What is a showreel?
A showreel is basically a portfolio for filmmakers, editors, directors etc. Is it a marketing tool and it acts as a visual CV, it allows the employer to see the work you have done.
Why is a showreel important?
A showreel is important because it explains/illustrates to the employer what you have done and what work you have completed in the past. This will allow the employer to evaluate and analyse the work you have done in greater detail, allowing them to understand your creativity.
What format should a showreel be in?
The format of a showreel is usually compressed into a file and posted in MP4 or mov format.
What is the length of a showreel?
A showreel no longer than 5 minutes is recommended and ideal for a usual showreel runtime.
Examples of showreels
Around the World (2018 Showreel)
The around the world showreel was something really unique and something that startled me as I was watching it. It utilised the 4K quality setting and managed to present the showreel in a very cinematic fashion, it used the letterbox effect and cinematic camera movements to convey its message which was to present the work that they have created.
The way around the world do it is that they do it on a yearly basis, so they had a 2017 showreel displaying what they did over that year and they also made one in 2018. One thing that I noticed about the video was the sounds and music that was used in the showreel, this really helped shape and set the atmosphere as the video went on. However, it also showed when/how the atmosphere shifted as the showreel went on to show a different theme to the video. For example, at the start of the video, the music was very orchestral and mellow but it then changed to a more acoustic sound, creating different atmospheres as the video went on.
I feel like when it comes to showreels, shifting, creating and transitioning atmospheres to different themes is highly important to allow a showreel to flow properly and that’s what really captured my attention in the showreel.
I also found that a lot of slow motion shots were used to, this can be used to reinforce that cinematic/dramatic general theme in the video. It also compliments the music which preserves the overall atmosphere of the showreel as being cinematic and dramatic. On top of the slow motion shots however, there were also a wide variety of other shots used in the showreel. They have done this because it is important to show the different techniques and camera shots they have used in previous projects to present how they have learned and differed from previous years.
Examples of camera shots used in the showreel:
Wide Shot
Medium Shot
Close Up Shot
Extreme Close up
These camera shots in the video show that the showreel sustained variety and diversity in the way that they present their work and rightfully so.
Examples of Camera Movements:
Zoom
Pan
Will Sutton Filmmaking Showreel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug_Y4KMUNhk)
So I decided to look at this showreel as it was done by an independent filmmaker whereas the ‘around the world’ showreel was done by a whole team. The reason I wanted to do this was to compare and contrast the analysis between whole organisation showreels and independent filmmaker showreels, mostly to see how the technique of their shots and how they put their showreels together differs, I feel like this is important to gain a general understanding of the variety of showreels that can be achieved.
The first thing that I noticed right off the bat with the start of the video was the wide shot zoom of the guy holding the camera rig. This instantly gives the impression that this is a showreel and this is a display of the work that is about to be presented.
This shot I feel is perfect in setting the atmosphere and really setting the mood of this video. Moving on from this, the next thing that can be seen is the logos of the different companies he has done projects for. This is something that was missed in the other showreel. From my research before, I researched that a showreel is a filmmakers CV and to include businesses and companies you’ve done projects for is very vital and important in allowing the employer to see the experience you have.
I also noticed on the video that the music is very upbeat which you would think would cancel the cinematic aspect out of it but it actually doesn’t, if anything it compliments/enhances the cinematic aspect of the video which is actually relatively difficult to sustain usually but this independent filmmaker manages to keep that which is very unique and it’s something I might take inspiration to as well. Throughout the video also, he is still showing the different companies/organisations he has worked with which is good because it sustains the whole portfolio/CV element of the video.
Examples of camera shots in the video:
Wide
Medium
Close up
Extreme Close Up
Comments