Demo Reel

[SQ]

Okay, I've actually watched all the demo reels you've provided(that first one and Belief's demo reel were friggin' awesome) and it seems like it's just what I've feared... A collage of previous works.

Here's where my brain cells aren't connected how I'm supposed to do this.

I've only edited AMVs, a few live action AMVs, 2 documentaries and some random animal stuff I filmed that I turned into a music video.

Carlos(Machine) didn't really make his demo reel a music video, but only showed what he had edited(which really just looked like different special effects he could do), and didn't put in anything that he didn't not film himself, signifigantly alter, or created himself.

Since I haven't signifigantly alter or create any videos or footage for music videos, how am I supposed to make a demo reel unless I make a whole new music video, simply featuring footage I've used in the past(past footage from past AMVs, since I am not an effects-heavy person)?

I mean, the stuff I've filmed myself is few and far between, I've had no real expierences editing worth putting on my resume(aside from AMV awards, which I'm skeptical of), so what should I do?

I need to make a lot of new stuff for scholarships after I graduate, so I'm kind of left with my own ideas, here:

a.) I'm fucked until I graduate some college/school with their recommendations.
b.) Someone here knows exactly what to do in this situation and how to make a demo reel.
c.) I just make all new stuff(tape it all, make some fancy effects, make a demo reel of this)

If I were concerned about making a montage of cool camera angles and flashy effects, I really wouldn't be in this situation, but I only want to be the person the producer yells at to put cuts someplace for (maybe) music videos and commercials... So I'm heavily confused, here.

[rubyeye]

To SQ,

First of all take a chill pill.

While some will argue that a "demo reel" is more important than your resume or (work) experience, others have said that networking, or knowing (the right) people is what really counts.

Next let me just say, from a personal stand point, I really hate it when companies only ask for demo reels on DVD or VHS. I, for one, simply don't have the time, money, software or equipment to learn a new skill like DVD authoring ~ "that's why I'm looking for a job", is usually what I'd like to say to these people. They're the kind who things everybody in the world has internet connection. Just not true.

Anyway, I don't know what kind of studio you are applying for that asks for a demo reel & a sample of your work, unless it is an art job and they are referring to 'art samples'. But a demo reel IS a sample of your work - that's why it's called a demo.

Now it sounds like you are afraid of your lack of (quality) source material for your demo reel. Truthfully, you don't really need a lot for a demo reel. Again, it all really depends on what kind of reel you want to make - you might have several, one that shows editing, one for motion graphics, or one that shows animation skills. But you can still use any kind of footage to address your talents or the position you are applying for.


Here is the source breakdown for my demo as an example:

(2) live action shorts
(2) live action commercials
(1) movie trailer
(7) AMVs
(3) CG cinematics
(2) Motion Graphics logo designs

Now I'm not going to use clips from everything since my audio bed is only 80-sec long. But this is everything I have which I can use. Things like the movie trailer and the logo designs are just something I made to put into the demo to show what I can do.

[Zarxrax]

Making a demo real just showing off your ability to cut clips truely would be a challenge. I think you definately need to expand your horizons and learn how to do more stuff, because if you think you will get by with just being able to cut and paste video, I think you are mistaken.
I don't work in the industry, but I don't think you will get very far JUST being able to cut video. Anyone can do that. You mention commercials and music videos. Commercials don't need heavy editing. There are 2 types of commercials, local and national:
Local commercials don't have much budget to hire like some huge team of people, one of which just speciallizes in cutting the video. They want a person who will come and film them, and then make it a commerical. They want you to include their text and logos and all that stuff. Often it will require some simple motion graphics.
National commercials typically feature heavy 3d animation or really complex motion graphics. The person that does these things will probably also be doing the cuts as well. Do you honestly see commercials that ever have more than like 5 cuts (maybe aside from spots advertising a tv show)?
As for music videos, its the same deal. If you get in on a professional deal (they are rare, so it would be hard to come by), ok, you MIGHT be able to do something just cutting the video. For most low budget or local stuff though, its going to usually be 1 or 2 people doing everything... filming, cutting, effects.

A television series or a feature film would be most likely to have a specialized editing role, but those jobs are very hard to come by, and do you think they would want to hire someone who cant do anything besides cut and paste?


So my suggestion to you is to diversify your talents. Learn all you can, practice all you can, and show people that you are capable of a lot. Don't put yourself in a box. If you can get a job doing just editing, thats great. But the job isn't going to last forever. You need to be able to do something else if you CAN'T get a job just editing.

[RolltheStampede]

Isnt there some kind of rule or law that states that you can use any type of media as lond as it is under a certain amount of time. i remeber doing a presentation on different types of movies for school once and it was ok to use as long as it was under like 10 or 30 seconds or something like that.