Putting Your Acting Reel on YouTube.

To be taken seriously as an actor, people need to see your work. This is true when looking for representation and also looking for your next job. One of the most cost effective ways to get yourself out there is to put a reel of your work on YouTube. Here is a step by step guide on how to use editing software and simple programs already installed on your computer to get yourself viewed by potentially the whole world.

Step 1: Your Work

The easiest way to extract your work is if you happen to have a DVD of it. You would simply need to download program called a 'ripper' that will remove your content from the disc itself and change the format of the video to something you can edit. Make sure that you choose a specific scene where your work is most strongly presented. Take note of the time. Usually it is hh:mm:ss for hours, minutes and seconds. Sync up the ripper to capture this specific time frame.

If you do not have a DVD copy of your work or have work that has been done on television, you can opt to download a copy of the episode from the internet in the form of a torrent. A torrent is a file that is produced by downloading snippets of a specific file, such as a TV show, that are then reconstituted on your computer to give you the finished product. Please note that this method is highly illegal as it is a violation of copyrights and can carry hefty fines or jail time if you disseminate the completed torrent. So be warned.

Step 2: Edit Your Work

After you have the raw video of your work, you need to add a little pizzazz to it so it is not just one giant collection of scenes. On PCs, Microsoft includes a program entitled, simply enough, Microsoft Movie Maker. What you should do next is import your movie file into this program. After it has been imported, you should add it to the story board. However, this is where most people make their mistakes in presentation. Most people simply write the name of the project and their character on the title slide. This is wrong. What one should do is give the name of the project, the director, any other actors in the scene with their character names, then finally, your name and character. Most people will be able to recognize the fact it is your reel. However, if you place other peoples' names along with yours, it gives them exposure and also shows that you are not a narcissist. Imagine if every piece of work you have ever done has been cited by everyone you have ever worked with. Your name would be seen by a lot more people than by your efforts alone. Other than that, it is just good karma. Only after you have a few scenes with this format of title pages, should you move foreword.

Step 3: Making a YouTube Account and Uploading

The good news is that this service is free. Simply create a username and a password. Make sure the username is something appropriate. PrettyPinkPrincess1 will not be taken seriously. Your first initial and last name should suffice. Since YouTube has recently been bought by Google, your Google Accounts username and password will already get you an account with YouTube. As far as uploading your reel, it should not be too difficult if you have a good internet connection. After your project is done uploading, write a blurb about the scene and/or the experiences you had while filming, all the while keeping them appropriate. Make sure that if you have a website, insert a link to it in this format: yourwebsite.com. Also in the blurb, the more name dropping of other people who contributed to the film the better. Make sure to use keywords that include your name, the projects name, any other actors' names, director, location, school, production company, etc. This will help drive traffic to it.

If done correctly, you have successfully uploaded your acting reel to YouTube. While one reel doth not success make, it is a good start. If you can do it once, you can do it many times. Also be sure to write on your real world resume, 'Reel Available on YouTube.'

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