Have you been asked for a showreel, but you're thinking, "what is a showreel?" You've come to the right place. This article will explain what showreels are as well as their different formats and uses. Primarily used by actors, showreels can also be a part of a company's portfolio, so if you're looking to find out what a corporate showreel is, we've covered that too.

What is a showreel?

A showreel is a short video showcasing a person's previous work and experience. Showreels are usually produced by or for people in the creative industries. A showreel is often associated with actors but can also include filmmakers, animators, musicians, editors, and models.

A showreel can also be called a demo reel, sizzle reel or sometimes with the words separated as a show reel. They are usually between 2 to 3 minutes long and normally include several different projects to highlight the broadness of individuals' work. They will typically be accompanied by a CV as well as a list of other projects they have worked on. These showreels are used by casting directors, agents and recruiters to determine if the person is the right fit for the job. Read our articles on How to Make a Showreel and How to Create a Showreel with No Experience.

What is a voice reel?

While most showreels are in the visual format of a video with accompanying sound, they are not necessary for all actors. A voice actor may create an audio-only showreel, also referred to as a voice reel. This will display their skill level for voice-only parts such as voiceovers and animation characters. Radio presenters and actors may also create a voice reel to showcase their talents, without the need for strong visuals.

Any performer recording a voice reel should take the same care and attention as a visual showreel. The sound quality should be perfect using professional recording equipment and each segment should reflect your range.

What is a self-tape?

A self-tape is a more stripped back showreel. It usually features just one, possibly two, scenes that are for future work rather than your previous work. A self-tape is essentially an audition tape. The actor films themselves remotely and sends the self-tape to casting directors for a specific role.

A self-tape is less polished than a showreel. Instructions are given to the actor, such as extracts from a script that must be performed to the camera. General details about the character are usually provided as well. The performance can be filmed anywhere with no props and costuming, the onus is completely on the actor to bring the character to life. It’s all about making a great first impression to casting directors.

What is a corporate showreel?

Outside of the entertainment industry, companies use showreels for brand awareness campaigns and other forms of marketing and PR. These corporate showreels, also called portfolio showreels or business showreels highlight the company culture and the services they can provide.

A corporate showreel is primarily a marketing tool to get new clients. However, it can also be used to recruit or to welcome new employees into the business. Corporate showreels are an important part of any modern business communication and should be invested in by businesses wanting to grow. Here are some corporate video ideas and good corporate video examples to inspire you.

Book a Showreel

If you are interested in creating any of the above reels, we can help. We are an experienced production company with decades of collective experience in the acting and filmmaking industry. We can provide showreels for actors, voice actors, performers and those looking to create a quality self-tape. Our showreel service is a bespoke package for each person but will include scriptwriting, directing and coaching, full crew and equipment, sound and video editing and extra cast if you need.

Isaac Who is also a quality creator of corporate videos for all sorts of industries and businesses. Our corporate video service is a bespoke package for each company but includes; video idea development, scriptwriting, direction, full equipment, cast and crew, plus all the sound and video editing to get the perfect polished production. The types of videos we have created include product & service videos, how-tos, brand videos, charity films, lifestyle and influencer shoots, commercial and social ads, plus staff training and customer education videos.

Whatever your big idea, we can make it happen. Get in touch today.