELF!
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Duplication costs can be expensive so try to do them yourself. All you need is the original master (VHS/MiniDV/DVD) and a copying device (VCR/Computer) and duplicate as many times as you want!
Sure, it may take a while but saves you money! You could dubd off 10 copies before you go to bed at night and after a fortnight you will have enough copies to last you a year!
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3. BUY CHEAP TAPES!
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Do not buy your stock in normal retail stores - they very rarely have tapes less than 2 hours long. This is a problem because:
a. Longer tapes cost more;
b. Longer tapes are heavier and will be more expensive to post!
Search out a specific tape stockist. Buy in bulk to reduce the price. Tape stock can be sold in 10 minute, 15 minute, 20 minute and 25 minute VHS form which will cost approximately $3 per tape - but will cost less when purchased in bulk!
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4. SHOOT IN THE SUN
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Sydney's climate is the best in the world. Due to the extensive surrounding ocean, inlets, beaches and lakes, the scenery is spectacular. Your own country may be the same. The basic rule here is shoot when the sun is out - summer favourably.
Shoot your showreel on a sunny day. The sun brings out the colour and energy. It will make your camera work look better - your image is clearer and you will look healthier
on screen if you shoot on a sunny day!
With the biggest light source in the universe on your side you will not need to rely on a lighting kit!
With that in mind, shoot early in the dayor later in the evening so the sun is low in the sky and will not create that harsh 12pm shadow!
Good light can make you footage look a lot better than it really is - so plan your shoots carefully!
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5. SOUND SOUND SOUND
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More time, energy, effort and money is spent on
sound (both music and effects) in motion pictures
than any other aspect!
Fair enough too! Sound is vital. It is hopeless to
have a great scenic shot and not be able to hear
your delivery dialogue.
Sound can be fixed by buying a small microphone
from an electronic store and attaching it to the
camera. This isolates the sound and makes it easier
to hear your voice ONLY!
Most cameras have internal mics but they tend to
capture EVERY sound - lawnmowers, mobile phones,
planes, car alarms, fire engines etc. Better to
hear nothing but your own voice!
More showreel advice can be found in the How To Be
A TV Star resource 'Showreel Secrets
Revealed' -
Available Now as a BONUS with
the How To Be A TV Star
Home Study Program out now!
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Copyright © 2007
by Nick Piper, Derrick Siu and Plop
Entertainment. All information, text, graphics,
audio, design and software are copyrighted works of
Plop Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
