Showreels
What Makes a Good Acting Showreel? Advice for Actors Filming in London
Your showreel is supposed to show somebody what you're capable of as an actor.
That sounds straightforward, but it's very easy to end up with a reel that looks impressive without showing much acting at all.
Dramatic music, expensive-looking footage and beautiful camera angles have their place. But if someone finishes your showreel without getting a sense of how you behave in a scene, something isn't working.
Here's what we'd focus on.
Choose scenes that actually show you acting
Ask yourself: what does this clip tell someone about me?
Ideally, your material lets us see you listening, making choices, reacting and dealing with another person. A long emotional speech might be effective, but it doesn't always show your ability to work with a scene partner.
A quieter conversation with clear stakes can be just as interesting as a dramatic confrontation.
Think about the kinds of roles you might realistically be considered for now. Your footage should give casting professionals a useful starting point without suggesting you can only play one character type.
How long should a showreel be?
There's no single perfect running time for every actor or submission. But you should be selective.
For an emerging actor, roughly one to two minutes of strong work can be more useful than several minutes of footage included simply because you have it. Put compelling material early and remove scenes that don't add anything new.
Don't make someone sit through a long introduction before they can see your face and hear you speak.
If you already have footage from professional productions, review what you're legally allowed to use and whether it properly represents your current work.
What if I haven't got any screen credits yet?
This is common, particularly for recent graduates and actors whose experience is mostly in theatre.
You don't necessarily need to wait until a production gives you suitable footage. You can create original scenes designed to show the way you work on camera.
That doesn't mean inventing an elaborate action film or trying to imitate a television programme with an enormous budget.
A believable script, a good scene partner, sensible sound and lighting, and thoughtful direction often tell us far more about the actor.
Three showreel mistakes worth avoiding
Choosing scenes only because they're dramatic. Crying, shouting or an intense confrontation doesn't automatically make a clip more revealing. Look for genuine behaviour and clear relationships.
Trying to show every possible role. A small selection of contrasting, convincing scenes is usually more coherent than a collection of unrelated characters you don't fully inhabit.
Putting all the effort into the equipment. Technical quality matters, but so do the script, the other actor and the direction you receive.
One useful exercise before filming is to describe in a sentence what each clip should reveal. If two clips show exactly the same strength, perhaps you don't need both.
How ReAct approaches showreel filming
Through ReAct STUDIOS, our approach combines professional filming with acting direction. We want the footage to look good, but we also want it to feel truthful and suit you as a performer.
We start with what you're trying to achieve. If you already have suitable footage, you may need less than you think. If you're filming new material, the scenes should give you something interesting to play.
You can also work on performance material through our 1-to-1 acting coaching.
And if you're only just beginning your journey and hope to apply to drama school, don't assume you need a professional showreel yet. Our weekly drama-school preparation class is designed to develop your acting and audition technique first.
We're always happy to discuss what would actually be useful rather than encourage you to book something you don't need.
We'd love you to come along, meet the tutors and see what you think.
See the Wednesday class