Filmmaking / Directing : Director's Demo Reel by Rafael Pinero

Rafael Pinero

Director's Demo Reel

Hello everyone, any tips or suggestions on how to make a Director's Demo Reel, what to include, what not to include, length... Etc... Your comments will be very appreciated.

Daniel C. Avery

I also have this question. My reel turned into a motion graphics, animation and cinematography reel. What do directors need?

Rafael Pinero

Hi Claudia, how many films did you include in your Demo?

Daniel C. Avery

Thanks Claudia, this was helpful.

Regina Lee

Depends on what material you have to put on a reel and what you're hoping to use the reel for. Do you have... spec commercials? Short films? Music videos? Feature films? If you haven't watched a lot of reels, watch them and see what you're responding to. You may also want to Google commercial reels or director reels of commercial directors. Many commercial production companies allow public access to their clients' reels because advertisers need to check out reels very frequently. These are great models. If you have a great short film to use as a sample, that might be a better calling card than a reel. But again, depends on the purpose of the reel.

Rafael Pinero

Thanks for the comments Regina, But what if someone has done only films and wants to do commercials? How can he get the job with a demo reel that doesn't have commercials?

Regina Lee

You probably have to shoot some "spec commercials."

Regina Lee

Or you film work must speak for itself. For example, I could be mistaken, but I believe that for Drake Doremus, writer/director of Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner LIKE CRAZY, it was feature film LIKE CRAZY that made him a marketable commercial and branded content director.

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