How to create a showreel or video to show off your skills in sound.
If you want to work in sound in the film and TV industries, you will need to show examples of your work. This can take the form of a showreel – a short video that shows a selection of clips of your very best work. It can also be a website, where you can show a more comprehensive portfolio by including audio tracks and text.
There should be an equal emphasis on the recording of location sound (production sound) and the editing and mixing of the results (post-production sound). Sound design begins with and incorporates the recordings made on location – it’s not just the work carried out in the studio during post-production.
Show you have knowledge of different microphones and different recorders and how you would use them to achieve the best results. Demonstrate you know what dialogue editors require and what sound effects editors require.
It helps to find a way of demonstrating an understanding of the various roles in the sound production chain, such as sound assistant, Foley editor, ADR editor, dubbing assistant. Look at the supervising sound editor for details.
Include projects that demonstrate a wide range of genre, such as drama, documentary, current affairs, sport.
Make sure you use original sounds that you’ve recorded – experienced interviewers will have heard all the library sounds many times before.
You can build your portfolio website using the following free platforms:
Portfoliobox
A portfolio website for creatives. There’s a free version available, which offers the ability to host 30 images and 10 pages and has a 0% commission e-commerce.
Wordpress
There’s a free version with up to 3GB of storage space. Other paid plans are available.
You can host your showreel on the following sites:
Vimeo
A video hosting site and video player. Offers a free package called “Vimeo Basic”.
YouTube
Free video sharing platform. (Less of a professional sheen or reputation than Vimeo, but widely used).
You can use the following software to start creating your own work to build your portfolio:
Recording, mixing and editing software
DaVinci Resolve
Operating system: Windows and macOS
Covers ingest, picture editing and the Fairlight digital audio workstation
Ocenaudio
Operating system: Windows and macOS
Audio editor useful for analysing audio files
Frinika
Operating system: Windows and macOS
Free digital audio workstation with MIDI sequencer and synthesizers
Audacity
Operating system: Windows and macOS
Audio recorder and editor, easy to use and useful for getting to grips with the basics of editing
When you write a CV or covering letter, put in the link to your website or showreel.
Include a link on your business cards or in the bio of any social media accounts that you use strictly for professional purposes. Also, include a link to your professional social media accounts from your portfolio page.
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