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Reel Delivery Styles

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Reel Delivery Styles

Following on a bit from Alancamilo's post, can you tell me what delivery method most people now-a-days use for their reels? Do they ever use a web-like interface, where the viewer has interactive control over what they are viewing? Or is the trend more towards an animated sequence of snippets of your work?

I'm not sure what you mean by delivery method. I'm assuming you mean for your demo reel. The best format for a demo reel is still a vhs tape. Every studio has one. Just make sure the tape is qued up the the start of your demo. Most people reviewing demo reels don't have the time to go and navigate through menues and webpage type things, unless they ask for an online demo reel.

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

Actually that's not what I meant, but it now raises another question. I was meaning if it was on a CD, do you just have a single, brief animation that shows snippets of your work, or do you have an interactive interface, (web-style) that allows the viewer to browse?

The other question it raises (and thank you Ape for pointing this out!) is it meant to be on a VHS? I'm pretty hazy about this issue. The course I've done was really good in some areas and pretty average in others. As part of the course, we were created what they called a showreel, but it was on a CD. I've seen a company show their work on VHS, and wondered whether we'd been told the wrong thing. If VHS is the way we're meant to go, how do you get your work on the tape? Are DVDs becoming an option now? If so, I would assume then you'd again have the option to make it interactive.

Please help. I'm very confused over this issue and don't want to make a fool of myself with prospective employers!

Woops. I just read your post again, and saw you did answer my question. Sorry! So it should be just queued to the beginning of an animation of snippets of work? Do you (or does anyone else) have an example of their reel that I could see to get the right idea of what is expected?

You can check out my demo reel on my website at www.animatedape.com in my portfolio section. Keep clicking on the little green alien guy till the Quicktime logo comes up. It's a pretty big file, so if you don't have a high speed connection, you'll be waiting a good long time.

I would most definately put your work to VHS if you can. Look in the phone book for video duplication places, call them up and ask if they can put computer files to VHS. Get a price quote and find out what specs they want the files in. It's also best to buy VHS tape that are only ten minutes long. They are lighter and save you a bit on shipping.

The reason that VHS is the best, is that everyone has a VCR. DVD's are becoming more accepted, but you run the risk of a computer burned DVD not playing in a consumer DVD player. Esspecially if the studio has an older player.

CD's are the worst. I know some people who won't even view them. There are so many variables with CD's. Will it run on Windows? Will it run on a Mac? Does the person viewing portfolios even have a computer with a CD player? Also, quite often the playback on the CD's will chug when they view the CD, and unless you are an amazing animator, they will NOT view it twice.

So just follow the KISS principle, Keep It Simple Stupid. :D Good luck.

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

I've found so far that a *vast* majority of places still only accept VHS tapes and won't look at CDs or DVDs or much of anything else.

Darn shame too because VHS is an absolutely horrible medium and should be wiped from the face of the planet.

What length?

How long should my reel be?

what I've been told...

30 seconds to 5 minutes...

but I think 5 is pushing it. I'd say max. 2-3.

Basically, one 30 second great piece is better than a few pieces of average work to make it seem longer...

Good luck!

Erin ;)
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The only thing that is truly yours - that no one can take from you - is your attitude. So if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes easier. ~unknown

Thanks for your advice! :)