ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

5 years, 1 month ago - Patrick C

I have no issue with the work on your reel, but I don't know what you look like, you are in character/period dress costume/make up. Look at the end of this reel and you'll see what I mean. https://vimeo.com/9618515

Best of luck

5 years, 1 month ago - Steven Barwick

Hi Alexandra

Watched your show-reel and I enjoyed it. I'm also an actor, and I'm guessing that you are starting out and are getting your first reel together? Forgive me if that is incorrect. But if so, I'm in a similar boat and have found getting content together quite difficult and takes a long time.

What I like about your reel ... the still shot of you at the start is great and makes you want to watch. Also your talent for comedic and periodic.

Definitely have a title shot at the beginning, for a second or two, with your name, spotlight ref if you have one, agent if you have one.

Assuming this is all the footage you have for the moment, I'd definitely want some modern shots in there, something to show another side of you, the vibe from the still perhaps, feisty detective, criminal, whatever. I'd also perhaps (and this is just an opinion) put the graveyard scene before the black and white scene, maybe have a few seconds more of that film and eliminate some of the black and white film, especially any shots that are slightly out of focus (on the stairs with the teddy bear?). In a nutshell, you want all the footage to be well lit and have good sound and nearly all of it to be of "you, doing your thing, full on to camera". I've watched a lot of casting director videos on youtube and you would be shocked how little they actually use show-reels. One of my favourite comments by one casting director was "I will watch for a few seconds, jump forward, looking for the actor to be doing his/her thing, face on to the camera" and "Casting Directors don't care what the material is, just as long as its well lit, sound is good and we see the actor working". I can see you have a talent for the comedic and certain genres, that is great and definitely keep that if that is your niche, or target, or what you love to do. When you have enough material, maybe even have more than one genre of reel. But if and when you can, include scenes where you are relating to another character in the scene, listening, responding, emotions, desires, you know the kind of thing. If you can find some shorts or even student films to do, or even shoot some yourself with some friends or colleagues who know what they are doing.

Some of those youtube channels I like ..

Arvold (American, but really good advice all the same)
David Patrick Green (American actor with some interesting insights, for example, he doesn't really believe in head-shots or show-reels!)
Bow Street (Irish Acting School, with some really good videos by Directors and Actors)

One thing I'd seriously recommend is the 21-Day Self-Tape challenge. I did it and it helped me so much, in being able to turn characters out quickly, learn lines, framing and lots more. It is run by a casting director too, called Manuel Puro. If too busy, you don't have to do it every day, you can just do every other day for example.

Best of luck - and let me know how you get on

Steven Barwick
steven@infolio.co.uk

5 years, 1 month ago - Spike Jefferson

tI agree with David Barwick in everything. But being critical for a moment. In the Spanish scene the character with the cap and braces sounds the same as the lead character, and the child sounds very similar.
As David says, get together with some friends and act out a scene or three. I'm very lucky to have got many different scenes over the years, so people think I'm versatile!

5 years, 1 month ago - Alexandra Queen

Thank you guys for your comments. I am open to receive more feedback from whoever is willing to do..

Alexandra!!!

5 years ago - Alexandra Queen

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