Is a sizzle reel worth the time, effort and cost to attract financing, producer partner, secure better distribution? Thoughts please because I am considering doing a sizzle reel for Jael A Western Tale. Thank you!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5737734/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Thank you in advance for your thoughts and input!
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I don't know what you mean by sizzle reel, but a good, short trailer always helps for attracting the money/financing, producers and by this money the better distribution will be granted.
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Elisabeth Meier There are different types of sizzle reels. I know they were used heavily in Advertising (I have a father who worked in advertising for decades) which was a videotape of various ads they had produced, etc. to show off their skills. With regards to screenwriting, it's a visual representation of the "vision" of your script. Sometimes a sizzle reel is part of an actual "pitch package" that has a movie poster, storyboards of your opening scene, a trailer of key scenes to demonstrate theme and setting, etc. I've also heard of using the producing of a sizzle reel to gauge how bad certain scenes and dialogue may be, etc. If your screenplay has a really great hook, I've seen some sizzle reels be the opening scene to whet the palete. Here are a couple of links on sizzle reels:
http://www.producersguild.org/?sizzle
and
http://www.businessinsider.com/sizzle-reels-are-brand-marketing-secret-w...
Hope those help.
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Thank you @ChadStroman That's awesome help!
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It sorta depends where you are on the food chain. I produce monologues and sizzle reels for local talent free of charge. My most recent success is a young woman who is now cast in the Avatar sequel. If you're just starting out, do a couple of monologues - a drama and a comedy for starters. If you have some work, edit it into a reel - it's not hard.
Chad Stroman Thank you very much for your explanation. I thought this would simply be a reel what describe by the use of it in advertising as it is very similar to what actors and directors do. They sizzle and puzzle impressions of their work together to a reel. So, I don't see the difference there between reel and sizzle reel, but I get the idea by how you explained it when it comes to pitch your screenplay.
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Is this for TV or for Film?