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Demo Reels - FAQs
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Q. How do I add a demo reel to my reelact website?
A. Please send your video and audio reels to:
10 Jones Street #2D
New York NY 10014
This is a mail-only address, no drop-offs or signature-required delivery please.
Q. What are your prices and payment options?
A. There is a one-time setup fee which includes digitizing and compressing for the web, color/audio correction, basic editing, uploading to your reelact website and unlimited hosting. You can save money by sending us separate clips instead of an edited demo reel at no additional charge.
Agents and talent managers, please contact us for special pricing!
Payment options:
- Credit card. Upon receiving your reel, we will call you to charge your credit card over the phone.
- Personal check. Please allow an additional week for check processing.
Q. Is there anything I need to include with my demo reel?
A. Yes. Please include the following:
- Your name and number in case our editor has a question
- Your ReelACT link so your reel is not uploaded to another person with the same name
- A short title (e.g. Film Reel 2005, MTV Host Demo, Game Voiceover)
- If you are sending in more than 1 clip or already have clips on your ReelACT website, please include relevant instructions such as "make the new video my main video", "replace my old video with my new video", etc.
- A payment (see above for pricing and payment options; please make sure to include a copy of your SAG card or have your agency contact us to get a free demo reel)
Q. Can I get my reel back?
A. Yes. Just make sure to include a prepaid, self-addressed envelope. If you are picking up your reel in person, please mention that in your note.
Please note that we are not responsible for reels lost in the mail. Please do not send any materials that are rare, impossible to duplicate, etc.
Q. How long before my demo reel is online?
A. It takes up to 1 week to process your demo reel. If you have an urgent need, please call us to request expedited processing and we will accommodate you at no additional charge (if possible).
Q. Can I use the same demo reel on both me acting and modeling website?
A. If you have two websites on reelact, one with your actor profile and one with your model profile, make sure you let us know that we need to include your reel on both. There is no additional charge for uploading your reel to two reelact websites instead of one.
Q. How long can my demo reel be?
A. Your demo can be any length, however please note that reels exceeding 5 minutes will take longer to start playing.
We recommend that longer reels are broken up into multiple clips. If you'd like us to do that, please include detailed instructions (e.g. "Cut reel in 2 on 1 minute 26 seconds mark. 1st title: Demo Reel 2005 - Part I, 2nd title: Demo Reel 2005 - Part II").
This does not apply to voiceover demos. Audio files are generally very small and will start playing immediately.
Q. What formats do you accept?
A. For video, we accept any of the following formats:
- Mini DV
- DVD
- VHS
- QuickTime, uncompressed (please note that most people think their quicktime files are uncompressed when that's not the case - only send this format if you are sure)
For audio, we accept any format on a CD as long as it's of professional voiceover demo quality.
Q. Is editing included?
A. Basic editing is included, as long as it is limited to the following: simple color correction (video contrast/luminocity), simple sound adjustments (audio levels), and simple cued clip separation.
You can also save money by taking various pieces you have and uploading them as separate clips. Instead of cutting your reel in a sit-down session with an expensive editor, you can send us your cued DVDs and VHS tapes from different films and commercials you've done.
This may be better since casting directors can access each video separately, so you can tailor your submissions to a specific role.
Q. How do I cue up the video?
A. Please provide exact start/end points as well as specific instructions on whether to put scenes together or separately and scene titles. For example, if you are sending 2 DVDs that need to have 2 scenes extracted, your instructions may look like this:
Scene 1: DVD 1, from minute 1 second 20 to minute 2 second 20
Scene 2: DVD 2, from minute 0 second 40 to minute 1 second 40
Upload 2 clips separately: Scene 1 titled "Law & Order"; Scene 2 titled "Destiny (Feature)"
Please do not provide descriptive instructions such as "start when I begin arguing with the girl and end when she exits the room". Remember, the editor does not know what you look like and does not have the time to watch long scenes to figure out what's happening. Please include specific minute-second time points only.
Q. Why was my contact information cut off?
A. Because your video is part of your ReelACT website, we do not allow contact information inside the video. Instead, your contact information goes under "Contact" section of your website where you can update it any time. That way, when your phone number changes or you get a new agent, we do not have to re-edit your video.
Q. I don't have an acting reel. Can you make one for me?
A. Yes, in fact there are several options. ReelACT can shoot a 1-minute VideoSlate that will act as an audition video ($285), or take you on a professional location shoot with an experienced director and big-budget feature film look-and-feel ($685).
To find out more please click here.
Q. I am in the process of cutting my demo reel. Any suggestions?
A. Yes. Here are some recommendations based on feedback we receive from casting directors and producers.
- The first 20 seconds determine the first impression and decide whether you are a "maybe" or a "no". The rest only matters later on when the casting director is going through their "maybe" list. Make sure your best, most impressive work is what opens the reel.
- Being a great actor can work against you if you get typecast. Most of the time, a casting director is in a hurry to find a very specific type so if they see a comedic piece you did for a commercial, they may not consider you for a dramatic feature. To avoid typecasting, include separate clips of varied material on your ReelACT website.
- Some casting directors feel that monologues are over-coached and prefer to see scenes where you are interacting with others. That said, if you have a monologue that "kills 'em every time", it is better to use that than a weak scene that does not represent you well as an actor.
- Unlike a physical reel, it's best not to include any additional information inside your video. Actors' stage names, phone numbers, agents and union status change more often than they think, and it's frustrating for the casting directors to deal with outdated information. Please leave that information for the website where you can update it any time.
- If your editor offers a choice of formats, please ask for a mini DV tape or an uncomressed QuickTime file. These two will produce the best quality web video. The next best option is DVD, followed by VHS.
Q. How do I publish the demo reel to my own website?
A. There is a $25/processing fee per each additional video. To request a video for personal use, please email us the link to the video and the requested format such as quicktime, flash or windows media.
We will email you the converted video along with simple instructions on how to embed the video in your page (for iActor and similar services, you will simply need to upload the video using online video edit tool).
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