Preparing a Job Application part 2 - Demo Reel

In the previous post, we saw that a job application usually consists of 3 components: cover letter, resume, and demo reel. We also saw how you can prepare your cover letter and resume quickly.

In this post, I will cover how you can prepare your demo reel (plus a portfolio). Unlike the previous post, however, I cannot offer a fast process to create a demo reel from scratch. You should spend most of your time working on your demo reel, long before applying for a job. This way, when it is time to apply for a job, you already have a number of works ready to assemble in your demo reel.

In this post I assume that you already created your works; the question is how to present them in the form of a demo reel. I also assume modeling reel for simplicity.

Demo reel preparation for 3D animation industry is a well-covered topic:

• How to Prepare Your Showreel for the Industry by CG Protege Animation School;
• Behind the Pixels - Episode 1 - Showreels at 3D Sense Media School;
• Design Cinema - Ep 20 - Portfolio Part 1 at Feng Zhu Design School;
• Creating a Demo Reel at Pixar's website;
• How to Make a Successful Portfolio or Demoreel at Blender Guru.

Still, I have a point or two to add in. The theme I am emphasizing is the same as the one in previous post: Make it easy for the recruiter to remember you.

Demo Reel

A demo reel is a short video, usually around 2 to 4 minutes.

Remember why a recruiter watches your demo reel: the recruiter wants to see what you can do. So, make sure that:

1. your demo reel demonstrates your skills and
2. the skills you are showing are relevant to the recruiter's interest.

Demonstrating Your Skills

In the video How to Prepare Your Showreel for the Industry David Kwok covered what kind of works you include in your demo reel to demonstrate your skills; so I will not repeat this point.

Let me emphasize this: make sure that the first 15 seconds make the recruiter interested. You can test this by showing your reel to a person you trust and ask for an honest opinion. If the opening of your reel is boring, then make sure you fix it.

In my experience with students, there are common scenarios:

• Opening screen (where you put your name and contacts) shows for too long or fades off too slowly.
• Fix: Show your opening screen for shorter than 2 seconds; fade it off quickly, perhaps half a second or shorter.
• Turntables are too long.
• Fix: Keep testing your reel timing; make sure it is just right.

Showing Skills Relevant to Recruiter's Interest

Make sure your demo reel is appropriate for the company you are applying to.

• If you apply to Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), do not show models like Pororo or Doraemon. ILM aims for teenagers and adults; while Pororo and Doraemon are for children.
• If you apply for Pixar, do not show models like rugged, battle-worn Batman. Pixar aims for family, so show works that appeal children and adults.

Almost all my students think that an artist has only one demo reel and this demo reel is what he/she sends for all job applications. This is only partly right.

You should have a personal demo reel that you put on your portfolio website. In addition, you should create a customized demo reel for each job applications. How do you customize a demo reel?

Suppose you are a 3D modeler. You have 2 models so far: Pororo and battle-worn Batman.

• When applying for studios that produce family entertainment or pre-school series, your reel should show only your Pororo model.
• When applying for studios that produce products for teenagers and adults, your reel should show only battle-worn Batman.

Be precise. Make it easy for the recruiter to remember you.

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of physical artworks. This means physical drawings and paintings. Your portfolio should show your skills that are relevant to the recruiter's interest.

• Studios that produce family entertainment probably will ask for appealing designs and strong shapes.
• Studios that target teenagers and adults will ask for human anatomy, animal anatomy, perspective, and surface texture quality.

In Singapore, not all companies ask for a portfolio. On the other hand, if you do have a good one, you will stand out among other applicants (this is true at least for Singapore companies).

Preparing Your Reel and Portfolio

So how exactly do you prepare you demo reel? I suggest this process:

• Before applying for a job:
• Keep creating new works.
• You will want to be able to apply to as many different companies as possible, so make sure you create a variety of styles. Maximize your opportunity.
• When you finish a work, present it the best you can.
• You will keep reusing this presentation, so make sure it is excellent and not just good or acceptable.
• Collect all your work presentation in a portfolio folder. (For safety, you may want burn this folder into a DVD once a year for backups.)
• When applying for a job:
• Read the job description. Identify what the company wants.
• Go through your portfolio folder. Identify works that match what the company wants.
• Assemble these relevant works as your customized demo reel for this job application.
• If you have taken care to make your presentations excellent, assembling a demo reel will take less effort.
• Otherwise, not all is lost. You just have to put in time and effort to make your reel polished. We will see how to do this in the next post.

This process requires discipline, unfortunately. There is no shortcut in demo reel preparation. The earlier you start, the better.

Hopefully this post convinces you that the best time to start preparing your demo reel is now. In the next post, I will cover a planning method to make sure your job application (cover letter + resume + demo reel + portfolio) will be done on time. As always, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.


(Edited on 11 May 2015: Elaborated on points, improved wordings, and rearranged points.)