Demo reels - to's and not to's?

[AAEuser]

I already posted this in the beginner's talk section then found this and thought this would be a better place to ask.

I am beginning to put together a demo reel for my after effects compositing work and I realized I don't really know what one should look like. I've seen a few where they show one complex effect and then do a breakdown and sometimes show a second effect. does this sound right?

I have a number of effects I'd like to show as they are all completely different. I know I have to do a break down but is there anything else I should know? where are some sources where I can see some examples?

Also, what is best to show them if I want a Jr compositing position? I can do matte painting with after effects but would it be better to show the human torch effect I did?


Thanks a ton

[im.thatoneguy]

1) Demonstrate that you can solve complex problems on your own.
2) Demonstrate that you have an eye that can create invisible effects.
3) Illustrate 1 and 2 by showing the before and after.

I wouldn't have very long breakdowns. I don't need to know you used 45 layers and the effect of each one. But if you rotoscoped a bunch of stuff show the mattes to illustrate that you rotoscoped all this ( -> <- ). If another element was on green screen show the greenscreen material. And then show the original and clean plate if you also painted out a ton of stuff. Make sure your breakdowns focus on illustrating your abilities not just showing off how you did it.

And of course the golden rule of demoreels applies here as well. "Only show what you're most proud of."

[AAEuser]

1) Demonstrate that you can solve complex problems on your own.
2) Demonstrate that you have an eye that can create invisible effects.
3) Illustrate 1 and 2 by showing the before and after.

I wouldn't have very long breakdowns. I don't need to know you used 45 layers and the effect of each one. But if you rotoscoped a bunch of stuff show the mattes to illustrate that you rotoscoped all this ( -> <- ). If another element was on green screen show the greenscreen material. And then show the original and clean plate if you also painted out a ton of stuff. Make sure your breakdowns focus on illustrating your abilities not just showing off how you did it.

And of course the golden rule of demoreels applies here as well. "Only show what you're most proud of."

how do you show your abilities in painting other than showing a before and after?

Thanks for the comment.

What kind of work should be shown if I want to be a compositor and am working on getting my first position in a company? For example: show a lot of stuff I roto-ed, painted, etc? as opposed to my human torch/super hero stuff? as seen below:



thanks again

[AAEuser]

also, please let me know if you think the work above is quality enough to get hired.
I am self taught.

P.S. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 3D MONSTER EFFECT. blehhh but I did do pretty much all of the other effects.

[im.thatoneguy]

For a cleanplate just show the before/after.

I would start with the original plate. Cut tothe clean plate. Overlay the alphas on anything you rotoed real quick for a second. Overlay all your green screen plates maybe even right on the comp and then transition to the final.

Yeah that all looks really good. It's hard to tell of course from YouTube. But there are a lot of effects in there that would be perfect for a reel.

The only thing I didn't see in the reel which you might want to do a shot of, if you don't have one, is a sky replacement just for variety.

Keying, Tracking, Roto and integration would be the 4 things to demonstrate. If you're applying for an entry level position though I would be sure to include at least one really difficult roto shot.

In the end breakdowns probably aren't as important as the reel itself. Your shotbreakdown sheet is more important for explaining what parts you did. The people reviewing your reel should understand compositing well enough that if you say in your breakdown sheet "Rotoed plant on desk for green screen charecter" what that involves.

P.S. Is that doctor the bad guy from Star Trek Generations?

[AAEuser]

P.S. Is that doctor the bad guy from Star Trek Generations?

I haven't seen that in so long I don't remember. he is Malcolm McDowell more famous to me as the bad guy in Heroes series 1. I was psyched to do roto on him. I was picked up from my hobby work on youtube and hadn't before hand believed I was good enough to work in the industry. It really launched my attempts to enter the career.

you really think sky replacement would help? I see that as being a bit too... easy. I have some matte painting work, is that what you mean by variety?

[im.thatoneguy]

Hehe yep. That's him.

Sky replacement might be pretty basic but so is pulling a good key. If it only takes up 15 seconds of your reel and is seemless then it would indicate both good keying, tracking and integration abilities. Especially if there is an actor with frizzy hair and the shot was handheld. You don't need to have done the matte painting. Just an interesting sky photo/panorama added in would work.

If you're looking to get into commercials then similarly adding a logo to a truck, replacing a screen or something like that would also be a valued skill that people would like to see.

If you run out of ideas on things to include in your reel check out digital domain's page. They put up reels for just about all their projects and offer lots of ideas.

[AAEuser]

Hehe yep. That's him.

Sky replacement might be pretty basic but so is pulling a good key. If it only takes up 15 seconds of your reel and is seemless then it would indicate both good keying, tracking and integration abilities. Especially if there is an actor with frizzy hair and the shot was handheld. You don't need to have done the matte painting. Just an interesting sky photo/panorama added in would work.

If you're looking to get into commercials then similarly adding a logo to a truck, replacing a screen or something like that would also be a valued skill that people would like to see.

If you run out of ideas on things to include in your reel check out digital domain's page. They put up reels for just about all their projects and offer lots of ideas.

I like the frizzy haired actor idea. that does sound like a plus. The truck logo thing is good too. and those don't take up much time to show on a reel either.

I'm thinking about hiring a production company to film some high def quality shots for me to make my reel. Do you think that would be a good idea? I'm guessing professional footage looks a lot better then even a canon HV30 which is what I have.

[im.thatoneguy]

It's not a bad idea but would probably be prohibitively expensive for the value you would get. Camera rental would be $1500+ a day. Actor would then need to be SAG so another $500. DP another $1000.

Something you could try is emailing a director/DP and asking if they have any old footage that you could use for education and your reel. Lots of commercial directors who shoot for themselves have boatloads of old footage which the own the rights to as part of lower budget commercials.

Stock footage would be another appraoch. But if you own an HV30 you've got a pretty camera. Just put an actor on a grass hill during magic hour and give a friend a bounce card.

Also check out FXGuide PHD. They always include high quality footage with all their courses.

[AAEuser]

It's not a bad idea but would probably be prohibitively expensive for the value you would get. Camera rental would be $1500+ a day. Actor would then need to be SAG so another $500. DP another $1000.

I live in Eugene OR. prices are significantly lower here. I wasn't thinking I wouldn't even have to pay an actor as I can get plenty of volunteers. Sadly I wont be able to use anyone recognizable though. I think I could get a DP with a camera for only a couple hundred and they would know what they were doing too.

It also depends on the kinds of shots I want. I saw an awesome reel with a tsunami going through a city with a guy surfing on it. I don't know if I could get the shots I need for it but those would be a bit more costly. But its cheaper than film school so I see it as a positive investment assuming I get a job.

I plan to do the demo as if I were shooting for the highest level position and want to provide effects that represent that. I figure if I am in complete control over the whole idea behind the shot than I can get a lot more complex than anything any job around here would ask me to do.

We've been carrying on this conversation for a little while now and yet I have no idea of your background.

[AAEuser]

Keying, Tracking, Roto and integration would be the 4 things to demonstrate. If you're applying for an entry level position though I would be sure to include at least one really difficult roto shot.

what did you mean here by integration? I haven't heard that term yet in After Effects.

[ShadowMaker SdR]

Just to get it straight: you did most if not all of the effects in that youtube movie?
Don't waste your time hiring anyone to shot anything.
Just use the original renders from that job and make your reel. Everything will be fine.
It's good work. Especially for a one man job.
Go for it.

[AAEuser]

Just to get it straight: you did most if not all of the effects in that youtube movie?
Don't waste your time hiring anyone to shot anything.
Just use the original renders from that job and make your reel. Everything will be fine.
It's good work. Especially for a one man job.
Go for it.

Thanks. That means a lot. I was planning to use those shots but I was thinking I should include more. I didn't need to have a lot more I just want to guarantee as much as possible that I get the job.

thanks again

[im.thatoneguy]

If it only means an extra week of work for more variety and more cool stuff that improves your chances then I say go for it.

It's a HUGE hastle to create a reel and send it out. Doing it again later is a PITA. Of course the converse argument is "Perfect is the enemy of good."

[AAEuser]

If it only means an extra week of work for more variety and more cool stuff that improves your chances then I say go for it.

It's a HUGE hastle to create a reel and send it out. Doing it again later is a PITA. Of course the converse argument is "Perfect is the enemy of good."

LOL. If it gets me a job working on Spiderman than I think I'll shoot for perfect