Demo Reels
Make it shorter – Anything longer than 2 minutes and the reviewer will probably just skip through to the end. Most people can cut out a LOT of fluff. I’ve heard some people recommend “Cut it in half, then cut it in half again.”
Music Doesn’t Matter – I didn’t believe it when I first heard it, but it’s true. 9 times out of 10 your employer will mute your reel. Include music if you want, but don’t waste time trying to find the “perfect” track.
Credit what you did - In the corner of each shot, list exactly what you did for that shot (compositing, lighting etc.). Even if you did everything, say “Everything”, as it will answer the internal question in every viewer’s head: “What did he do in this shot?”
Include Breakdowns – They demonstrate that you have an understanding of the different elements that make up a shot, plus you it makes you look like a pro. Every bit counts! Great example here at 0:26.
Include commercial works - Not everyone has commercial works, but if you do, flaunt it! It’s basically a testimony from the last studio that hired you. Your reputation will shoot up immensely.
Examples of Great Demo Reels
David Vercher 2012 - Direct and to the point. Clearly labelling all shots with what he did. A dream demoreel.
Janak Thakker - A large amount of commercial shots shows that he can be trusted.
Richard Spriggs – The sheer quality of works combined with the fast paced nature of the reel makes it great to watch.
Alvise Avati – A reel by a world class creature animator. This reel of 100% hollywood movies shows he has a lot of experience and has what it takes to join a professional environment.
About author Andrew Price
User of Blender for 9+ years. I've written tutorials for 3d World Magazine and spoken at three Blender conferences. My goal is to help artists get employed in the industry by making training accessible and easy to understand. I'm an Aussie and I live in South Korea ;)
Chris R. said that he especially liked Ms Tan's story about going from high school to college and then on to her career.
