Comments on: Why Your Demo Reel Should Be Really Really Short

By: MOTION PIMP

MOTION PIMP — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:57:06 +0000

im running late on this but i just recently began making my reels bout 1 to 2 minutes long, but only because im also a producer and i tend to show off all elements of my work. ill begin with half of a custom instrumental that i made, then match the comp work to the track but i make at least 10 proud products a week, im always trying something new. However i think it’s best to lower reel time, due to the known facts here in this post. please enjoy and like and share. this is my 9 months of heavy learning, practice, and experimentation. tell me what you think.

By: Ulvi Yelen

Ulvi Yelen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:16:55 +0000

Here is a perfect demo reel that i could NOT ignore

“I am very proud to present you my demoreel 2011.
I sent it to ILM and Pixar, I hope I will have some answers and I have a job…”

http://vimeo.com/19368587

By: Chris Hulme

Chris Hulme — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:55:14 +0000

Some really interesting points here, we have to agree that time is everything with a reel but its difficult to get everything in without making it to long! Our latest reel is just under 1 min and we thinks it hits the spot. Please take a look and let me know what you think, enjoy;) http://www.kitedigital.co.uk/web-design-manchester/demo-reel.php

By: Luther Himes IV

Luther Himes IV — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:55:19 +0000

Man, I definitely feel that my 3 1/2 minute reel is excessive now, though it did encompass more than just motion graphics. At least it was my first one, so subsequent reels will only cover a year or so of new work.

http://vimeo.com/12223919

By: MarcyVF

MarcyVF — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:43:05 +0000

Hmm… Probably best to keep it short to keep it audience-friendly (for all type of viewers).

By: Fabrice

Fabrice — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:04:26 +0000

Hi everybody ! Here’s my contribution : i’m working on DVD and Blu-Ray graphics designs but i’d love to work as a motion designer (TV, commercials…). So I’m learning C4D to get some cool stuff to show in my showreel… Unfortunately,
when a company ask me to explain my works on my showreel, i have to say : “Well…i’m just a dvd/Blu-Ray graphic designer and all that “motion design” stuff in my showreel are just “fakes” to practice.
Anyway, my showreel is 2mn30 long. Do you thing I should cut it ? http://vimeo.com/10575160

By: kerry

kerry — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:48:00 +0000

QUOTE: here are a very small number of people that will dim the lights, make some popcorn and watch reels with undivided attention. Maybe some artists will, but definitely not people that are hiring.

———- THAT’S NOT TRUE – FOR EVERYONE. (…and the ones is is true for you don’t want to work for!)

WHAT IS TRUE… is we will keep watching if we are be being Engaged, Enthralled and Excited.

Music is a problem sometimes as someone commented. We don’t all have the same tastes, so yes, if we are ever in doubt we mute it.

Its only fair to the artist that way. After all they cant help their musical tastes.

Seriously folks, FORGET a specific number eg 30 /45 / 90 / 120 /240 seconds.

I’ll use SEX as a good example, how long is good sex? It would be dumb to give a number to that, given all the variables, right? And the same is true for a reel.

So rather aim for a actually harder goal, to engaged, enthrall and excite, irrespective of the duration.

THINK OF IT LIKE SEX…

Engaged, enthralled and excited.

…because while your doing it, your not thinking of anything else.

…And while we’re watching your reel neither should we.

That’s exactly what we look for in a reel every time.

Because if you manage the above, it SHOWS you know the job, and that’s what we’re looking for. Creativity and ability plus technical skills.

If you make us experience that, and i’ll say it again;

Engaged
Enthralled
Excited

You’ll win. Best of Luck.

By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:59:57 +0000

If you’re an animator, and do create animations to music regularly, then yes. As a compositor, that doesn’t apply to me, however (and I’m sorry if everybody around here IS an animator… I am not, and I still read along quite regularly, so I assumed there must be other people like me out there ). I usually have nothing to do with music at work and thus the people who hire me won’t care much about the music in my reels.

By: The Gorilla

The Gorilla — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:35:44 +0000

I think seeing how you use sound to help animate is a great way to judge talent.

By: Jules

Jules — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:35:00 +0000

I created several reels, some showing a raw summary of my work, others my work on a specific project, others my work on a specific shot. In that order, they are 90 secs, 3 minutes and eight minutes long. I’ve been invited to many companies lately, and my experience is that they always want to see more, not less. They want to know in extensive detail what you’ve done on each and every shot. Now, I don’t think myself the compelling genius and I don’t think that my reels are so good that they leave people spellbound. Which leads me to the conclusion: this study lacks some important aspects.
If you have ten minutes of outstanding work and interesting break-downs to show, why would you cut that down to 40 seconds? I wouldn’t. Of course, if you only have 10 seconds of stuff worth watching, don’t try to make it 90.