FAQ

For various reasons we won’t film a scene from an already existing play/TV show/film. We advise you against doing so anyway, who wants a casting director picturing another great actor and comparing you, probably unfavourably? You want your showreel to show you shining and your biggest asset in this industry is what makes you, you. Also, you know, copyright…!

That’s great. If there’s something you or a friend has written (and you have full permission to use) and you think it suits you to a tee, then we’re more than happy to work with that. Unfortunately there is no discount for this.

We ask that you find your own scene partners. This helps to make the service more affordable; you’re in a position to ask favours from your friends; ours might get a bit irked if we kept asking and not paying them. If you’re in a bind then let us know as we can dip into our pool, but we will have to offer a fair wage, and this cost will be passed onto you.

We ask that you find locations for much the same reasons as we ask you find your own scene partners. It helps keep the cost down if you can tap into favours, or even use your own home. It also helps to make your showreel look like something from a real project. Imagine if we did ten different scenes in our living room … We’d rather Casting directors were focusing on your acting than on where they’d seen that lampshade before!

We’re afraid not. We write, film and edit for you and this means making certain choices that tilt the scene’s focus onto you. It just doesn’t work as well balancing it as there is less room for your reactions and non verbal communication — often where you show off your best acting. Casting directors want to see that you can be comfortable just being your character on camera, even when you’re not busy with the act of speaking. If there’s someone you really want to work with, then let us know and we’ll try and write a script that will suit their casting. But the product and the service will be tailored to you. Of course, they can have the footage and use it for their own showreel if there’s work they like.

This answer has three parts:

1. From booking to filming
   We recommend at least 3 weeks between booking and the shoot dates, this allows for the consultation, writing the scripts and making amendments once you’ve seen them, location and actor hunting, your actor’s process (line-learning, character work etc.)
2. Filming
   Each scene takes roughly 3 hours, this includes rehearsals and the shoot. Usually for a Three Scene Package we will spread the filming out across two days. This means there can be ample time to rest, refresh and refocus between scenes.
3. Receiving the finished product
   We'll deliver you an edit within one month of the filming, although in many cases it will be within three weeks. You will then have an opportunity to make notes before we provide you with the final edit.

You are responsible for your own make-up. In most cases we advise you keep it fresh and natural, you want to look your best, but equally you need to look as you will when you walk into a room for an audition. Bear in mind that aesthetics in British film and TV are quite different to Hollywood, so you may actually do yourself a disservice if you come across too glamour in your showreel and headshots.

Payment is by bank transfer. Once we have provisionally booked your filming dates we will send you an invoice. A deposit of 50% is payable upfront to secure your booking. The balance will be due before we release the edit to you. You are, of course, welcome to pay earlier.