five thoughts on demo reels from a casting director
- Sarah Cayce
- May 5
- 5 min read
I love a demo reel. It's the king of all the tools for me because there's nowhere to hide. With a headshot, I get an idea of what you look like, but nothing like motion pictures. Folks (can) lie on their resumé, but it's hard to lie about talent with a demo reel. Because it's the king of tools for me, and because casting seems to always want actors to have great reels, here are a few things to think about from my perspective as a casting director with nearly seventeen years of experience.
information overload
Remember when I said there's nowhere to hide with a demo reel? That's because you're telling me so much.
The roles you book - What types of roles you're currently booking can be really helpful - especially when I'm pushing for you - because it can show directors the same genre they're in with you in that type of role. It also means if you're a silly goose and only have silly goose footage, it's harder to book you for roles you don't have footage for.
How light hits you - Seeing how light hits an actor (and if they know how to use that light to their advantage) is so helpful with any type of tension or horror. Comedy tends to be brighter, which is why the next point is better for comedy, but we're just painting with light in the movies.
How you move - I've worked with directors who want in-person callbacks for no other reason than to understand how actors' bodies move as they get in and out of the room. If you have footage of yourself moving - especially doing a special skill - it's wonderful to see you doing it for so many reasons.
How you sound - You know what Jennifer Tilly's headshot doesn't have? Sound. The way actors sound plays into so much of storytelling that knowing how you all sound before we present you is endlessly helpful. Imagine Billy Connolly being the White Wizard instead of Christopher Lee - insane!
The level of projects you're booking - When I see several network shows, studio films, and cinematography to die for, I know that actors are starting to work more and more professionally. If all you have is indie films and student films, that's okay! When you start booking network and larger films, move your higher-quality footage to the front of your reel, because it impresses more folks off the bat.
Bonus Points - If I see you in footage with lots of famous folks, I know you can handle yourself and not be a weirdo.
manipulate me, please
Help me understand the types of roles you WANT me to be calling you in for with your demo reel. If you're a big comedy person, and all you have is footage of you making me laugh, it's hard to present that footage to folks pushing you for Capital A Actor Roles. If you want to be seen as funny, and only have footage of you doing stunts, we need to see how you're funny before we just trust that you are.
Y'all. I've looked people in the face, casting a rodeo movie, and asked if they can ride a bull. When folks kept saying yes, I had to stop and ask if they could because we would actually make them. We ended up having only four (4!) dudes that day who could actually ride bulls. I DON'T TRUST Y'ALL FOR NOTHIN' BECAUSE YOU'LL TELL ME YOU CAN RIDE A BULL IF IT GETS YOU CAST! I NEED PROOF! With that proof, make sure you're telling me what you want me to know, manipulate me into the right types of roles if you want to be seen differently than your footage suggests.
put the best stuff first
So many casting professionals see a few dozen reels a week, so please don't save the best for last. Put the stuff that will impress the most people up front so we keep watching. I recommend putting the things that are your most recognizable bookings up front so folks stick around, but remember to keep your scenes short enough that people keep watching.
The rule I give my students is to show their reels to the most judgmental person (WHO ALSO LOVES THEM) that they know and ask for their opinion on their reel. Take their notes if you want, but I'm more curious about how you feel when things drag. Take a look at the time code while you watch, and when you notice that you're feeling like things need to pick up, they do. Keep things short, and put the best stuff up front - when you're ready to split your reels up, peep number five.
lower thirds
A lower third is the writing in the lower third of a screen, usually used to tell the audience what's happening on screen. In true crime documentaries, it's usually the person's name and how they're related to the victim. In demo reels, it's usually the name of the show, and the network or the director. They're not for every clip, though.
When your footage is from a recognizable film or TV show with a wide release or a recognizable director, that's when you should start using lower thirds. It takes time to read those lower thirds, which means we're either ignoring your acting to read, or you've added extra time to your reel so we don't miss any of your acting. If it's WORTH the time, then great, add it. If it's Joe Blow's no-budget indie film that went straight to streaming, you don't need to add that information.
break it up
Once you have enough footage to break into different kinds of reels, it's really helpful on my end. When I'm casting horror, it's not super helpful to have commercials in the middle of your footage.
Full Reel - A blend of everything you can do with enough time to watch some of your scenes unfold a bit. This version can have lower thirds and move steadily through your work
Sizzle Reel - Quick cuts of everything you've done in under 90s that make us want to see more of your work, but will keep a clipped pace and shuffle your work between genres
Commercial Reel - Just the commercials, cut with the biggest brands at the front
Genre Reels - Horror, stunts, comedy, industrial - anything you specialize in that you have more than three clips from is a great rule of thumb for genre reels. If you have three horror films you've booked, edit a reel of those together! Do you have enough footage for a leading man reel? Lemme see it! They're so helpful - especially when we head back to that manipulation point above. Help me understand who you WANT to be with the footage you HAVE.
Demo reels are an ever-evolving tool, so don't feel like you have to have a one-and-done! Keep building it as you go, and I hope these points help. If you ever have questions, you can always book a consult with me, and we'll chat about your specific questions.
Good luck out there, y'all!
- Sarah
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