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Archives for March 2020

COVID-19 Update / Live Online Classes

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As we are all fully aware, COVID-19 continues to have a widespread impact on the way we are going about our every day lives and how we interact with each other.  Change is a part of life that can be challenging, but by setting our sights on valuable approaches, we can focus on an exciting future that is defined by our contribution to the film and television industry.

As a move to align with advice received from NSW health professionals and with the utmost importance for the health and safety of our staff, students, tutors corporate partners and wider community, we are now pleased to be offering online classes as an additional offering.

From Monday 23rd March, Screenwise has temporarily moved online with all classes. The Screenwise live online class experience results in equal learning outcomes and support expected from in-person classes, during such time as we navigate through the current COVID-19 climate.

Please refer to our Live Online Courses page to view the short courses that will be available online.

In-studio short-courses and classes commencing from June will still run as normal until directed otherwise.

If you have any questions we can assist you with, please contact our studios directly on 02 9281 4484. We are happy to discuss with you further the learning approaches we are taking to ensure that we are delivering the same quality screen acting training on varying platforms.

We wish you all the best and recommend that you check back to this page for any important updates or changes to current in studio classes. In the meantime, stay safe.

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7 Signs It’s Time to Update Your Existing Showreel

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Choosing the right content for your showreel can be difficult. You need to showcase your best work while promoting yourself as the great actor you are.

As with any other piece of work designed to sell your skills, your showreel must be regularly updated. This is done to reflect your most current work, but also to show others you are still taking on new jobs in the industry.

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Your showreel is what will help you land agents, impress casting directors and land you auditions. Think of it as your physical resume of your professional TV and film work.

Your showreel should demonstrate your range of acting abilities. Those viewing it will see what you’ve accomplished as a professional, so it’s best to keep it current.

As you complete more projects, you’ll have more content to add to your showreel. Since it should be no longer than around three minutes in length, you’ll need to periodically update it to reflect that content just as you would a resume. Here are seven showreel tips to get you started.

1. Your showreel doesn’t include your latest work

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Perhaps it’s been a year or more since you’ve updated your showreel. You’ve been on numerous acting jobs since then, but haven’t incorporated any of those scenes into your showreel.

The last thing you need is an outdated reel that does not adequately represent your talent. Keep in mind casting directors, producers and other industry professionals will be viewing your showreel, and clips from one of those recent jobs just might help you get a new job over someone else. The acting industry is extremely competitive after all.

Each time you complete a job, comb through the scenes you filmed and make a note of those that are showreel worthy. If one in particular stands out, you may need to update your showreel right away to include it. Otherwise, make a list of scenes you want to include, and once you have enough, create a whole new reel. Remember, the idea is to stay current while always showcasing your very best work.

2. Your showreel is too long

If you’ve been adding to your showreel, it may have become too long. It’s hard to choose the right scenes, especially if you have several you feel should really make the cut. 

Using a showreel that is longer than it should be may hurt your chances of getting new work. This is especially true if your best work is at the end, but the person viewing your reel doesn’t make it that far.

Take inventory of the scenes in your showreel and make a list of those you think are the best. Ask other people you trust to view them as well. The scenes you choose should stand out, so take your time when selecting them.

As previously stated, your showreel should be no longer than three minutes. Once you have enough scenes to fit this length, put them together in a brand new showreel, being careful not to go over the three minute mark. It’s difficult to know which ones to leave out, but sometimes you need to sacrifice older work and replace it with newer, more relevant scenes.

3. Your showreel production is poor

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A badly produced showreel will hinder your chances of getting acting jobs. Unflattering lighting, garbled audio and weird framing are all elements of poor production.

A reel that isn’t produced well will have bad production value. It feels amateur and will distract the viewer. Most of these reels aren’t even viewed at all.

Instead, as another showreel tip, only use clips that are of a professional standard. Your backdrop should be clean, and the viewer should be able to see and hear you. 

4. Transitions between scenes appear weak

The transitions between each scene of your showreel should make sense. While it may be tempting to string together a murder scene with a love scene, then follow it with a rom-com, this will not appear natural to the viewer.

While it’s fine to include all those scenes in your showreel, you need to do it in a way that keeps them separate. You can still showcase your range as an actor without showing wild crazy scenes that don’t have much viewing appeal.

Instead, choose your best scenes, then think about how they will work together. If one just doesn’t fit, consider selecting another. Remember, you have three minutes to wow the viewers, not shock them.

5. Your showreel feels forced

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If possible, include only clips from professional productions in your showreel. If you can’t, do the best you can to select the most professional-looking clips you have filmed.

Your showreel should be natural. Always shoot in a good location and make sure all clips are cast appropriately. The last thing you want are clips that don’t showcase you in the best light.

6. Scene choices are bad

Scene choices are everything in your showreel. They can literally make or break your career. That is why you want to carefully choose which scenes you will include.

What constitutes a great scene will be different for every actor. Each scene you choose should be one you resonate with so your best qualities as an actor are evident.

You should always be on the hunt for your best scenes, and earmark them for your next showreel. Just think of how much easier creating it will be if you already have several great scenes in mind before you begin.

7. Your scenes don’t include the right acting partners

No matter what scenes you select for your showreel, they should include the best possible supporting actors. Choosing scenes with the wrong actors are guaranteed to help your showreel fall flat.

Look for your scenes that include acting partners who enhance the actions in them. Does the dialogue sound natural? Are the scenes convincing? Do your acting partners enhance your performance?

Think deeply about your scene partners, as they may impact the overall acting impression you want to leave behind. 

Want to learn other great showreel tips, or how to make a showreel? Check out our showreel acting course. Or, visit the Screenwise blog for more tips on acting, our courses and much more. 

Showreel FAQs – All You Need to Know

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For actors, a showreel functions like a curriculum vitae – it should effectively demonstrate your acting range in as little as three minutes, or even less. It works like an audition with a script; it needs to stand out so that agents, casting directors, and producers can get a feel of your acting abilities. It also gives them a glimpse of how you look on camera, as well as a sense of your on-camera presence.

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A showreel can make or break your chances of not only getting a role, but also getting signed with a reputable agent, so it truly is a big deal. For those who have a lot of nagging questions about showreels, we’ve put together this set of FAQs. If you want to know how to make a showreel you can be proud of, make sure to read on.

1. What is a showreel?

A showreel is a portfolio of your acting skills. It’s a short video demonstrating what characters you can play and how well you can act. It is a vital tool, similar to a CV or resume, for anyone wanting to pursue an acting career.

2. Why are actors required to have a showreel?

The short answer is that you need a showreel as it’s the only way casting directors will notice you. It’s the main device or tool you can use to showcase your acting abilities.

Other than your headshot, your showreel is the only other thing a casting director will see when they decide whether or not you’re fit for a role. This is why it’s important for your showreel to effectively show off your talent and highlight past work or demonstrate what you are capable of doing.

Your showreel must elicit an emotional response from the viewer so that you have a chance of getting hired. It should show your personality, style, attitude, versatility and camera presence, among other things.

2. What should I include in my showreel?

Make sure you include important personal information in your showreel. Begin your showreel with a slate screen containing basic information about yourself. This includes your name, contact details and website. Then include a headshot and a collection of your best clips.

After your headshot, you can go straightaway into showing your best clips. Always start with the clip showing your strongest performance. If you have difficulty selecting your best performance from a number of clips, get an outsider’s perspective.

Casting directors give only a few seconds of their time before deciding to press the stop button and move on to the next person’s showreel. There’s no need to explain or introduce each clip. All you need is a label or a line of text at the bottom of the screen detailing the name of the project and the genre. Try to include only two to five clips with the duration of each lasting only for 20 to 30 seconds. Aim for a total runtime of one-and-a-half minutes to three minutes max. Keep it concise and tight – no need for a montage, background music or flashy intro.

3. What makes for an impressive showreel?

An excellent showreel effectively showcases your acting range and depth through the use of carefully curated, high-quality scenes.

It should highlight your most marketable qualities and strengths. It’s not a composition of what you think is expected of you. Rather, it is an honest depiction of the way you currently look, sound and act so avoid including old material. Ensure your showreel has no technical issues; it should have high sound and image quality.

Choose clips that focus on you, not other actors, no matter how famous they are. Ideally, the scenes you include should begin and end with a shot of you.

4. Do I need to have different showreels?

If you are starting out with your first showreel, we would recommend that you have 1 showreel that showcases all of your acting skills. This means the casting agent or whoever is reviewing your showreel can see the full array of your acting capabilities. Ideally, your showreel should be varied enough to include a collection of different characters, styles and genres.

If you are applying for a very specific role in a certain genre, try to make a separate showreel specific for that genre. This way, you can showcase your range and depth as an actor and have dedicated showreels for comedy, drama and others. Think of it like tailoring your CV for a specific job, but you are tailoring your showreel for a specific role. 

5. What should I not include in my showreel?

There are a couple of things that are considered no-nos in showreels.

  • Never include confidential material that hasn’t even been shown or reviewed yet.
  • Don’t include violent or graphic footage.
  • Don’t use plagiarised or inappropriate material, or any scenes taken from your acting classes.
  • Don’t use flash drives and CDs. Instead, put your showreel online using your website, Vimeo or YouTube. Also, have a ready compressed video file that you can easily send across when required.
  • Try not to repeat projects to show your acting range; have a clip from a different film, show or performance every time.

6. Do I need to complete a showreel course before creating a showreel?

Showreel courses can benefit aspiring actors in many ways. Here are just a few: 

  • Get firsthand experience working with industry professionals
  • Develop and polish communication skills in a professional setting
  • Gain experience filming on a professional shoot
  • Hone your acting technique with professional input
  • Learn audition and screen test techniques
  • Get an industry recognised certification
  • But above all, you’ll learn how to create a showreel that wins you top roles!

Of course, you decide if you want to complete a showreel course, but do understand the benefits are more than a professional showreel at the end. 

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Hopefully, with this set of Q&As, we’ve covered most (if not all) of your showreel concerns. 

Do you have more questions? Ask us at Screenwise.

We offer a comprehensive showreel course where you’ll get the exposure and training you need to hone your craft, as well as come up with an impressive professional-quality showreel.

We’ve successfully produced talented artists that have made their own mark on the world of acting, including Adam Demos, Stef Dawson and Sam Webb. Come and explore more at Screenwise. 

Did you know ‘The Hunger Games’ star Stef Dawson is a Showreel Course Graduate?

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After successfully completing the Screenwise Showreel Course and equipping herself with a state-of-the-art showreel and a first-class skillset to back up her acting performance, Stef Dawson scored the role of Annie Cresta in the massive science fiction phenomenon The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson. All it took was one audition to sway the casting directors. Her charm and devotion to a role have catapulted her to ultimate stardom, landing her leading roles in the independent films Creedmoria and The Paper Stone and more recently Shadow of the Monarch. We’re excited about her achievements and can’t wait to see more of her!

“I hope this just inspires everyone at Screenwise not to give up on their dreams!!! Tell them to hang in there!! I booked a lead in an indie and hunger games in one month!! Life changed forever.” – Stef Dawson.

Auditions are now open for the Screenwise Showreel Course July 2020 intake. A one-year, part-time course offering students a toolkit for professional screen acting training and a state-of-the-art showreel required to meet the demands of today’s film and television industry. Click here to find out more.

Recognised as Australia’s most comprehensive showreel course for actors and the only program of its kind, the Screenwise Showreel Course is a one-year, part-time course offering students a toolkit for professional screen acting training and a state-of-the-art showreel required to meet the demands of today’s film and television industry.

If you want to take that next step towards becoming a professional actor or you feel you need to relaunch your career but cannot commit to a full-time acting course such as the Screenwise Two-Year Full-time Diploma of Screen Acting 10065NAT, then you have to be realistic – you will need a current professional showreel to help get you there. Hence the Screenwise Showreel Course.

The key distinction between the Showreel Course and simply paying a business to record a showreel for you, is that Screenwise Showreel graduates are equipped with the skills that showcase their calibre and versatility as an actor during auditions and screen tests.

A proven launch pad for acting careers, the Showreel Course Alumni includes high profile actors such as Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1&2), Sam Webb (Neighbours), Matt Levett (A Place To Call Home), Nathaniel Buzolic (The Vampire Diaries), Tabrett Bethel (Legend Of The Seeker) plus more.