It’s been a very busy summer of creating showreel scenes for actors. It’s only now – when stranded in Chicago (which I’ll get to) – that I’ve been able to look back at what an interesting and inspiring few months its been. I’ve been lucky to be trusted by actors for many years to help them take their next step in the industry, and this summer I am feeling as inspired as ever.
Okay, so, the Chicago part. It was meant to be a one hour connection between flights, but of course, there were delays. So I missed the next flight and there isn’t another one until tomorrow. So I find myself at a Best Western Hotel, two miles from O’Hare International. I’m sitting in a hotel room – having a bit of down time that was never meant to happen. It’s like an unexpected gift, a morning given back to me. Which lead me to think about the work I’ve been doing.
The clients I’ve been privileged to attract have been getting better and better. In part (excuse the ego!), I think it’s because I have been doing good work for a long time and I now attract strong clients. But I think there’s another side to it, that screen acting is being taken more seriously in this country. For years, it felt like drama schools saw screen training as an afterthought. Showreels were not even a consideration.
But this latest crop of young actors are, for the most part, more confident being on camera. And even those who perhaps trained in musical theatre or even things like dance, they seem more willing to work on the craft of being a screen actor. Maybe it’s because the new generation is the TikTok generation, everyone is making content.
Whatever the reasons, it feels exciting to be doing meaningful work, helping actors take those next steps, be it finding an agent, first TV credits, or at the very least; just getting in the room more.
What I’ve been thinking about recently is the why of creating showreels. Why am I still doing it after all these years? And I wanted to make sure it was a bigger answer than just ‘to make a living’. Showreels have given me so much. Personally, they’ve enabled me to meet many of the best actors in the UK (and beyond!), who I’ve gone on to cast in my own projects and also to recommend to other filmmakers and casting directors.
Because I write every scene that I shoot, it has meant that I have kept learning. Kept finding new, unique ways to tell stories in a concise yet meaningful way. As I see my previous clients on TV screens, I feel happy to know I played a part in the journey. It’s not always possible to know precisely what role I played – many factors go into casting; the reel is just one part of it.
But I’m glad I’m a part of it. I’m enjoying this work more than ever.
Find out more about what I offer on my showreels page. You can use the form to contact me, or reach out to me via email.
