Hallo again, Bonnie!
So as I mentioned in my previous email, I move to LA next week. I’ve been trying to get my reel together for a couple years now. I’ve been struggling with actually getting some of my footage and kept putting it off until I got those particular scenes. And then, I’m in Denver, so it’s not a huge issue.
But I need it now. I’m going to use what I have — which is enough — and work with someone out there to put it together. (Your multiple columns on reels are a big help!)
My main issue now is this: I just completed an amazing short film, but 98% of it is green screen. It’ll be a good while before the film is complete — background, etc. The role I did allowed me to play five different characters in different eras, so I really want to showcase this piece and the different looks I had. The director is a good friend of mine, and I know he hates showing anything that isn’t complete. I’m willing to not put my reel out on the ‘net for the public and just put it on places like Actors Access… but here are my questions:
- Would the footage be okay as raw as it is, with the green screen?
- How would it look to say something on my website like, “My reel has raw footage that some directors are not comfortable showing to the general public. Please contact me for a link,” or something similar?
The director still isn’t sure he wants to give me the footage until it’s complete. I told him I’d ask a CD (you!) and see what their thoughts are.
Any help you could give would be fantastic. Thanks so much for all you do, Bonnie. I can’t wait to finally meet you!
Cheers,
Christa Cannon
Awesome. Getting to meet folks I’ve “known” online for years is a favorite thing! 🙂 You’re so super cool and I’m so glad to be working with you.
As for the green screen stuff, this is one of those, “I’d have to see it to know if it’s worth using” type things. There’s no way to know — without seeing the footage — whether it would help or hurt you. There is so much environment that’s being added in post, when a green screen is in use, that an actor’s performance would have to be really stellar to stand alone. Even if it is spectacular, I’d use it sparingly, because part of the risk management that’s taking place in assessment of demo reel footage (remember, the reason anyone would be looking at it would be to know if you’re castable, and how) is that you’ve worked in projects that got finished, that went “out there.” Unless it’s a James Cameron or Peter Jackson green screen clip, works-in-progress are less helpful in terms of risk management, when potential buyers are checking out your work.
Now, about how to deal with this issue online, this is where I’ve found most folks to get antsy about their works-in-progress on actors’ reels. When you’re showcasing the footage via your reel at YouTube, Vimeo, IMDb, or hosted on your own website, anyone could see it. Anyone could pass judgment on the director’s abilities without seeing a finished product. High risk. They’re likely to object to your using their unfinished product. If instead, though, it only lives on a casting site (like Breakdown Services’ Actors Access), and is only visible by a population of folks whose aim is to assess the actor’s work (not the director’s), it’s more likely you’ll be given the okay. This is true for footage from network shows, which some actors have seen pulled from YouTube, when included in their demo reels. But when that footage is on a site whose sole purpose is to showcase actors’ work to potential buyers, it’s less objectionable, according to many directors, producers, production companies, etc.
I wouldn’t advertise on your website that you have “exclusive clips available” and request that interested parties email you in order to see them. While that may look enticing, the fact is, very few people will ask to see the footage (and those who do may be less interested in your work and more interested in getting a scoop on the director’s project, especially if there’s heat and there could be spoilers — it’s like keeping sides secure for certain projects because there are folks out there who live to leak storylines to fans online). If you do want to make sure it’s known to buyers that there is footage available to them, simply linking to your Actors Access profile would be sufficient. Buyers who are legitimately interested in checking out your complete selection of footage know what that site is and will follow the link. Lookie-loos are less likely to poke around and cause the kind of trouble your director friend wants to avoid.
Just suggesting a level of protection that may make your director friend more comfortable with the whole thing.
But now the bigger issue: Do you really need scenes that showcase you doing five different characters? I get that this must’ve been a really exciting and challenging project, but given all I’ve shared over the years about branding and getting very clear about what you’re showing the buyers you can do, until you’ve seen the footage, are you even sure that five different characters — although impressive and delightful for your craft — will serve your brand well? You may see the footage and decide that only one character is perfect for your reel. And perhaps that would make the director even more comfortable; you’re not trying to show off all his work, just the parts surrounding that one character that showcases you at your most castable.
Oh, and remember the whole thing about The Evolving Demo Reel. Of course, work with a great editor and be sure you’re creating a reel that showcases you, fully, but note that specific clips are becoming more frequently used as a way to show the buyers that you can do something very close to exactly what they need, right now. Keep this format in mind, as you pull together your footage.
Finally, about getting that footage, you know that Holdon Log offers a free “Copy Provided” PDF that you can take with you to set, to be sure you get your footage, faster. Of course, you’re dealing with a friend, so you know his delays are about production, rather than going back on a deal, but — especially when your pay is your copy of the footage — it’s vitally important to have the terms of getting that footage all spelled out. There’s even a free PDF from Breakdown Services, if you need to spell out more terms than just getting your copy. Love these free resources!
Welcome to Los Angeles, Christa. I’m willing to bet you’ll have an abundance of footage to showcase to your potential buyers by year’s end. 🙂 Let’s get at it!
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/001413.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.