*********************************************************
ARCHIVE ARTICLE 17
- Showreel Secrets
*********************************************************
Have just come back from Melbourne and Gold Coast where I have been trying to spread the gospel about this great craft we are part of - TV Presenting!
It is crazy to think that back in 2003 there was a single solitary TV Presenters course being offered at NIDA. Take a look at the NIDA website now and there are EIGHTbeing held between now and the end of January 2007.
My good mate and work colleague Tim Green agreed with the almost fanatical increase in interest and gave a great quote:
'TV Presenting is the new yoga.'
Brilliant. I completely agree with him. And another thing I have noticed is the increasing determination of my students. My recent Gold Coast workshop was evidence of that. I had 12 students who were literally climbing the walls to get out into the TV workforce.
It is very encouraging to witness. It certainly raises the standards for everyone.
BUT HEED THIS WARNING!
However, I am about to put my grumpy hat on. So get ready for a spray. One standard that has seemed to have dropped is the quality of the the showreels I get sent to view.
My recent request for presenter reels a few months ago was extremely disappointing. You guys know how important the first impression should always be. The overall quality was diabolical and I shudder to think what you are sending out to producers and casting directors.
The audition showreels we received ranged from awful to plain embarrassing. We got DVDs that didn't work in our DVD players or computers, to labels being hand written, no cover letters, no cover design, no contact details, one DVD was broken in two because the sender put it in an envelope without a case, a few VHS tapes that had obviously been dubbed on old VCR machines because the quality was so atrocious, and some very shoddy production. (EG: Filming your showreel without sound is not very helpful - make sure we can hear you!)
Onion Media Group - my production company has a showreel production service that we are very proud of but I am careful NOT to push it onto people. The reason being you need to investigate every avenue and conduct research yourself. I am a firm believer that a non-professional showreel can be equally as effective BUT you must make sure you are confident about your content and skill.
My most successful reel was shot for $50 by my brother. It got me my first big break. It worked for me, but I had a clear idea of where I wanted to be and had even confidence to pull it off.
Jules Lund needed a $10,000 reel to get his gig because he felt the need to impress by being far more professional than anyone else. It works in different ways
I was sent a showreel recently that was shot on a small handicam by the presenter - he used a tripod. There were no special effects or fancy edits - it probably cost nothing to make but it was a great script with quirky comic elements. The energy and charisma was in abundance. The presenter shone brightly - even if the production was raw.
If you are NOT a comic writer nor a Miss Universe contestant nor a charismatic presenter, then a crappy showreel will be harder for you to get noticed. You need to lift your standards.
ARCHIVE ARTICLE 17
- Showreel Secrets
*********************************************************
Have just come back from Melbourne and Gold Coast where I have been trying to spread the gospel about this great craft we are part of - TV Presenting!
It is crazy to think that back in 2003 there was a single solitary TV Presenters course being offered at NIDA. Take a look at the NIDA website now and there are EIGHTbeing held between now and the end of January 2007.
My good mate and work colleague Tim Green agreed with the almost fanatical increase in interest and gave a great quote:
'TV Presenting is the new yoga.'
Brilliant. I completely agree with him. And another thing I have noticed is the increasing determination of my students. My recent Gold Coast workshop was evidence of that. I had 12 students who were literally climbing the walls to get out into the TV workforce.
It is very encouraging to witness. It certainly raises the standards for everyone.
BUT HEED THIS WARNING!
However, I am about to put my grumpy hat on. So get ready for a spray. One standard that has seemed to have dropped is the quality of the the showreels I get sent to view.
My recent request for presenter reels a few months ago was extremely disappointing. You guys know how important the first impression should always be. The overall quality was diabolical and I shudder to think what you are sending out to producers and casting directors.
The audition showreels we received ranged from awful to plain embarrassing. We got DVDs that didn't work in our DVD players or computers, to labels being hand written, no cover letters, no cover design, no contact details, one DVD was broken in two because the sender put it in an envelope without a case, a few VHS tapes that had obviously been dubbed on old VCR machines because the quality was so atrocious, and some very shoddy production. (EG: Filming your showreel without sound is not very helpful - make sure we can hear you!)
Onion Media Group - my production company has a showreel production service that we are very proud of but I am careful NOT to push it onto people. The reason being you need to investigate every avenue and conduct research yourself. I am a firm believer that a non-professional showreel can be equally as effective BUT you must make sure you are confident about your content and skill.
My most successful reel was shot for $50 by my brother. It got me my first big break. It worked for me, but I had a clear idea of where I wanted to be and had even confidence to pull it off.
Jules Lund needed a $10,000 reel to get his gig because he felt the need to impress by being far more professional than anyone else. It works in different ways
I was sent a showreel recently that was shot on a small handicam by the presenter - he used a tripod. There were no special effects or fancy edits - it probably cost nothing to make but it was a great script with quirky comic elements. The energy and charisma was in abundance. The presenter shone brightly - even if the production was raw.
If you are NOT a comic writer nor a Miss Universe contestant nor a charismatic presenter, then a crappy showreel will be harder for you to get noticed. You need to lift your standards.
WHY?
Because a showreel with cleaner, more professional production elements will always stand out. I'm not talking about major blockbuster efforts - they don't work either - but just some care and effort.
An amazing presenter will always beat an average presenter, no matter what quality the showreel will be. Talent always finds a way.
BUT a great showreel with an average presenter will ALWAYS beat an average reel with an average presenter. The market is getting cluttered so you need to lift your standards.
SHORT-CUTS:
If you're going to take short-cuts then ensure your decisions are informed, knowledgeable and worthwhile. A number of showreels I receive have been filmed by the presenter's colleagues or mates who have good quality cameras - the footage is pretty awesome in some cases - but the presenters (in an effort to cut costs) have neglected direction and performance and as a result do not give the best display of their presenting skills. A waste of money, time and effort.
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS:
I have viewed a total of 43 showreels over the last two months - from different sources and for different reasons - and would consider only 1 or 2 to be any good. There is a lot of wasted money and effort going into these showreels.
WHAT TO DO:
It is better to have a reel than not. No argument there as the number of castings that require reels are getting greater and greater. But aim high. Most of you who have attended my courses have viewed a variety of showreels and know what works and what appeals to your tastes.
Aim to have a showreel that is clever, professional and appropriate. You don't have to get it professional produced - but make it as professional as you can get it!
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!
---------------------------------------
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.
