Acting : My reel, please rate? by Jason Daniel

Hi, Jason! Thanks for the invite. As far as your reel goes, speaking as a writer/director and not as an actor, I would suggest shortening it by at least half. Two minutes overall length is better still. Why? First, it's not a bad reel, but its badness or goodness is not the issue. The question to ask is (IMHO): At what point will a director/agent/casting director "get me?" How much of a single shot or scene do I, the Director, need to see to (1) decide if you're any good and (2) decide if you may be right for a particular role? I found myself moving the progress slider ahead to see more variety. Many of the shots had you at nearly the exact same camera angle, too. I would not cut back to a scene already visited. Again, nice for a "piece" but slows the reel down for someone who is looking at it with a specific purpose. Also, there's a lot with you NOT in the shots. I get the need for continuity, but remember, I'm not evaluating the project, I'm evaluating the actor. So a reel that flows well may look and sound good, but will it deliver you up? I would urge you to dangle a carrot, not serve a meal. :-)