One of these projects is my professional screen reel. A showreel as a performer is highly valuable in this day and age. Dancers have showreels highlighting footage of themselves on stage or in studio; singers primarily have singing reels which have been recorded in a good studio facility; as for me - I chose to specialise in screen acting for my showreel.
The clips on my screen reel were taken during my years of training in Italia Conti. The acting for camera aspect of my course was strong and I took as much from it as I could.
As the industry changes and technology constantly betters itself - I am already eager to get started on creating a new, more up-to-date screen reel. I want better quality footage and material. This is something which I must set time aside for myself.
Creative time is valuable to me. Myself and my peers have discussed filming some clips from plays we like so as we can work towards new screen reels. This is a project which I will keep updates on as time progresses.
If there are any dancers / performers out there who wish to share their showreels, I would be happy to share them on different forums of social media. I believe performer support is essential.
Please let me know your thoughts on the importance of showreels, whatever your specific practice!
Problems which arose whilst creating and updating my screen reel included adding credits to the clips. I downloaded 'Windows MovieMaker' onto my HP laptop in order to undertake the necessary editing needed. When I became co-represented by my Irish agent - they required their contact details to be added to the end. I was proud of my initiative to obtain a forum of editing which was compatible to my device and which I could decipher simply. How we learn and recognise our practice is an ongoing lesson.
I find myself learning new things about technology every other day and how it benefits my acting career.
How I present myself to the cyber world is invaluable. As an actor - I need a good quality headshot and links to my agents' contact details to be clear and accessible. These additions to the header and footer of my screen reel are vital. The forum of networking in the professional practice of acting is a prominent feature. My screen reel is sandwiched between the two major presentations of myself as an actor - my image and my professional contact details. The rest follows... (or should follow)
Constantly learning and developing new skills is my job as an actor. This is most certainly reflected in the BAPP course. I am learning to blog for the first time, alongside connecting to my new peers in order to attempt this new journey alongside them. This journey will not spoon feed me - but I find the freedom of it tantalising.
'There is a drive in me that won't allow me to do certain things that are easy'
- Johnny Depp
Hi Eleanor. I very much agree with you on the importance of learning and developing skills, I have definitely let mine slip over the past few years and really enjoying this challenge on the BAPP course as it has been a while since I have studied.
ReplyDeleteI have found having a showreel very important though out my career as a practicer of Dance. Often I have worked abroad and not been able to attend castings or auditions. Having a showreel to send has either produced a job for me without having to audition or has helped speed up the audition process. I have a MAC laptop and have always used iMovie to make my showreels. This is allowed it be very cost effective and enabled me to have my own creative input. For task 1c I have looked at updating my showreel and whilst doing so came across this link which may be of interest-
https://www.starnow.com/help/14/
Hope this helps. Good luck with creating a showreel. I have always found it a very enjoyable experience.