Just like you could ask your brother who just bought a camera to shoot a scene for you and your cousin who has a mic to do the sound, you could also decide to edit the reel yourself. But you will undoubtedly take the risk of appearing unprofessional. A good reel, one that captures your individual essence and personality, requires skilled editing and cutting. There’s a reason why they give Academy Awards for film editing. Anyone can load up their laptop’s editing software and put clips together, but a good film editor will give the reel character and dynamics. Additionally, there are numerous questions and challenges that an amateur will struggle with and an experienced reel editor will solve in seconds. For example, how long should my reel be? Should I put in my amazing performance at the community theater? What format should I export to? Am I competing too much with another actor in this scene? How do I handle different aspect ratios? Should I hold off my best scene for last or should I open the reel with it? Am I using adequate labeling? Are there any technical errors that I don’t notice but might turn a more experienced watcher off?
A high quality reel is an essential investment towards your career, and choosing the best editor to work with is crucial. Reel editing should be collaborative as it involves a high level of trust. You want to work with someone who not only has experience with editing but more specifically with editing reels. A high quality reel editor will objectively look at the footage you have selected and help you choose the material that best serves you. He will look at the visual quality in each clip, and of course, your performance in order to craft a visual experience that exemplifies you - even perfecting technical aspects of the footage like color or sound that are not at the level you want to display. At Award Winning Reels, we specialize in producing and editing reels for actors, TV hosts, and TV personalities who want to present their individuality and talent in the most professional way. In the case that you don’t yet have the quality of footage you wish you had, we will also write, produce, and shoot professional level scenes tailor-made to showcase your true potential. Ultimately, A compelling reel is an asset that can boost your career and propel you to the next level.
Enjoy some examples of acting demo reels cut by Award Winning Reels Here.