My final output for this semester will be a VFX showreel demonstrating skills in matchmoving, compositing, colour grading and 3D modeling. Therefore to get an understanding of how to present my work, I have done some research into showreels.

http://blog.animationmentor.com/top-6-tips-for-your-vfx-reel/

This website offers 6 tips for presenting a VFX showreel. They recommend not using any music as it distracts from the visual work you are trying to sell, I have heard this backed up by visiting Alumni to LSFM, most noticeably Philip Roberts who now works in Frankfurt, Germany in a post production house, who attended the 2017 Meet the Grads event through skype.

He spoke of keeping your showreels short and to the point, and of also not distracting from what you want to sell about yourself. He also said that he normally can tell within the first couple of seconds of the reel whether or not he is going to hire someone. So it is important that I put what I deem most important first in my showreel, none of that ‘save the best till last’ as often if what is before the best isnt good enough, the employer will have already stopped watching.

 

(Me in the black and yellow scarf)

https://www.siggraph.org/discover/news/demo-reel-advice-cg-vfx-and-animation-students

This website reiterates many of the same points highlighted by Philip, once again music is said to be a big no-no, also putting the best stuff first. Here they also talk about staying focused, so having your showreel demonstrate skills in the area you are applying for. They don’t want to see a showreel that shows off how many areas you can do within VFX, but rather a showreel that stays focused on the job you want. They also say that if you can draw, concept art is a great to include within showreels, this will be partially relevant to me next semester where I will be focusing on producing one single shot, and not just developing skills like I will this semester.