Showreel 2016 – Who Is Your Target Audience?

Are reels with like before/after swipes impossible with larger clients? Whats you opinion on including them in your reel.

i too wonder about this and how larger clients feel, especially when shown the original log negative. I used to think it was neat to show the entire process, but recent discussions has made me reconsider. Is this ‘strategy” limited to lower end clientele where they may not be as familiar with what can be done w color as an agency or experienced producerdirector? As mentioned in a previous article, does including those beforeafter in a reel limit its appeal to less experienced lower budget productions?

You mentioned these clients arent interested in the footage, but more what you did and if it is close to what they are looking for. Is showing beforeafter hurting your chances at larger clients, if that mentality is rampant? Ive always judged a clips quality THEN my grade before considering it for my reel, when it sounds like this is backwards.

If you are making a reel to show off you clients then maybe it better to cut
it shorter and more energetic. Then maybe do a separate before/after reel.

Frustrating thing is neither of the 2016 reels play on my Galaxy Tab II tablet. Whatever you’ve got in that mp4 wrapper isn’t beloved by this thing. The 2015 reel plays fine. Ah well … have to take time at the studio then.

My 2016 reel http://www.colorist.se/Colorist-Reel-2016 and my 2015 reel http://www.colorist.se/Colorist-Reel-2015
I kind of like my old one better but didn’t want to use any old stuff in my new reel, trying to just keep it fresh. Also I worked less in 2015 (for 2016 reel) because I was on parental leave from May so the 2016 reel has less material. What do you think all new footage to show of or mix all years of work? thanks for all the great tutorials it keeps me trying new stuff all the time. / Martin

Greg, I did a 2-Part’er here on ML about building a Demo Reel… including the client perceptions of Before / After Reels. Here’s the link to Part 1: https://mixinglight.com/portfolio/how-to-build-a-color-correction-demo-reel/

As I mentioned in my two part Building a Demo Reel Insights, Before / After Reels are educational. They’re for clients who don’t actually know what color grading is about. You’ll teach them everything they need to know in 2 minutes. For clients who understand color grading, swipe reels are unimpressive and they want to see your best work.

Ideally, they want to see precisely the same kind of images that they want you to create for them.

So if your clients tend to be brand-new to color grading, the Before / After is the way to go (it’s the only Reel I had for 6 years). Otherwise, the best-of-your-best Beauty reel is the way to go.

Do you have any thoughts of creating both? – a traditional 2016 reel and an additional before/after reel. Does that hurt more than help?

I personally advocate updating your Beauty Reel every year. But there’s no way I’m going to only include the material from just the prior year.

Check out my 2-Part’er on this: https://mixinglight.com/portfolio/how-to-build-a-color-correction-demo-reel/

You Reels should always include the Best of your Best. When updating, take a look at the Best work you’ve done (that represents the direction you want you career to go) and it needs to knock out of the Reel work that isn’t as good. As the years pass along, your Reel is always getting better and it doesn’t matter if some shots are 6 years old—if those shots are so good they stand the test of time, so be it.

I have lots of thoughts on this! Will join in as soon as I finish grading for the day 🙂

Beautiful work, Dan.

I think doing _very limited_ before & afters are fine, but I don’t think log/corrected comparisons are fair to the DP. I don’t mind a “base correction” / final correction comparison, particularly if it’s got 20 nodes and you wipe each one on very quickly, and it’s a huge difference between what was actually shot. And I’d get permission from the client.

While I understand, I’m trying to attract clients with a reel, not DPs. While DPs can lead to clients, a DP has his own reel to show of their work, right? While I agree if simply using a color managed system, log transforms are nothing special. However, if I grade from LOG, I consider that my work, even if it is taking it to a normalized look, which may be part of the way towards the clients ‘look’, as opposed to slapping an Arri-provided Transform LUT (or similar). THIS is where I’m split between what is best for me and respecting the DPs and others I work w.

thanks for the feedback! Going to cut a new reel at the end of year with the best of the best then 🙂 Love all your hardwork on mixinglight. / Martin

Hi Dan,

We have an account with my company so my name is not Alexandre Domingue. It’s Charles Boileau…

Here is my reel: http://post-moderne.com/portfolio/demo-2014-charles-boileau-coloriste/
I was curious to know why no before/after wipes? I’m kind of drifting towards having none also. Yet, I’ve seen demos with “full breakdown” of a look that look great. It’s very tedious to put together. Plus, I’m more of a narrative colorist so I don’t have allot of tricks to show. But that being said, I’m curious to get your take (and any others) on having no wipes.