Reel Thoughts

I’ve had occasion to see a bunch of demo reels recently – mostly from BHP students but also a few on the outside as well. I include in this “demo reel” grouping the video auditions that many actors are doing as part of their effort to be considered for a role. Some random thoughts that come to me, completely separate from the acting – this all assumes terrific acting.  (The terms “tape” or “reel” are themselves a little obsolete, but will be used as synonymous with the video product in all its current forms):

Two Communications: Two elements are being communicated with these reels – most people seem to be aware only of one. The obvious element is that of “how is this actor acting?” But the second element is equally important – and that’s the subtextual communication being delivered via the quality of the video. And that communication is very important. You simply cannot afford to act well in a video that sucks, quality-wise. Don’t know how else to say it. Because the suckiness keeps me from really observing the actor – it becomes a simultaneous communication that is discordant with the acting (assuming a good actor). And quality is easily achieved – there’s simply no excuse for sucking. Any excuse you think you have for poor quality is being crushed by the fact that tapes are being created that look and sound great, and your butt is being kicked. You need to make the effort not to suck simply because someone else is out there not sucking.

Quality 1: Please make sure you look good. You can help yourself a lot by ensuring a makeup person is with you – sounds dumb, but several of these videos had attractive actors with either overdone or zero makeup. It’s a balance – I don’t presume to lecture on the matter – I’m not a makeup expert. Some actors need very little. But I know when I’m looking at too much or too little – and I’m observing both of these too often on these tapes. I know we live in a superficial society, and the society can be condemned for its superficiality, but you simply do yourself a major disservice by not looking as good as you can on these tapes. I suggest bringing another person because it’s just better to have someone you trust in charge of this matter, so you can focus on the acting part. Also – gentlemen, make sure your suit jackets, shirts and collars are checked!!

Quality 2:  I’m seeing too many completely static shots, camera on tripod, with waist-up framing – the aesthetics of a police interrogation video. Conversely, one of the audition tapes I saw was a full-on short film in the style of the “Batman” films, conceived and shot for the purpose of the lead actor being considered for any role in the upcoming sequel. This thing rocked. It was a fully-realized piece, written by the actor (see more on this below), shot by a talented director, the camera moved, it had some visual effects, it was scored with Danny Elfman-style music, and regardless of any nitpicks you could dig up, here’s what it communicates: These people are serious people. They have a love for this kind of film. They had the intention and dedicated whatever  resources they had to making this look impressive. They have esteem for themselves and respect for the work that goes into making a good film. I believe that subtextual communication is extremely important. I knew the actors, but right away I asked all sorts of questions about the director and how they pulled this off (in a single night of shooting, apparently). It immediately grabbed your attention from its high quality alone. 

The medium-shot waist-up static tripod police interrogation video communicates this: I know I need to submit a video for this project. Besides, my teacher said I need to “create opportunities for myself.” But I don’t have any money. I don’t have time. I don’t really know how all this shit works. I have some desire. What I really want is simply to be cast because…. Well, just because. Please like me despite my poverty. I don’t know if I have what it takes for the long haul. Frankly, I’m a little depressed. This is not a good subtextual communication, and it reads loud and clear no matter how well you think you’re acting. 

There’s an easily achievable middle-ground between the Batman short and the police interrogation video. It involves a single camera move, emphasizing closeups, and not shooting nine minutes of stuff. More on that below….

Sound: Don’t shoot in echo chambers. Too many people are using small rooms with hard surfaces and the camera mic. It’s going to sound like shit. Sound has to be good – get a location that absorbs sound and don’t use the camera microphone.

Length: Don’t shoot nine minutes of material. Part of the quality problem is that people are simply trying to shoot too much, and the quality goes down as a necessity of too much length and too much time wasted getting all that material in some kind of usable condition. Set up a simple shot, move the camera slightly during the shot, have it be a MCU or CU if at all possible, and act the shit out of it for about 2-3 minutes. Done.  

Material 1: This gets tricky, since I am guilty of having told a number actors who did a great scene in class to shoot it for their reel or for casting in a project. But look – one of the reels I saw had a scene from Pretty Woman on it. I mean… No way. No. You cannot think you’re going to compete with Julia Roberts in the role that made her career. Why would you do this? No one looking at that tape is looking at this actress – they’re looking at their memory of Julia Roberts and that’s that. Another had the Walken/Hopper scene from True Romance. Forget it – no way. So if you’re going to shoot something from very famous material – I’d seriously question that. If it’s 2-3 minutes from something not as well know, sure – but stay away from Streetcar, Forrest Gump, Pretty Woman, Raging  Bull…. Anything where the original performance or scene itself is famous.

Material 2: If you do have a famous scene or role that you feel strongly you want to shoot for your reel, I would suggest you write a variation that is original, so you’re not competing directly with lines that people may be referencing to the source script. The “Batman” riff I keep referring to was a completely original script designed as a short film, but nailed the tone, cynicism and dry humor of that franchise. I think there’s a lot more freedom available to you with an original script, and everything is based on everything else anyhow – just write your Raging Bull scene sideways and you’ll have the tempermental relationship between brothers, jealousy, all of it – without competing with that script. You don’t want to give people watching your video an excuse to have their minds wander through cinema history figuring out where they’ve heard these lines.

Distribution: Do not distribute your video via your personal Youtube channel. One person sent me a link to her audition video this way – carelessly. I won’t comment on the other videos that were there next to the three minutes of serious career administration – but it was not a good juxtaposition, let me tell you. So create a separate professional channel for online videos related to career administration. And honestly – I would question putting up personal videos that have you looking foolish or drunk or ridiculous. Almost every applicant for any job is being Google-searched for criminal records and the like, but wanton stupidity captured on video is not something I would want a potential director or producer to see if I could help it. This is the world in the 21st century.