10 Jun 2021

5 Key Tips To Get The Best Showreel – Screenwise Tips

In the world of screen acting selling yourself is a key part of the industry, and one of the best ways to make a great first impression with a casting agent/director and get your foot in the door for your next role is with a showreel. Here are 5 key tips to make the best showreel you can that will help you land the next

Scene selection is key

A showreel is designed by you, for you, your scene selection is fundamental in producing the best representation of yourself that you can put forwards.
Our first key tip with your showreel is when choosing what scenes you want to include in your showreel is stick to your strengths.
There is no point trying to show off a fantastic dramatic scene where you absolutely nail the performance and follow it up with some lacklustre comedy acting that only your parents would politely laugh at. 

Keep it fresh, keep it updated

Just because you made a showreel 6 years ago that has landed you countless roles and kept you moving forward in the industry there is a never a time to get complacent. Just like you as an actor evolves, so does technology. Something that can fly under the radar for a lot of actors is visually how their showreel looks. Having your showreel shot on current professional equipment can give it that edge that can make it stand out in comparison to others who haven’t got around to updating theirs.

Runtime can matter

Another key tip when creating the best showreel you can is making sure a casting agent/director watch the entirety of your showrell. You can give an absolutely gut-wrenching performance that could contend for an Oscar, however if it’s buried 5 minutes into a 8 minute long showreel no one that matters is ever going to see it. You need to be able to hook in the agent or director as soon as possible, but also, you don’t want to overstay your welcome that by the time your reel is done they have completely forgotten the best parts of your performance. This ties into the next key point…

Getting professional help is vital

People work years to hone their craft and become extremely proficient in it. When crafting a showreel help from those that know what they are doing can make the difference between a scene that looks like something that HBO would be producing and something a high schooler produced over the weekend. Even the experience of being on set with professionals is a learning experience within itself and can help you as an actor continue to improve.

Enrolling in a showreel course

Just like getting professional help, enrolling in a showreel course is another way to guarantee that your reel is going to be the best that it possibly can be. You are going to get formal training that can help improve your skills as an actor going forwards, as well as learning the intricacies of the industry that you are trying to enter. It can help you develop not only confidence moving forwards with your performances but also create contacts and connections  that are vital in the future of your career.

The Screenwise Showreel Course Alumni include high profile actors such as Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games), Adam Demos (UnREAL), Sam Webb (Neighbours), Matt Levett (A Place to Call Home) and Nathaniel Buzolic (The Vampire Diaries). Join the ranks of these incredible actors and we might just see you joining them on the silver screen. Showreel Course have also moved on to score roles in popular Australian TV shows like UnderbellyCrownies and Packet to the Rafters.

Want to learn other great showreel tips, or how to make a showreel? Check out our showreel acting course. If you want to keep in up to date with all things going on at Screenwise check out our socials Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

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