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DEMO REEL EDITING

for actors and other professionals.

The work is done on my system at home and I guarantee all work performed.

  $150 FLAT RATE  for a standard demo reel.

EMAIL  brian@brianjcavanaugh.com

NOTE:  Sometimes I'm busy working on other projects.  I can take on your demo reel, but a standard, attended session isn't always an available option.  But I can take your notes and sources, build it on my own time, send you small Quicktimes over email for approval, and do all the work as I have time.  This has worked out well for me with many clients.  It just takes a couple of days.  Please let me know if this is an option for you.

My philosophy on an Actor's demo reel is this:  Keep it simple.  Your demo should have an understated style, letting the work speak for itself.  The editing should not be the star of the demo, you should.  That’s why people are watching it.  You won’t get hired because you spent two weeks and a thousand dollars on your demo.

Some of the ads for demos get you in the door with a great looking price or fancy website, then you find out that you may not have the creative freedom you wanted (changes), or maybe you don't get an Editor to help you, or maybe the price goes up every hour you work.  That's how they pay for their nice offices.  Well, that's not how I work.

I've made Actor demo reels for a local management company for their clients.  This has allowed me to get this work down to a fast, yet very clean and elegant look and feel, for a good price.  Of course, if you're looking for the mother of all demo reels, then I can accommodate you there as well, just not at this quoted rate.

My rate is $150 - flat.  For this you get:

                                                    1.  Editor, AVID system, storage, and suite for ½ day.

                                                         2.  Broadcast resolution, titles, music, professional look.

                    3.  Master to DVD and Quicktime.

4.  FREE duplication!

Please see details below.

DETAILS ON DEMO REEL WORK

• Know how you want to build your demo before you arrive.  Try to previsualize it.  Normally, the demos I make begin with a title over black for your name (other text is up to you) with music underneath, then go into a series of scenes or clips, then end with your name over black with a headshot and music.  Usually, this takes up almost the entire time allotted.  Remember, the more things you want cut together, the more changes to the existing footage, and the more complex editing you want, the more time it will take.  Please plan ahead.

• To add your headshot in the video , please bring it on a CD-ROM or USB2 jump drive, or you can email it to me.  It should be a good high resolution image (bare minimum in the 800 range), in common files such as JPG, TIF, etc.  Or I can scan it for you (cannot be larger than 8.5x11in), but this will cut into your time in the editing room and I wouldn't recommend it unless you just didn't have any import-ready headshot files.   I would definitely recommend you having a professionally scanned version of your headshot in the first place, so you should do that ahead of time.

• Your clips should be cued up if on tape.  The best source is DVD.  Digitizing from VHS, though it can be done, rarely turns out great because VHS, especially if recorded from another VHS or from TV, is not a great source.  If you have sources on MiniDV or some other tape format, you must bring in a camera or player, with cables, so we can digitize that material.   If you want your VHS tapes digitized I must first bump them up to DVD.  I can do this for you, but it will take up your editing time.  I'd recommend taking all the VHS sources you want to keep for future use and dubbing them to DVD prfessionally.  I suggest Lightning Media in Hollywood and Burbank.

• If you have a number of clips, you should make a list before coming in so that no clip is missed.

• Bring a music CD with songs you would like to add to your demo, almost like a theme, to be used under your name title and headshot.  Please narrow the choices down to no more than 2 songs that you would like to try.  Try to bring the original CD instead of compiling them on a CD that you recorded on.  Not all recordable CDs, recording programs, drives, and software are compatible.

• One suggestion for your demo is do not try to make a "theme demo," one that runs super long, or has footage from movies you weren't even in, or try to "tell a story" or "make a statement" with the demo.  Just put down several good clips in a neat, understandable, and classy manner.  These make the best demos.  You can't go wrong with this method and you will always be happy with it.  The more flashy and "creative" your demo is, the more likely you are to change your mind on the whole thing a month later.

• Payment must be made in cash at the end of the session.  No master tapes/copies will be turned over without payment in full.  Masters and copies can be held for a short time until payment is received.

DETAILS REGARDING ITEMS LISTED ON THE FLYERS AND WEB ADS

• "Editor, Avid system, storage, and suite for 1/2 day."  One-half day is equal to 5 hours of total work.  This includes all digitizing, editing, titling, rendering, output to DVD, and copies.  Editing must be finished in time to reserve for audio level mixing and output to tape, which can take time.

• "Broadcast resolution, titles & effects, music, professional look."  This Avid system is equipped with 1:1 uncompressed resolution in Standard Definition. And I can incorporate the most desired and useful video effects, generate titles, and cut in music of your choice.  And the way I will build your demo will give it a professional look and feel.   The more complicated effects, though, take time to build.  This will work against your session time, and will not impress anyone.

• "Mastering to VHS, 3/4", DVD, or MiniDV."  I have a VHS deck but no one uses them anymore, and my 3/4" deck is gone.  If you want to master to MiniDV you must bring your own MiniDV camera and cables.  It is best if the camera has in/out jacks compatible with a standard TV or VHS recorder.  Audio level monitoring on the camera is a big plus.  Please let me know if you have questions.

• "FREE duplication!"  Output to tape/disk is free as part of the session.  I will provide you with DVDs for your copies and data .  Also, there is a limit as to how many outputs I can make under this agreement, given the render time.  Usually I make one copy, then 5 more in a duplicator machine.  I also offer Quicktime files. I offer a small, low res one for posting online, and a larger, high res version for archive and copying. These also take time to export, sometimes up to an hour.