Non-Union Actors

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Professional actors in New England who are not members of AEA or SAG-AFTRA.

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Actors reels....how,what,when & why

by Joanie Catalano

Apr 19, 2016

So I've decided that I need to make an actors reel.It just seems lately a lot of jobs that I've been looking at have been asking for them.It seems everyone has their own opinion of what a reel should look like,how long it should be,even why one software is better than another.I was just going to use my windows movie maker,it's easy to use and hard to screw up,so it's got my vote,lol.How stressed were you making your first reel?

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  • up

    NYC & New England

    Bradley J. Van Dussen

    See the Resources page for our recommended Video Editors.

    Your reel has to appease and please time-starved industry pros; I've learned from them that a reel should be fewer than 2:00 minutes - this does NOT mean you have to make your reel 1:45 or 1:58 to feel as if you've maximized the 2:00 minute threshold. The shorter the better.

    Your acting should be displayed in as many 6-10 seconds clips as you have.

    No still shots

    The IP most likely wants to click "play" and see you start acting within a few seconds....any waiting to see you may easily put-off an IP.

    Display what film or TV project on the screen.

    Display your name and contact info at the very beginning and end.

    Apr 19, 2016

  • up

    Los Angeles

    Aaron Kendall Wilson

    This was awesome! Thanks Bradley for the feedback! My next question is do you have to be speaking in all of the clips...or can you be shown doing an action and not speaking.

    Bradley J. Van Dussen said:

    See the Resources page for our recommended Video Editors.

    Your reel has to appease and please time-starved industry pros; I've learned from them that a reel should be fewer than 2:00 minutes - this does NOT mean you have to make your reel 1:45 or 1:58 to feel as if you've maximized the 2:00 minute threshold. The shorter the better.

    Your acting should be displayed in as many 6-10 seconds clips as you have.

    No still shots

    The IP most likely wants to click "play" and see you start acting within a few seconds....any waiting to see you may easily put-off an IP.

    Display what film or TV project on the screen.

    Display your name and contact info at the very beginning and end.

    Apr 19, 2016

  • up

    Joanie Catalano


    Fantastic input,thank you!


    Aaron Wilson said:

    This was awesome! Thanks Bradley for the feedback! My next question is do you have to be speaking in all of the clips...or can you be shown doing an action and not speaking.

    Bradley J. Van Dussen said:

    See the Resources page for our recommended Video Editors.

    Your reel has to appease and please time-starved industry pros; I've learned from them that a reel should be fewer than 2:00 minutes - this does NOT mean you have to make your reel 1:45 or 1:58 to feel as if you've maximized the 2:00 minute threshold. The shorter the better.

    Your acting should be displayed in as many 6-10 seconds clips as you have.

    No still shots

    The IP most likely wants to click "play" and see you start acting within a few seconds....any waiting to see you may easily put-off an IP.

    Display what film or TV project on the screen.

    Display your name and contact info at the very beginning and end.

    Apr 28, 2016