Many artists struggle with focus. We all want to do too much. Well, a lack of focus can seriously hamper your demo reel, as well as your chances with a studio.
If it’s a smaller studio, and they are looking for a Generalist, only then should you consider communicating that you’re capable in multiple disciplines. If it’s a larger studio, stay laser focused on the position that they are hoping to hire for.
If you are applying for a lighting, comp or look-dev related position, focus on shots or assets that YOU lit, comped or look-dev’d. Don’t include shots you’ve also animated, set up sims etc.
You want to tailor that message to the specific audience. If the position is for a Lighting TD, then adding a whole bunch of notes about how you did the modeling, rigging, animating AND lighting is only going to confuse things, and it might get you pushed to the back of the line. FOCUS.
2 Only show your best work, please.
Recruiters and those who review reels at studios often have to screen a LOT of reels and they don’t want or need to sit through a 5 minute reel. Or a 4 minute reel… Or a 3 minute reel. Ok, I take that back, 3 minutes should really be your absolute maximum TRT (total running time) for your reel. No joke. Keep it tight and only your best.
3 Leave the rave music at home.
Most recruiters are going to be turning the volume off anyway, unless they need to listen for lip sync on an animation reel. For a VFX-centric reel, music can be a real distraction. Distraction is the key word.
You want them focused on your pretty pictures, NOT on the music! If that tune costs you a chance at a job then it’s not worth it, not matter how great it may sound. It really can come down to that.
If you’re intent on including music, keep it out of the way. Don’t give your audience any reason to pass you over, music included.
4 Include your work, not Others.
some people rip off others work. Don’t be one of those people. This industry is small, smaller than you think and you don’t want to be a rip-off artist. Recruiters talk and share info all the time, and it will always come back to bite you. If you’re including work on projects, always be sure you’ve got clearance to use it too!
So… Only put YOUR work on YOUR reel, and make sure you’ve got approval to use it. Period. If you didn’t do the work, don’t put it on your reel.
5 Give a breakdown of the details.
Visual effects is a team sport. It’s collaborative. You and many other artists may be working on a shot together. It’s easy to think it’s MY shot, when really it’s the Team’s shot. Does your shot have a big smoke simulation? Did you create the sim? Did you light it or comp it? See, it can get confusing knowing who did what on a complex shot, and this is why it’s soooo critical to include a clear Breakdown.
What’s a breakdown, or shot breakdown? It’s basically an explanation of how the shot was created, including Who did What. A good, descriptive breakdown can be done within the reel itself, typically by showing the elements of a comp coming together over time (finished FINAL shot then transition through the main elements for example), and it can also be done in written form, with detailed explanations of what you contributed to the shot.
This is where your instinct to say “I did everything!” has to be kept in check. Even if you DID do everything, if you’re submitting your shot for a Lighting position, don’t go into every single aspect of what you did on the shot, focus on the relevant details to the position you’re applying for. And remember, if others worked on your shot too, be sure to give credit at the end of your reel.
6 Be a professional.
Respect the recruiter’s time and don’t waste it! When submitting a reel, always include a Cover Letter, a Shot Breakdown and Reel Outline, and of course your Resume. Be sure to include software and operating systems you’ve used in production, but here again, don’t PAD IT.
If you’ve only used SoftImage or Linux once, don’t say you “know it”. Label all your materials clearly, and be sure any media you’re delivering will PLAY easily. Include a backup link to your reel online. I prefer Vimeo as they offer the best quality.
