PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP ADVICE

Look online for examples of Demo Reels and Websites in the area of animation that you are interested in.

Website reasource:

Very easy website set up.

- Log onto google

- Select a templet and start editing

Demo Reels and Portfolios

Make a demo reel. It does not have to be complicated. In fact it is better if it is not complicated. You are trying to highlight your work not the demo reel it self.

Resources

Tons of places to be able to edit your portfolio together and it only takes a couple hours. We have the VSL Aftereffects available. You can also use online editing like youtube now if you had to. I would make the title cards in something like photoshop and save as single images to bring into the editor. Easier to keep consistent and not dependent on the editing software. Also setting up titles can take a little longer to figure out inside the editing software.

What to include

- Put your most relevant work first. For an internship reel it is ok to include exercises and test.

- You can include artwork like photos of sculpture and paintings if they are really good. Just put them at the end of the demo reel.

- Show only your best work. Everyone has done bad work. If you include bad work you are letting people know you can not tell what is good or bad.

- You do not have to include the entire exercise/shot/test/ There might be part of the test that is really working and part that has a problem. Just show the part that works. So you do not have to through out the entire test.

Show the process. Examples

Modeling: For CG models show the beauty pass then the flow line pass. Show the concept work you based the model on

Compositing, Roto, VFX: Show the progression. Show the shot then show the plate and how you built up the shot.

Concept work: It is ok to show thumb nails and explorations with the final painting/drawing. Show your reference too so they can see how you work.

Format

- Start with a title card, your name, type of demo reel (can even just say "2013 Demo Reel") AND a way to contact you (cell or email or both)

- black and white titles with a simple font are fine, you are highlighting your work not the titles

- group into sections with a title card of the project and type of work at the beginning of each section

- best most relevant work first

- Make sure you label everything. What the project is and what you did.

- Drawings and still images, you can show still images in a slide show, use a title card at the beginning of the section

- Show highlights of your work. Do not include an entire animation or short in the body of the demo reel. You can add the entire animatic/short after the demo reel so they can watch it if they want to, but do not include it in the body of your demo reel.

- End with the title card with your name and contact info

Flat Portfolios for Storyboard/Concept Development

Still good to have a physical "flat" portfolio for storyboards, concept development to bring with you to an interview but most companies want to see your work online.