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When it comes to video audition casting and demo reels for actors, runway models and print models - all top agents and casting directors world wide agree: No casting demo reel is better than a bad casting demo reel.
Moda Bambini Media and Moda Bambini Kids Photography have over three decades of experience in the production of Los Angeles / New York level modeling and acting head shots as well as film and television acting audition casting videos and demo reels. Here are the basics: A beginning casting demo reel must show you can act, show what you look like on screen and show that you look professional. This doesn't mean it has to have a Paramount Studios watermark on it but it should look like it could have one. A good casting demo reel gives agents, casting directors, film directors, movie producers, etc. a positive feeling about the actor and should be done with the help of an on-camera acting coach. |
And, unbeknown to most people, casting directors can click a button on casting websites to eliminate model/talent submissions that don't have casting audition demo reels. Yes, you read that right. Whether agents and casting directors submit you or you submit yourself - your submission will never be seen by people that are doing the actual hiring if you don't have a reel. Are you shocked and maybe even a bit horrified by that? If not, you should be.
Good entry level casting demo reels can be made inexpensively as long as the acting is believable and shows you at your best. If you don’t already have professional looking video clips - with dialog - from commercials, TV, and/or film work that you've already done then you need to create your own video audition reel:
1) Come up with three 45 second scenes and looks and several roles you are the right type right to portray. 2) Work one on one with an acting coach on your scenes. 3) Always use a professional video camera, a professional camera operator and professional lighting as you must have great picture quality and lighting so your casting audition reel looks authentic.
Sound quality must also be good and the acting must be the best it can be as anything less will lower the viewer’s impression of you, your marketability and professionalism. Demo reels that are rushed to market with technical defects and design flaws or substandard audio will be viewed as inferior and to be avoided so don’t let this happen to you and your talent. A good demo reel should highlight your most marketable qualities and it should be an honest representation of how you look, sound and act right now. Videos that lack any of these features including old material should be avoided at all costs.
Everyone in film and television, and sometimes even in the theater world, watches casting demo reels these days so it is imperative that you have them. And make it something really great, not like some backyard school project, as agents and casting directors see so many amateur looking demo reels that they have become a huge turn off as they see them as an irritation as well as a big waste of time.
So make yours STAND OUT. Shoot scenes you love. Shoot something you’d like to see yourself in. A great casting demo reel in combination with a great head shot can change your life in an instant. And - don't kid yourself - third rate photographers and video shooters are not capable of providing what is needed in order for you to be taken seriously by top agents, casting directors, film producers, etc.
Your casting audition reel is your two to three minute window of opportunity to showcase your talent. Each video clip needs to be the best it can be so that your reel is the best it can be. If one of the clips makes you look less than very good, don’t use it. Often that reel is the first and only thing an agent or casting director sees before deciding to bring you in - or not - and It’s better for them to see nothing than to see something that’s just OK as then their impression of you will be just OK. If all you have are video clips of stage work, which are very seldom recorded with the best quality, and your goal is to book film and TV jobs - DO NOT use stage clips.
Good entry level casting demo reels can be made inexpensively as long as the acting is believable and shows you at your best. If you don’t already have professional looking video clips - with dialog - from commercials, TV, and/or film work that you've already done then you need to create your own video audition reel:
1) Come up with three 45 second scenes and looks and several roles you are the right type right to portray. 2) Work one on one with an acting coach on your scenes. 3) Always use a professional video camera, a professional camera operator and professional lighting as you must have great picture quality and lighting so your casting audition reel looks authentic.
Sound quality must also be good and the acting must be the best it can be as anything less will lower the viewer’s impression of you, your marketability and professionalism. Demo reels that are rushed to market with technical defects and design flaws or substandard audio will be viewed as inferior and to be avoided so don’t let this happen to you and your talent. A good demo reel should highlight your most marketable qualities and it should be an honest representation of how you look, sound and act right now. Videos that lack any of these features including old material should be avoided at all costs.
Everyone in film and television, and sometimes even in the theater world, watches casting demo reels these days so it is imperative that you have them. And make it something really great, not like some backyard school project, as agents and casting directors see so many amateur looking demo reels that they have become a huge turn off as they see them as an irritation as well as a big waste of time.
So make yours STAND OUT. Shoot scenes you love. Shoot something you’d like to see yourself in. A great casting demo reel in combination with a great head shot can change your life in an instant. And - don't kid yourself - third rate photographers and video shooters are not capable of providing what is needed in order for you to be taken seriously by top agents, casting directors, film producers, etc.
Your casting audition reel is your two to three minute window of opportunity to showcase your talent. Each video clip needs to be the best it can be so that your reel is the best it can be. If one of the clips makes you look less than very good, don’t use it. Often that reel is the first and only thing an agent or casting director sees before deciding to bring you in - or not - and It’s better for them to see nothing than to see something that’s just OK as then their impression of you will be just OK. If all you have are video clips of stage work, which are very seldom recorded with the best quality, and your goal is to book film and TV jobs - DO NOT use stage clips.
No casting demo reel is better than a bad casting demo reel, so until you have something that represents you in the most positive light for the roles you are most suited for - use your personality and a really great Los Angeles / New York level headshot to sell yourself as that will get you much further than amateur looking demo reels and photos. Do one scene with a bit of range or one dramatic scene and one comedy scene. Think of it as a monologue or a close up in a movie. Set it up like you’re speaking to someone or like they just left. Keep it natural and keep it real and if it looks like 'bad acting' - don’t use it.
Another little known fact is that agents, casting directors, art directors, etc. have been asking to see video audition and casting demo reels of print models and runway models more and more over the last few years and video audition casting reels are now a very big factor in as much as 50% of all castings and bookings for male and female models for runway, catalog and print work in major markets such as Miami Beach, New York, and Los Angeles as well as secondary markets like Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, etc. Which means that about half of all model castings require prospective models to have at least one video clip - just to be in the running. And, more often than not, the castings and bookings that require video audition demo reel submissions will turn out to be the highest paying bookings for the biggest designer labels and the biggest brands and - if you the model don't have a demo reel - yes, you guessed it - you pretty much don't exist and those all important career building bookings, tear sheets and big pay checks will all go to someone else.
So never let a bad head shot (or no head shot at all) or a bad audition reel (or no audition reel at all) become an obstacle to your success. And never say, "I'm working on getting a great headshot" or “I’m working on my casting audition reel" as an excuse for not having one as you absolutely must have professional, high quality head shots and audition casting demo reels in order to be taken seriously.
Another little known fact is that agents, casting directors, art directors, etc. have been asking to see video audition and casting demo reels of print models and runway models more and more over the last few years and video audition casting reels are now a very big factor in as much as 50% of all castings and bookings for male and female models for runway, catalog and print work in major markets such as Miami Beach, New York, and Los Angeles as well as secondary markets like Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, etc. Which means that about half of all model castings require prospective models to have at least one video clip - just to be in the running. And, more often than not, the castings and bookings that require video audition demo reel submissions will turn out to be the highest paying bookings for the biggest designer labels and the biggest brands and - if you the model don't have a demo reel - yes, you guessed it - you pretty much don't exist and those all important career building bookings, tear sheets and big pay checks will all go to someone else.
So never let a bad head shot (or no head shot at all) or a bad audition reel (or no audition reel at all) become an obstacle to your success. And never say, "I'm working on getting a great headshot" or “I’m working on my casting audition reel" as an excuse for not having one as you absolutely must have professional, high quality head shots and audition casting demo reels in order to be taken seriously.
Actors and models of all ages and experience levels will benefit by putting a great monologue or scene - or both - on tape. Just make sure each one is no longer than one minute, make sure it is right for your age and type, make sure it has great lighting and sound, make sure you are coached well and keep the entire reel short - no more than two minutes.
A professional demo production team can help you create your reel from the ground up - and doing it right the first time will always turn out to be the fastest and least expensive way to go once you factor in the cost of driving to castings - not to mention the cost of thousands of dollars in lost bookings.
Determine what castings you could be up for as well as the genres that are in line with those castings or ask someone that knows what they are doing for help. Scenes should look like clips from real TV or film. Having a quality casting demo reel that is as much about you as possible is also key. The industry doesn’t need to know the whole story, but they do want the basics: What you look and sound like on camera, whether or not you have acting talent and what you're casting for is key. If you do this with high production values, your headshot and your casting audition reel will not only get you in the door, it will make it much easier for you to book television, film and commercial work.
Casting reels are as essential to your career as a great headshot, a résumé and air to breathe. If you have no actual television or film credits, however, don't despair. There are acting headshot photographers, acting coaches and casting video production professionals in Miami, Miami Beach, Los Angeles and New York City that can create a great headshots and audition reels for you. Some will have you slate then do a short monologue and perhaps sing if you are a singer. Others will have different sets and/or a multitude of scripts both dramatic and comedic to showcase your talent.
A professional demo production team can help you create your reel from the ground up - and doing it right the first time will always turn out to be the fastest and least expensive way to go once you factor in the cost of driving to castings - not to mention the cost of thousands of dollars in lost bookings.
Determine what castings you could be up for as well as the genres that are in line with those castings or ask someone that knows what they are doing for help. Scenes should look like clips from real TV or film. Having a quality casting demo reel that is as much about you as possible is also key. The industry doesn’t need to know the whole story, but they do want the basics: What you look and sound like on camera, whether or not you have acting talent and what you're casting for is key. If you do this with high production values, your headshot and your casting audition reel will not only get you in the door, it will make it much easier for you to book television, film and commercial work.
Casting reels are as essential to your career as a great headshot, a résumé and air to breathe. If you have no actual television or film credits, however, don't despair. There are acting headshot photographers, acting coaches and casting video production professionals in Miami, Miami Beach, Los Angeles and New York City that can create a great headshots and audition reels for you. Some will have you slate then do a short monologue and perhaps sing if you are a singer. Others will have different sets and/or a multitude of scripts both dramatic and comedic to showcase your talent.
Whether you are an actor or a print model or a runway model or a swimwear model, a great casting demo reel is an amazing tool that can dramatically increase the quantity as well as the quality of your bookings. However, the fact that you may have little film and television experience to bulk up your casting demo reel means that you will need to get creative. Marketing yourself is all about emphasizing your strengths, determining what is unique about you and putting it out there where potential employers can see it.
As a stage performer or theater actor you must have a strong stage presence, an understanding of lighting, strong voice projection, etc. These are theater acting skills that can be enhanced based on your personal strengths. For example, if you’re in musical theater, film yourself reenacting a scene in a play or singing. Demonstrating your talent in a casting demo reel will help agents, casting directors, film producers etc, to visualize your placement in future projects.
Never forget: Your headshot and your casting demo reel are the two most important promo materials you have as an actor, print model, swimwear model or fashion model. They are a passport that will prove to the world that you are a serious minded professional and not a wannabe.
So do whatever it takes to have a great acting head shot and make sure any video clips that you post as an audition or casting demo reel are of the quality you see on television or in a movie theater or as close to it as you can get as that is your competition - not the people sitting in the same room with you on castings. This means the lighting and the sound, as well as your performance must all be on point.
To request FREE ASSISTANCE with anything branding, social media or casting demo reel related click on CONTACT at above right.
As a stage performer or theater actor you must have a strong stage presence, an understanding of lighting, strong voice projection, etc. These are theater acting skills that can be enhanced based on your personal strengths. For example, if you’re in musical theater, film yourself reenacting a scene in a play or singing. Demonstrating your talent in a casting demo reel will help agents, casting directors, film producers etc, to visualize your placement in future projects.
Never forget: Your headshot and your casting demo reel are the two most important promo materials you have as an actor, print model, swimwear model or fashion model. They are a passport that will prove to the world that you are a serious minded professional and not a wannabe.
So do whatever it takes to have a great acting head shot and make sure any video clips that you post as an audition or casting demo reel are of the quality you see on television or in a movie theater or as close to it as you can get as that is your competition - not the people sitting in the same room with you on castings. This means the lighting and the sound, as well as your performance must all be on point.
To request FREE ASSISTANCE with anything branding, social media or casting demo reel related click on CONTACT at above right.
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Links to more info about video audition casting demo reels, kids photography, fashion photography, product photography, acting headshots, modeling portfolio photography, photo retouching, comp card photography, comp card printing, social media exposure, etc.
Kids Photography, Acting Headshots, Modeling Portfolio Photography, Photo Retouching and Casting Demo Reels: Moda Bambini Kids Photography Fashion Photography, Product Photography, Photo Retouching, Video Production, Social Media Management, Exposure and Branding: Moda Product |
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Modeling Portfolio Photography, Comp Card Photography, Photo Retouching, Design and Printing: Zed Pro Comp Cards
Model Me Master Classes . New York . Miami Beach .Orange County . Los Angeles: Model Me Master Classes
Model Me Master Classes . New York . Miami Beach .Orange County . Los Angeles: Model Me Master Classes
For more information about our new free photo shoots affiliate program for models and talent of all ages click HERE