Your demo reel is your business card in the film industry. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and make a lasting impression on potential clients. But where you choose to host your reel can make all the difference. You need to consider factors like security, cost, accessibility, quality, and user experience. Let’s break it down.
First up, security. It’s not just about keeping your reel private, but also protecting any proprietary footage you might be using. Look for a service that offers password protection, and make sure to change the password after sharing the reel with a prospective client. You don’t want your footage ending up somewhere it shouldn’t be.
Next, accessibility. Your reel should be easy for clients to access, without any unnecessary hoops to jump through. And there should never be an advertisement before they can watch it. The only thing selling you should be the footage itself.
And of course, quality. Make sure the host site doesn’t compress your footage too much, and that it loads in high-quality HD. You don’t want clients thinking your work looks worse than it actually does.
Now, let’s talk about specific hosting options. Vimeo is a great choice, with a basic version that’s free and offers password protection, high-quality playback, and no ads. Google Drive is another good option for sharing with specific clients, but it can’t be embedded on social media. YouTube is best for reaching large audiences, but not for dealing directly with clients. Dropbox is a bit clunky and requires clients to download your file. And Wistia is great for embedding on your own website or another site, but not for sharing a link.
So there you have it. Choose your hosting service wisely, and don’t forget to add some music to take your reel to the next level. And if you need more tips on pre- and post-production, check out our other articles.
Other Articles
Key Takeaways from an Executive Producer for Achieving Success
Dos and Don’ts for Remote Project Directing
