Acting Showreel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKcN-7Wr0XI

I've made a showreel showcasing my acting talents in various short films, dramas, sitcoms, thrillers and comedies.

If anyone's got the time I would like a bit of feedback on my acting showreel.

Moved to Critique.

Was that picture necessary? It doesn't help with the egomaniac rumours.

I'll check out your showreel in due course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC6d5J4qXPI

Thought I'd add my showreel covering my recent appearance in Newyork. I bombed.

What sort of feedback were you looking for James? You seem a competent enough actor, but I'm not sure how much character comes out in your roles?

Well, the acting is ok, James. I still think you're playing roles that are too old for you though.

You can hear your natural voice breaking through when you're playing the east end copper, but I imagine that's as he's shouting a lot. Accents are hard to maintain at high volume. I'd like to have heard your infamous Welsh accent in there as well.

The big question is will you improve from here? It's all well and good being ok, but you need to be more than ok to succeed.

Commented on YT

lol @ SootyJ

I didn't like your jacket

Quote: Ben @ March 2 2010, 10:46 PM GMT

The big question is will you improve from here? It's all well and good being ok, but you need to be more than ok to succeed.

View original

Yet again my mind is forced to consider the anomaly that is The Crankies?

He is incredibly young, Ben, and it'd be unusual (though not impossible) for someone that enthusiastic and determined not to continually develop... as I'm sure you've seen in your own work.

James, I wish I had a tenth of your energy and commitment. You are quite prolific in your output. Do you aspire to be a writer/actor? Or are you trying both to see what you would be best at? Others have said it elsewhere but I would like to see you in a role that is nearer to your age, it would make your characters more realistic thus believable.

Actually thinking of this more seriously. It's a good show reel, but it shows off your filmic/production skills more than your acting skills.

We can see you can do all sorts of complex shots and crowded scenes etc. But not that much of your acting.

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

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.

Also, the jazz in the back ground was a little offputting. I thought I'd left something else running in the back ground.

Your performance as the radio DJ character is probably the stand out, not so shouty. There were sound issues in the piece though, and some of the clips chosen were a bit odd; you seem to be just more or less standing about in the background of some snippets!

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). Why not check out some other actor's promos and see what they're doing that makes them successful?

Here's one I watched a short while back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQx1JbSTU3o

Quote: zooo @ March 2 2010, 9:51 PM GMT

Moved to Critique.

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Thanks I wasn't sure where to put it.