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November, 2024

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Demo reel first draft critiques welcome

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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
Password is reel i believe. I know that some of it isn't that good and a second draft is already in the works. This is also the first time working with crop marks and i think i did some of it good but other parts might have strange framing and i already apologize for the terrible beginning it has been fixed already but not in this file. any advice is appreciated this is the first video i did like it so im just trying my best
Aug 23 2013 6:48PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5074 - Karma: 43,034
I'm not super qualified (I just posted my first demo reel in a thread too) but I will give it a shot. I didn't love the title image, I think you might want it to be pretty good, just to draw people in. I also think the blank screen with the title may have been a tad long, I thought the music drop with the swing was super dope and the song was fine but I didn't like the last music video guy, it didn't seem like the shots were super great and since it was a music video for a different song it honestly felt kind of weird to have shots of his mouth saying the wrong words, I think you could probably cut most of that and end on more of a banger. I think it was great and I am really not trying to put you down at all, just trying to give some constructive criticism. Everything I didn't mention was pretty dope, I just pointed out the things that stuck out to me, hope that helps and good luck!
Aug 23 2013 7:14PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
thanks the title has been shortend and the final cut should be much better i do have the second draft in the works and i might have replace the shots like you suggested if i find a better fit for them and thanks for the compliments on the swing shot it was one of my favorites to shot since i found it im my back yard grabbed a light and just got it
Aug 23 2013 7:44PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
bump for more potential help
Aug 24 2013 9:59AM
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Merrill
Posts: 253 - Karma: 71
You had some dope shots in there. The biggest think was that it was to long. The longest that i would make a demo reel would be about a minute and a half. The goal is to show potential clients what you have to offer and if it is too long they will get bored and move on to the next reel. You had quite a few similar shots in there and so if you cut those out and keep only your very very very best shots it will make your reel much more appealing.
Aug 24 2013 6:30PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
yes i know and have taken those into account and already have a second version done but i wont be able to put it on vimeo till next week cause i dont have vimeo plus andwont be able to upload it for a while and by then i should have a third one done also the ending shot has been taken out to end on more of a banger
Aug 24 2013 6:58PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
bump considering adding audio to some shots going back and recording it any input on doing it anything i should know before just going out and not doing it well im mostly wondering if it would add some life to shots or just be annoying extra noise that shouldnt be in there
Aug 24 2013 10:21PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
You have some great shots in there but as others have said its to long. Really try to first edit it down to 1 min. Be ruthless. Use only the very very beat shots. That will give you a really strong real. If then you really feel you ha e other great shots make it up to about 90 secs. Also good thing to do is watch it on mute when its done. Not having soy d really lets you evaluate the shots. If it still stands up with no sound your doing well.

Also why can you not up load to Vimeo. Your not uploading uncompressed videos are you. They get compressed anyway so there is no point uploading uncompressed.
Aug 25 2013 7:40AM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
i cant because the file is so big i have to wait a week to upload another on and its going to be much better and doesnt seem to really drag on another thing is the song doesnt really have a good place to cut out the original song goes on for even longer but that was the only place to fade out
Aug 25 2013 12:30PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
The file size is only because you are uploading an uncompressed file. That was what I was saying above. For Vimeo it's pointless uploading an uncompressed file as it gets compressed by Vimeo anyway. Render it as a h264 and the file size for something like that will only be about 500mb max but it will be exactly the same quality as an uncompressed file which may be many gb's.
Aug 25 2013 12:36PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
With regards to the song if you can't find somewhere to edit it choose another song. The song really does not matter that much anyway so don't let the length of a song dictate the length of the reel.
Aug 25 2013 12:38PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
i do render it like that it compresses down to about 498mb and that all i can load per week so after that weeks over then ill upload another one
Aug 25 2013 1:06PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
Well even more reason to shorten it then. Also whilst your testing half the size. That will make the file size a lot smaller. No need to upload hd videos when your testing.
Aug 25 2013 1:28PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
thats true but im also not in a rush to finish it anytime soon this was just to get it started and get some other ideas going into it and im going to try and add audio to a lot of shots so you arent just stuck watching all of the shots and the song with nothing else keeping you intrigued so potential clients will know hey this guy can give us some good audio if we need it
Aug 25 2013 2:00PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
What are you trying to get work doing with this reel? Don't try to do everything in one reel. You want to really show what your good at in one reel big you also do sound design maybe do a reel showcasing that. Remember allot if people will watch reels muted so don't spend a ton of time in something which they may not even listen too. Before you add any sound design I would establish which shots your going to use. It's a really good idea to limit yourself to 1 min. Tht really makes you evaluate which are your very best shots. It's always better to have 1 min of your very very best shots then 2 min where there are some average shots in it.
Aug 25 2013 2:05PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
i will try and find a track that can be cut out at a time like stated above but im also not trying to make two or three reels all to just capture one or two things each
Aug 25 2013 3:02PM
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Z.J.H.
Posts: 842 - Karma: 1,541
Dont use the shot of him in the car singing. otherwise good.
Aug 25 2013 7:12PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
note taken its been removed and replaced
Aug 25 2013 7:32PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
bump
Aug 27 2013 3:42PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
bump for the second draft soon
Aug 28 2013 9:00PM
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jibcrew1
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 522
bump here is the second draft same password
Sep 1 2013 6:16PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,588
Still way too long. Really edit it down to no more then 90 secs. There are a ton of fuller shots in there which really are not adding anything. Sometimes your editing shots to fit the song rather then because they are good shots. The shot of the moon is a perfect example. You need to be brutal and choose only your very best shots. I know you want to show all your work but it will be a stronger reel if you only use your best work.
Sep 2 2013 5:48AM
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