Command+Edit Podcast

The post-production podcast that goes beyond the desk

hard drive

A Reel Problem (and other bad jokes)

Nick MontgomeryComment
Hard disk old time big cost funny

I had two problems at the start of today and now they are SOLVED.

So today was Mission: Demo Reel for me. Plugging in archived drives, exporting high-res versions of projects to use, sorting everything into the project bin, scouting for music to use, etc.

My main problem…well there were two really:

  1. The downside of working on features is you have to wait until they are distributed before the producer gives you the OK to use the material publicly. Most of the features I've worked on the last 2 years are still awaiting release, so I can't show them.
  2. Most of my credits are horror, some are comedy. So do I make a show reel of both? Or focus on horror (which has the strongest of my work)? Don't want to pigeonhole myself as a horror editor, but it is where most of my work is visually the best quality.

And if I make separate reels I start down the slippery slope of making a different reel for each genre, format, flavour…and I don't really like the idea of having many separate reels in the first place.

So my solution to both? One show reel that highlights all of my recent work WITH a call-to-action at the end to ask me about my PRIVATE REEL that will include material that I cannot show publicly just yet.

What do you think? Would you find a different way to represent your work? How do you decide on the style of your reel?

P.S. Did I mention I really, really hate making reels?

I hate hard drives like I hate you