BLOG

Sizzle reels are the backbone for a producer’s pitch packaging materials, and can be the best way to convey your vision. A visual pitch can effectively speak to potential investors and ultimately get them on board. 

Just what do sizzle reels do? 

1. Conveys your vision utilizing visual elements that might otherwise be misunderstood by words alone. 
   
2. Shows your project is one worth investing in, and demonstrates your ability to get results if they do invest.
   
3. Identifies to the investor that you have a clear plan and structure as to how to actualize your idea. 
   

Sizzle reels are the most effective tool when it comes to pitching your project. Sizzle reels are dynamic and provide as much information needed to get investors interested. It is important to have quality content, so if you choose to shoot something you shouldn’t skimp on the production. Poor quality production will result in a poor quality sizzle.

Just how much is this going to cost me?
If you’re one of those people thinking “just how much is this going to cost me,” worry not, there are plenty of ways to create a sizzle reel without breaking the bank. You can create a sizzle reel with stock photos, video clips from YouTube, music, and other materials that are readily available online. While choosing content keep in mind that a sizzle reel will never go commercial so you can use copyrighted material to convey your ideas. In the end all you have to pay for is the stock footage and music.

What do I need to make a great sizzle reel?
What you truly need to create a great sizzle reel comes is a professional editor. A good editor will be able to craft an amazing sizzle reel from practically nothing. An even better editor will be able to coach you on what’s needed to create a sizzle reel that speaks for your project. An editor will be able to craft a creative and dynamic pitch that entices an investor. It’s also important to hear an editor’s opinion, they know what works when it comes to catching an audience’s attention. 

Lastly remember to know your project. And we mean, really know it. Scripted television may require a fine-tuned script before first and foremost, while a reality television show will most definitely benefit from a great sizzle reel. Sizzle reels are good for conveying ideas that are visually driven, but you’ll need much more than a good idea if you plan on pitching a fully executed idea. It all depends on what you as a producer will need in order to sell your idea to potential investors.

Where do I start?
Start with clarifying your idea, get it down on paper before going further. You need to think your project out before you do anything else. Write down similar projects and have some close friends share their ideas about your project with you. Confusing ideas are never good ideas so make sure you think everything through before approaching an investor. Once you have a clear and concise idea for a project you’re on the right track.

Once you have a fully formed idea start working on the commercial value of your project. Research anything and everything that has to do with your idea, make sure you understand what you are talking about, investors know when you don’t. Think of how investors can get their money back from investing, this will be a huge selling point for you. Show them similar projects that have seen results, or tell them how your idea is different from those that didn’t. Share notable names that are involved or hoping to be involved with the project, investors will want to hear all of this by the end of your pitch. You’ll want to make sure your pitch sounds complete so include as much necessary information as possible.

Now you’re ready to put together your sizzle reel, approach an editor about your project. and get an estimate for the work. Prior to meeting with an editor put together some samples of images and clips you want to see included in your sizzle reel, this will help convey your ideas to the editor without causing miscommunication. If you do half the work for your editor, you’ll be able to set them up with some of the tools they need to make your dream sizzle reel.

In the end you should have a pitch package that will get investors interested. Remember to be optimistic and get excited about the potential of the project; chances are if you are the investor will be as well. Your sizzle reel will be what sets you apart!

The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards are set to air LIVE on TNT and TBS this Sunday January 25, 2015 5PM PT.
The SAG Awards were founded in 1995 and are a film and TV awards ceremony unlike the Oscars. Simply put, the SAG Awards celebrate actors and their performances.  Each year the SAG nominating committee, comprised of their own union members, choose the most noteworthy performances of the year to complete their nomination choices.The SAG Awards are actors honoring actors, and although great films and acting go hand-in-hand it is acting that is the focus of this particular awards show.

The SAG awards offers just five selections per category which is less than the Oscars. With less choices voting members are able to zero in on noted performances, yet some fans believe other worthy performances are often left off the list. For instance this year there were no nominations for the films Selma, Unbroken and American Sniper, which received high praise at other award ceremonies. However there is usually always one surprise nomination overlooked by the academy that SAG considers. This year that’s Jennifer Aniston for her performance in Cake. Aniston’s nomination was a complete shock and the talk of this award season. Chosen despite the lack of nominations at other award shows Aniston is expected to be a top contender for Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor in a leading role. It’s no wonder considering the amount of SAG-AFTRA members that work in Television, and Aniston’s history with the hit show Friends. Aniston is even expected to rival Julianne Moore, a huge contender for lead actress at the Oscars.
In addition, unlike other award shows SAG honors the best performance of an entire cast in a film. An acting ensemble award recognizes how actors interact as a group, as some films don’t have just one stand out role.  This year nominations include Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game and the Theory of Everything. The cast of these films were so unified they contributed to the success of the film as a whole. It will definitely be exciting to see which cast takes the award this Sunday. 

The SAG Awards are considered a precursor for the Oscars that air in February. Last year all four best actor performance winners, McConaughey, Blanchett, Leto and Nyongo’o won the same exact awards at the Oscars. 

If none of these reasons make you consider watching the SAG Awards perhaps the star-studded presenter list will. Tune in for presenters that include Laverne Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch and Viola Davis. Joining them are Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, Erica Dane, Felicity Jones, Lenny Kravitz, Eddie Redmayne, Tony Revolori, J.K. Simmons, Matthew McConaughey, Matt McGorry, Edward Norton, Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, Michael Keaton, Rashida Jones, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, and Ethan Hawke.

Check out a full list of the nominees here: 
http://www.sagawards.org/media-pr/press-releases/nominees-announced-21st-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards%C2%AE

Best Picture Nominees:
“American Sniper”
"Birdman"
"Boyhood"
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"
“Whiplash"

This year’s Best Picture Nominees popularize elements often considered unpopular by the average movie going audience. Blockbusters have had to compete at the box office this year with films of substance. Proving that this year’s nominees share a common ground that forges new ground.

Unorthodox Filming Styles:
Films like Boyhood which filmed over the course of 12 years, and Mr. Turner, though not nominated in the Best Picture category, took numerous years of research to prepare before production. Not to mention the unique signature style of filmmaker Wes Anderson who wows us this year with his stylish yet deceptively thoughtful farce, The Grand Budapest Hotel. The commitment to these unorthodox styles of filmmaking sparked a much needed renewed interest in the viability of the Indie film industry.

Introspective Dramas are back:
Birdman tells the story of Riggan Thomson a former film star as he pursues a broadway career in hopes of reviving his career and seeking artistic relevance, while Whiplash follows Miles Teller a first-year music student who wins a seat playing drums in a jazz band led by conservatory teacher J.K. Simmons, who uses fear and intimidation to push his students to perfection. Both of these films have successfully captivated audiences in the often unpopular genre of psychological drama.

Historical Dramas Inspire:
The Theory of Everything recounts the remarkable life of scientist Stephen Hawking, and his first wife Jane Wilde as they struggle with Hawking's motor neuron disease. The film Selma covers Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The Imitation Game follows Alan Turing and an a elite team of Code-breakers who’s work is partly responsible for ending WWII. Even The Grand Budapest pays homage to a lifestyle and a gentler time forever altered by war, yet manages to uplift us nonetheless. Besides the historical relevance, these stories also inspire movie goers through the character’s real life struggles against the odds.

The official Oscar nominees were released via livestream Thursday January 15. Check out the complete schedule here: http://oscar.go.com/blogs/oscar-news/oscars-2015-nominees-announcement-and-live-stream


American Sniper website: http://www.americansnipermovie.com/
Birdman website: http://www.birdmanthemovie.com/
Boyhood website: http://boyhoodmovie.tumblr.com/
The Grand Budapest Hotel website: http://www.grandbudapesthotel.com/
Imitation Game website: http://theimitationgamemovie.com/
Selma website: http://www.selmamovie.com/
The Theory of Everything website: http://www.thetheoryofeverythingmovie.co.uk/
Whiplash website: http://sonyclassics.com/whiplash/

You’ve probably heard every generic resolution in the book but as actors you probably haven’t heard these. Here is a list of the most successful New Year’s Resolutions for Actor’s.

1. Be yourself. As an actor a lot of roles come and go and some of them never quite leave you. At the beginning of the year think about who you are first and what parts of yourself make you unique. During casting calls work this into your acting and let others get to know you for you. 
   
2. Stay fit. Actors need their bodies to be fit for roles they are assigned. Remember that most people will drop the ball on this but your acting career may depend on it. Not only will you need to stay fit for roles but a healthier lifestyle will reduce stress and make your life more manageable.
   
3. Say yes more often. Sometimes we are given opportunities and turn them down due to lack of interest but at the beginning of this New Year try exploring different opportunities that may not seem desirable at first. You never know just quite what you may get out of an opportunity until you say yes.
   
4. Work Harder. This year give yourself more time to rest and more time to study your craft, make sure you give 110% to everything you do so you can be proud of the end results. If you put more work into your career people will start to take notice and you will be happier with yourself.
   
5. Create the perfect reel. Brand yourself with confidence and work on that reel until you feel it really portrays your strengths as an actor. Reels can make or break your casting debuts and that’s why hired professionals exist.
   
6. Get representation. Actors work in tandem with agents and managers and that’s why it’s important to get some sort of representation on your side. If you don’t get signed right away simply set aside some time each day to apply to online auditions; you’ll be able to better understand just want an agent does when you do get one.
   
7. Be helpful. A little kindness can go a long way. In a city like Los Angeles or New York you never know who knows whom. In the long run it may help you to be a little more helpful; give a donation, help someone move, or spend time volunteering. If it doesn’t benefit your career you’ll feel better for doing it.
   
8. Make sacrifices. Know a want from a need. You need to know where your priorities lie or you can get overwhelmed. In the coming year make sure to save money and be prepared to make hard choices. Truly think about the impact your choices have and what they say about you and your future.
   
9. Define your goals. Think about the long-term and short-term goals you want to accomplish. Think of what kinds of roles you want to play in the long-term and where you want your career to take you. Short-term goals should help be the stepping stones to those goals that might take a little extra time.
   
10. Do it now! Nothing will help you if you never get started. The harsh reality is that we are not all rich and famous but taking these New Year’s Resolutions to heart will truly help make your year a successful and rewarding one. Focus on your career and the roles you want and start taking steps in the right direction. 

References:
http://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/2015/01/a-new-year-resolution-for-all-actors

http://www.nycastings.com/dmxreadyv2/blogmanager/v3_blogmanager.asp?post=new-years-resolutions

http://acting4camera.com/10-new-years-resolutions-for-actors/-- 

Happy New Year from the Award Winning Reels team. With 2015 here it’s time to celebrate yourself, and continue work on your acting career. Perhaps the goals you have this year will help take you all the way into a bright and nurturing future, so it’s time to start planning and get things on their way. This year think of what direction you want your career to take and how to get there. You may see your acting reel is in need of a boost.  And editing your own reel is a mistake you don’t want to make!

As an actor it’s time to really consider what your reel can do for you. Exposure, potential jobs, and a first impression of your essence and ability to those who haven’t seen your work. Many actors think they will save time and money doing this themselves but in the end they don’t. Almost every actor who has edited their own reel has come to us afterwards to re-cut it. Why? Firstly, an actor cannot be objective about themselves. Second, editing a demo reel is a skill that professionals can do better than you. Yes, it’s true. You wouldn’t attempt to fill your own tooth rather than go to a dentist would you? A professional editor knows how to showcase your talent, can tell a visual story with your clips with the skill and experience of having edited hundreds of other projects. A professional editor has the software and skill to hide flaws in video and audio that you probably don’t have. Editing is an art form just like acting. So do yourself a favor and trust a professional editor to create a dynamic, engaging, and succinct demo reel.

In the New Year it’s important to brand yourself toward what goals you want to accomplish; do you want to be taken more seriously? Then present yourself in the most professional way possible. What really sets you apart from the competition is how you project yourself to others. Your acting reel and what it conveys about you is the most important tool to accomplish this. 

Over the past couple of blogs we have been able to touch on how you as an actor may be able to change your branding and boost your response from casting calls, now let’s take things home. When you brand yourself you really get to choose where you want your career to go, you choose which direction your future is headed and ultimately take control over your acting path. But be smart and choose a team that can assist you with the tools you need. Professional editor, photographer, acting coach, PR, etc. You need a team of professionals to help you. Celebrities do! Giving yourself the same advantage will help set yourself years ahead of the competition.

So don’t waste precious time cutting corners. Value yourself by valuing the professionals and the skills they provide.