Acting Showreel Page 3

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 2:51 PM GMT

Glad you liked Spicer.

If all I did was play leads all the time then I'm hardly going to be the first person you would hire for a ensemble show. I think it shows I can play a less senior role and interact with other characters with out grabbing the line light.

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Casting directors, directors and producers don't think like that. They don't see a showreel of people doing nothing and say, "he'd be great for an ensemble piece, cos he's not a 'star'". Look at 'Big Train', for example, or 'Gavin and Stacey' - they're all leads.

It's just unclear to me what you're aiming at. What are you trying to achieve. It's hard to give advice or critique if it's unclear what a project you're working on is for.

Will this bring you to the attention of an agent or casting director as an actor? No. Has it given you practice at being an editor, yes, I suppose it must have.

Quote: David Bussell @ March 3 2010, 11:15 AM GMT

James, with all due respect, you look like a kid playing dress-up. While I admire your enthuisiasm, you just aren't old enough to play a jaded radio host, let alone a detective. Also, for a showcase of your acting ability, this reel shows a certain lack of range (shouting in mockney seems to account for about 80% of it).

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Bit harsh wouldn't you say?

I've gone over the whole playing someone older then myself thing before and like I said before it's being addressed. Jeremy is only about five years older then me that's the whole point of his character, he isn't meant to be just a jaded old radio host who's a has-been. He's someone who messed up his big break but is still young enough although he his blinded by his own self-confidence to do something about the situation he has got himself into. I find that a very real situation.

Quote: EllieJP @ March 3 2010, 8:53 AM GMT

Hi James,

I thought it was pretty good, but I don't think it showed the true range of your abilities. A few less authoritative roles maybe, and less police. Although I loved the fish and chip shop, and crispy duck. Very funny.

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Glad you enjoyed "Come on Terry!" and the crispy duck gag. I take your point of playing authoritative roles. Thanks.

Quote: Gavin @ March 3 2010, 1:33 AM GMT

Hi James, watched through and quite a good piece of work. You're obviously quite driven and have a very clear idea what you want, which is good I did have some issues with the reel.

Issues
Sound levels jumped around to much some bits I struggled to hear the lines, then next minute it was screaming at someone.

Aspect ratio changed a few times stretching squashing was a bit distracting.

I did have a problem at the start with the age of the characters you were portraying. The one with the chip shop worked because it was a gag so can get away with it more. Just a thought really if this is something you will be using to attract potential work, maybe put in some stuff more suited to your age to help them see you in their end product.

Finally
I did drift off a bit in the middle, and I was actually looking at this thinking of potentially approaching you for some VO work. So even with that frame of mind I still tailed off in the middle. So I'd suggest putting all the goos stuff at the beginning since the internet is such an instant medium it's easy just to click away so don't waste a second of the person who's watching time, so if they do click away (for a cup of tea or a piss) and forget your tab is open they have a good idea what your all about. You can use the insights tool in YouTube to see the viewer hotspots and I'd begin tailoring your Reel to keep that level consistant.

Sum up

It's a good base to work from so keep going with it

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Glad you thought it was a good piece work.

There are some sound issues with the different jumps but if you decrees the shouty scenes you don't get the full effect and if you increase the quieter scenes you get a rather annoying humming noise.

When I do a few more projects. Two I have coming up are younger characters I will put these in to show I can play someone my own age.

Did you tell off with Spicer?

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:09 PM GMT

Bit harsh wouldn't you say?

I've gone over the whole playing someone older then myself thing before and like I said before it's being addressed. Jeremy is only about five years older then me that's the whole point of his character, he isn't meant to be just a jaded old radio host who's a has-been. He's someone who messed up his big break but is still young enough although he his blinded by his own self-confidence to do something about the situation he has got himself into. I find that a very real situation.

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When I first read your Spicer brief you mentioned him being, IIRC, a Newsnight presenter. I might be wrong, but is the transformation to him being a young buck who missed his shot a new thing?

Look, if you feel I'm being harsh at all, believe me when I say it's only in the spirit of tough love. I've said in the past and I'll say it again; I think you're a perfectly good actor and you show promise. Your problem (myself and many others think) is your choice of roles and an obvious fondness for other comedians that comes through too strongly in your work. It may go against your nature but I'd recommend absorbing some of the criticism that comes your way rather than deflecting it out of hand. Try it and see how much quicker you improve.

Quote: David Bussell @ March 3 2010, 3:24 PM GMT

When I first read your Spicer brief you mentioned him being, IIRC, a Newsnight presenter. I might be wrong, but is the transformation to him being a young buck who missed his shot a new thing?

Look, if you feel I'm being harsh at all, believe me when I say it's only in the spirit of tough love. I've said in the past and I'll say it again; I think you're a perfectly good actor and you show promise. Your problem (myself and many others think) is your choice of roles and an obvious fondness for other comedians that comes through too strongly in your work. It may go against your nature but I'd recommend absorbing some of the criticism that comes your way rather than deflecting it out of hand. Try it and see how mush quicker you improve.

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He worked behind the scenes at Newsnight and was about to get a small slot on the show as a presenter but it all went terrible wrong. That's always been there from the start. If you want to read his full bio you can http://jamescotter.webs.com/jeremyspicer.htm

I agree with what you saying about my fondness for other comedian comes through in my work a lot but I think the last year or so that's not really been the case. With my first character Paul Wade and with Harris it was obviously Brent and Grim but with Rodgers, Spicer, Wilton and soon to be Grey there original characters.

I do take criticism onboard and I frequently say to everyone thanks for the feedback no matter how nice or horrible it is.

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:33 PM GMT

He worked behind the scenes at Newsnight and was about to get a small slot on the show as a presenter but it all went terrible wrong. That's always been there from the start. If you want to read his full bio you can http://jamescotter.webs.com/jeremyspicer.htm

I agree with what you saying about my fondness for other comedian comes through in my work a lot but I think the last year or so that's not really been the case. With my first character Paul Wade and with Harris it was obviously Brent and Grim but with Rodgers, Spicer, Wilton and soon to be Grey there original characters.

I do take criticism onboard and I frequently say to everyone thanks for the feedback no matter how nice or horrible it is.

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You just don't answer direct questions!

Quote: David Bussell @ March 3 2010, 3:24 PM GMT

I'd recommend absorbing some of the criticism that comes your way rather than deflecting it out of hand. Try it and see how mush quicker you improve.

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I'd echo Dave on this. There is a danger of becoming to close to your work that you cannot see the wood through the trees because you've spent so long with it editing, tweaking etc. But it is important to take into account the audiences views, on my first animation I got a lot of flack over sound issues which I basically poo poo'd as people being picky. But going back 3-4 months later I could hear it like everyone else and realised that you do need to rely on the feedback to allow growth and not to stagnate with work. Personally I now spend 3 times the amount of time on the sound just trying to get it perfect But I like to think the extra time and attention pushes my work further each time. Just throwing in my personal experience.

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:18 PM GMT

Did you tell off with Spicer?

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What's Spicer? was it your radio thing before?

Quote: Empty @ March 3 2010, 3:34 PM GMT

You just don't answer direct questions!

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I like to give a good respond to a good question.

Quote: Gavin @ March 3 2010, 3:36 PM GMT

What's Spicer? Was it your radio thing before?

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Yes.

Quote: Empty @ March 3 2010, 11:51 AM GMT

He actually said how much comes out in your roles.

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I know he said that but when I replied back to him you would put my roles because I wouldn't say your roles would I?

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:42 PM GMT

I like to give a good respond to a good question.

Yes.

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So asking you what you're trying to achieve with your showreel before providing a critique is not a good enough question to ellicit a response?

Quote: Empty @ March 3 2010, 3:46 PM GMT

So asking you what you're trying to achieve with your showreel before providing a critique is not a good enough question to ellicit a response?

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Haven't I answered that question earlier?

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:48 PM GMT

Haven't I answered that question earlier?

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You haven't answered my question, no. What specifically are you trying to achieve with this showreel and with your career? How does the showreel fit into your plan (if they differ?)

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:33 PM GMT

He worked behind the scenes at Newsnight and was about to get a small slot on the show as a presenter but it all went terrible wrong. That's always been there from the start.

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Now you're just fibbing, James...

Quote: James Cotter @ December 21 2009, 12:55 AM GMT

My first appearance as my latest comic creation Jeremy Spicer is out now on YouTube. The show is called The Life and Times of Jeremy Spicer, here's the blurb:

The life and times of an ex-Newsnight presenter who now spend his time languishing on his local radio station The Sound of Surrey 109.4 FM presenting The Nightly Debate with Jeremy Spicer at 1am in the morning.

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Quote: Empty @ March 3 2010, 3:51 PM GMT

You haven't answered my question, no. What specifically are you trying to achieve with this showreel and with your career? How does the showreel fit into your plan (if they differ?)

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I am trying to showcase my acting, mainly comic roles to people in the industry.

I am trying achieve more roles in more shows preferable on the television or radio.

This showreel will help a producer decide if I'm right for something he or she has in mind because before when producers asked I had to show them whole short films or sitcoms this is a quick and essay way of deciding whether I am right for them.

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:48 PM GMT

Haven't I answered that question earlier?

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If you want to use it in a professional capacity James, I would strongly advise against it. It's a college pre media degree showreel at best. I don't mean to be harsh just giving you a heads up. You will do better and you only get a first chance to make a first impression.

Quote: David Bussell @ March 3 2010, 3:54 PM GMT

Now you're just fibbing, James...

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I am often accused of writing far to much especially on here so putting him as a ex-Newsnight presenter sums him up quickly and easily in a blurb and at the end of that blurb on YouTube and in the actual video itself you get the full story.

Quote: James Cotter @ March 3 2010, 3:59 PM GMT

I am often accused of writing far to much especially on here so putting him as a ex-Newsnight presenter sums him up quickly and easily in a blurb and at the end of that blurb on YouTube and in the actual video itself you get the full story.

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Sure, why not.