Is my demo reel is satisfactory for this studio?
Every CG or VFX artists face this type of question in their career span.
If you are looking for your first job in animation, visual effects or computer graphics then creating an excellent demo reel to show studios is crucial.
Your demo reel should offer something unique, entertaining and engaging.
Let us discuss about the crucial points which VFX-CG-Animation Students should keep in mind before preparing the Demo Reel.
Creating a Demo Reel which will showcase your talent and will make you stand out from the crowd in the competitive market is something to be focussed.
After discussing with several VFX CG Animation supervisors and artists of reputed Production Companies we gathered several important factors necessary for Demo Reel.
VFX CG Animation students should follow the guidelines before designing the demo reel.
Tips To Make Your Demo Reel Stand Out
The Demo Reel should be interesting.
Opening the reel with a great acting shot and another will grab everyone’s attention.
A mid close-up shot sells emotion well; let the feelings of the characters convey to the audience that will make the audience hooked to the demo reel.
Editing is the key part here; proper selection and arrangement of shots will add wow factor to your demo reel.
The reel can do tricks with the viewer.
Entertain your viewer with unique visuals by thinking out of the box; read the job description carefully to find out the need of the studio.
Recruiters prefer a tight and short demo reel; give you maximum effort to make the three minute reel interesting.
Don’t be insecure about the length of the demo reel as every frame counts; even ten seconds of amazing animation can beat one minute of ordinary animation.
In fact a demo reel of one or two shot with duration 30 second can also win heart.
Demo reel should be short, simple and interesting.
Be attentive on your skills and strengths.
Most of the time we want to add too much rather than focussing on the simple element; lack of focus can hamper the demo reel.
If you have the talent to draw, paint or sculpt include that in your reel.
If you are an animator create a unique character; don’t copy the popular character and do walk cycle turn-tables.
30-45 seconds of animation is enough in a demo reel as the recruiters is reviewing 30 more demo reel.
Make the dialogues interesting to tell the story; don’t show violence
The emotion in the dialogue sells the product; animating only the eyes and eyebrows of a character can sell the shot.
Just a slight movement of eyebrow can change the whole facial expressions.
Never put a shot in your demo reel until and unless you are 100% satisfied.
The Animator who will review your demo reel will wonder about your judgement of quality; bad selection of shots will lead your reel into the bin.
If you are a modeller then showcase your understanding of surface texture and lighting.
Don’t use rave music as most recruiters turns off the volume at the time of viewing the reel and listens only for lip sync on an animation reel.
VFX CG or Animation students should impress the recruiters with the pictures not with music.
Show your ability to learn new software.
If you are a VFX artist then concentrate on digital matte painting, particle simulation or meshing.
Get your hands in high definition footage, put incredible complex elements into demo reel to show the reviewer that you understand the concept of key, fill and bounce lighting, shadows, depth of field, colour.
VFX Compositors should know Nuke very well.
Working in the VFX field need professionalism; VFX is challenging and fun so respecting yourself and co-workers in the key part.
Be professional and respect your recruiters’ time.
While submitting a demo reel student should remember to add a cover letter, a shot breakdown and reel outline along with resume.
Mention about the software and operating systems used in the making of demo reel.
In your demo reel don’t mention about the software which you have used only one time.
Labelling should be done clearly and the delivered media should play easily.
Don’t forget to keep an online backup link of your demo reel.
Demo reel material should support the type of job.
Your material selected for the demo reel should well match with the companies requirements.
If you have interest to do high resolution creature work for movies then create some complex ZBrush material with rigged and mesh models.
Create your demo reel up to the standard of your dream job.
Good attitude is also important as the reel.
Impress your recruiters by your imagination and hard work.
If you fail to get the job don’t get discouraged, get the feedback and apply gain.
Reel must deliver your calibre to work within a complex pipeline.
Your reel must show how efficient you are to work within the collaboration.
Be open to work for partnership in schools, advertising, new media, industrial design and sculpture.
Working in collaboration will help you to develop your skills, patience and understanding.
Cross-training is important now days in the field of digital art.
Digital artists can gather experience while working with traditional animation team.
Modeler should study anatomy of human and animals to get the detail knowledge about figures; Modelers must understand concept of the work.
These day studios expect your reel through a link such as Vimeo or You Tube.
When the demo reel is ready to be seen it is necessary to decide upon your video sharing platform.
Vimeo is the industry standard.
Remember students Demo Reel with unique contents always get attention and easier to remember.
VFX-CG-Animation Students must keep in mind that Demo Reel is their gallery; it will explain who you are.
Therefore if you an aspiring student of VFX-CG or Animation then keep in mind the above mentioned points.
Contact us to so that our mentors can guide you at every step.
