A demo reel is a short video – one to two minutes max – that demonstrates the capabilities of the creative showcased in its footage. For an Actor, that might mean clips from their most notable roles. For a Director, it can be clips from their most impactful work. Actors, Directors, Cinematographers, Editors, Composers, and other creatives in the filmmaking industry all rely on demo reels to display their capabilities.

For Actors, the important thing to focus on here is the word “best.” Casting Directors and anyone else looking at your demo reel won’t be all too concerned with whether the footage in it exactly matches the role that they’re casting for. They just want to make sure you have the talent, screen presence, and other relevant acting qualities to do the job.

Unless the Casting Director has already seen you act on stage or screen, they have no idea of what you can or can’t bring to a role. Hence, why you need a demo reel.

It’s also important to remember that people–including Casting Directors– have short attention spans. You need to show them not only your best acting work, but also your best acting work first. Don’t save your most impressive bit of acting for a big demo reel finale because it’s entirely possible that a Casting Director or Director won’t make it that far.

Demo reels are the same thing as show reels, so don’t be confused if they’re used interchangeably. However, it’s more common in the film industry for an acting reel to be referred to as a demo reel.

As we’ve laid out, a demo reel demonstrates that you can actually do the work of acting.

While a personal connection or impressive acting resume may get you on a Casting Director’s radar, they may never even bother to call you in for an audition or ask for a self-tape if they don’t get the chance to see what you can do.

In short, be prepared. Get that demo reel together before you start going out for paid work.

It’s a question that can strike fear into the hearts of many emerging Actors, especially if they think they have nothing to show. But no matter how green of an Actor you may be, you make do with what you have and can create on your own.

You also don’t have to pay an experience editor hundreds of dollars to edit a demo reel. If you have the skillset to edit your own demo reel, it may cost nothing at all. If that option isn’t available to you, the cost of a demo reel will depend on who you hire to put together that demo reel. A student editor or friend might do it for only the experience or a minimal fee.

Have you worked on student films or school productions? Get that footage. Doesn’t matter if it doesn’t have studio-backed feature film production quality. When you’re short on experience, make what you have work for you.

Maybe you’re a few years out of school or have already spent time connecting with local filmmakers. Either way, if you have the chance to be in an indie film–even if you have just a single line of dialogue–take it.

Not only will the experience provide footage for your demo reel, but also you’ll be forging professional relationships that could translate into you being asked to act in future projects.

If you truly have no experience, you can still make a demo reel by taping yourself acting against another person or reading a monologue. It’s a legitimate way to beef up your demo reel–and best of all–you have total control over how it’ll be produced.

You don’t need Editor-level skills to put together a demo reel. Find out how to make one regardless of your tech capabilities.

You can pick a scene or two where you know you’ll shine, as well as have complete authority over elements like your wardrobe, lighting, and makeup, which can also make a huge impact on the first impression that a Casting Director has of you.

Demo reels are so important to Actors that many entrepreneurs have started companies to help make them. And we’re not talking about just Los Angeles or New York City.

Likely your own town has a company that specializes in making demo reels or at least a production company that is more than capable of making one for you. So if you need help, it’s there. While it may mean more initial expense, if it gets you jobs, then it was worth it.

Regardless of where you get your footage from–student films, indie films or otherwise–it’s critical that you edit your demo reel in a way that truly shows you in your best light.

Though you can edit a demo reel on your own, if this skill isn’t already in your wheelhouse, consider out-sourcing this final step. Because while you might have wildly impressive footage to show off, if it isn’t cut together in a professional manner, it could be a deterrent to the Casting Director watching it.

As you’re assembling your demo reel, don’t forget that you must be strategic with what you put in it. You have very little time to make an impression, so every single frame of footage counts.

You may not have footage of a lengthy, scene-stealing monologue to include in your demo reel. If that’s the case, make sure that whatever you do include is a moment in the film where your character has the focus.

As stated earlier, variety is good. You’ve likely heard the phrase “they have range” given as a compliment for an Actor or Actress. That’s what you want to strive for as well. If you have the footage available, show a Casting Director that–yes!–you can do drama and comedy and horror.

Do you rock at playing an angsty teen? Have you been cast as the go-getter type several times over? If there’s a character you know you excel at–and you want more of those roles–include those examples in your demo reel.

Struggling to figure out what to include in your demo reel? This video explains how to select your best clips.

Just keep in mind that you should always be showing different roles. Don’t have several scenes from the same project; rather, include one scene each from various projects, even if it’s the same type of character you’re portraying.

This is so important that we’re telling you twice. The unfortunate reality is that a Casting Director, Director, or whoever else is watching your demo reel may not screen it the whole way through. So don’t wait to wow them.

Whatever you feel is your most impressive footage (maybe it’s a two-hander moment with a well-known Actor or that character type you know you can nail) put it first.

By the way, keep in mind that great acting isn’t always the most dramatic acting. Your best stuff doesn’t need to be a scene where your character has a total psychological breakdown or an emotional waterworks moment.

Again, strive for being concise because you won’t have a lot of time to impress that Casting Director. If possible, aim for 90 seconds. In that time, have between three and five different scenes that you showcase in your demo reel.

One of the best ways to learn what makes for a great demo reel is watching others! Plenty of demo reels like this one are available online.

If you are looking for more ways to upgrade your performance for demo reels, check out our guide to Stanislavski Method.