Creating Your First Demo Reel

There’s no question—a high-quality demo reel is one of the most important things actors need to be cast. But what if you don’t have any professional footage to include in your Demo reel? 

If you don’t have professional-looking video from commercials, TV, and/or film work, then consider creating your own starter reel:

1. Create or find three 40-second scenes that foreground your acting and capture several roles you are physically right to play. Each one should have a different background, feature a different scene partner, and show you with a different look.

2. Cast three actor friends. (Maybe each can pay something to get a scene for their reel.)

3. Work with an acting coach on the three scenes.

4. Find friends with a professional camera, microphone, and lights. You must have great picture quality, sound, and lighting so it looks professional.

5. Edit the three pieces into a reel with your contact info at the end. It should be between 90 and 120 seconds long—no longer!