Constructive criticism on my reel

[Alan Rencher]

Here's a link to my reel. Please let me know what you think. If you have some constructive criticism, I would love to hear it!

 

[Brian Freesh]

Hey Alan,

 

Disclaimer: I've been known to be blunt about the things I think need improving. Most take it well, some don't. Take from it what makes sense to you, ignore whatever you feel strongly against. Mine is only one opinion.

 

So in general i've found the one should follow these guidelines:

 

Put your best work first (you opened with what is arguably your worst shot on the reel)

 

Each shot should pique, or at least hold, the viewer's interest to see the next shot.

 

Each shot should tell the viewer something new about your skills/capabilities/experience.

 

 

I personally get distracted by the logos of the products, though I'm sure an argument could be made for using them. In which case they need to stay longer. But I'd cut 'em completely. The 4-way split also distracted me. I'm sure that's how it is in the project, but I'm looking at your shots, not the edit, and i cannot watch 4 at once.

 

You have a lot of repetition from the same projects. Show your best shot/short series of shots from each, then look to see if there is another shot that tells the viewer something no other shot on your reel does. Otherwise move on.

 

The rap/hip hop video doesn't demonstrate steadicam well at all. It does show you have experience on rap/hip hop videos. But that won't be advantages if the viewer doesn't think you did much for the video.

 

Get rid of all your shots that bob around (like your opening shot), you have plenty of shots that show you are better than that.

 

To reiterate: too much of a lot of the projects. There's only so much of a bald man yelling silently at me that I can take...

 

Choose a song that doesn't make me feel dead inside. Faster tempo, something more upbeat. Also, as I was discussing the other day with Will, maybe has lyrics but isn't ABOUT the lyrics. If I'm singing along with the song or otherwise focused on the words, I'm paying less attention to your reel. I almost muted the music watching yours, (but didn't have to cause of the repetition, I was already not paying close attention.)

 

Hopefully that's all constructive, it's intended to be. :)

[Bryan Fowler]

That bald guy is angry.

 

Really really angry.

[Alan Rencher]

Thanks for the advice. I've updated the reel, and put a sticky with a link to the new one on that embed I posted above.