What is a...(theater&acting)?

Question

Scene request and what is a demo reel?

The talent agencies in vancouver need either one of them

can someone explain in FULL DETAIL what they are.

these are the requirments for the scene requests:

Scene Requests can be added with your submission package.

We accept your scenes in the form of DVD or LINK.

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Please prepare two contrasting scenes from film and television scripts

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Scenes should be no longer than 2 minutes each

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Characters you choose should be within your age range

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Begin with a full body slate

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Shoot the scenes head and shoulders

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No monologues

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Reader off camera

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Make sure that we can hear you clearly

Answer 1

Simple and requires no detail. A scene request is simply a monologue recorded as indicated on DVD or LINK.  A demo reel is a similarly recorded sequence of some acting you have done in film or commercials.

Answer 2

A demo reel is a compilation of actual footage from some of your previous film/video acting work.  Typically you would choose short scenes/excerpts from scenes which feature you as a main character.  If you have previous on screen experience, hire a professional who is experienced at producing demo reels to edit one for you.

If you do not have previous screen acting experience, this talent agency is saying you can shoot your own demo scenes and submit those in lieu of a professional demo reel.  (As with the demo reel, however, do get people who know what they are doing to film and edit it for you.)

For the "scene request" you do not need production lighting or a set.  Shoot the scenes on a bare stage with lighting that makes you look good.  You will be the only person who appears on screen in this type of submission -- and you won't be moving around as the scenes are to be shot as MCUs (medium close-ups) only.

You deliver your lines to the camera and your "reader" stands outside of the shot and reads the lines of the other character in the scene.  As with your production crew, it is important that you work with a reader who can do the job well.  Your reader is not auditioning or creating a character -- you are.  Therefore, you do not want a reader who will overact and upstage you in your own demo.  Neither do you want someone who will stumble over the words.  Your reader should do just that, "read" the other character's lines, clearly and articulately.

Make sure you adhere to ALL of the specifications the talent agency has detailed for scene requests:

i.) submit 2 scenes.  not one long one or three or four shorter ones.

ii.) submit contrasting scenes.  perhaps one comic and one tragic one, or one playing an action hero, the other an intellectual.  anything that shows you have range as an actor.

iii.) use scenes from film and/or television scripts.  not from a stage play, or a novel, or something you wrote yourself.

iv.) maximum length of each scene is two minutes.  don't go over!

v.) play characters who are your own age or close to it.  you need to be able to convincingly act and look the part (without "age" makeup).

vi.) a "slate" is the intro footage at the beginning of any piece of film or video which tells the person about to view the footage what is to come.  in this case, they want a shot of you, standing up, head to toe.  you probably want to state your name during the slate (unless the agency included a request which you haven't copied here not to do so) but do not move the camera around or include music or other glitz.  just the facts.  short and simple.

vii.) scenes are shot with your head and shoulders taking up the whole of the frame (as in the example here: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/... )

viii.) do not use a monologue.  i.e.: you may NOT be the only speaker.  you deliver the lines of one character in a dialogue while the other character's lines are read off camera by your reader.

ix.) make sure that the audio on your submission is clear -- not too quiet or masked by background noise

Answer 3

you can prepare and record these yourself, it seems they're telling you.

So you do two scenes. contrastibg scenes that show different sides of yourself, one happy, one angry. or some other contrast to show you are not a one note pony good at crying but can't laugh.

Short scenes, character your age, idk what a full body slate is, my guess is a full body shot, then in the dialougue you have the camera fixed shooting your face head and shoulders you right in front of it. That's why they want a full body shot 1st.

No monolougue, there must be two readers a dialougue between two people. You in front of camera head and shoulders and the other reader off camera. Speak clearly and make sure the audio picks up well without background noise or too distant and faint on the video. Digital video of course.

Watch it and listen to it and record more than a few to send in the best one. good luck, I'm not sure if they want you face in the camera or focused on the other reader off camera. Try both and see what they look like, also find other examples of peoples video online.

here are some professional examples. the agency knows you are a newbie, they may have uses for you though so don't be afraid to send them what you can make.

http://www.actingonset.com/

Answer 4

A demo reel is like your portfolio.  You can't make one until you have some experience.  Once  you have had some parts in film and tv (even student or independent films) you can take clips of each and make sort of a short dvd montage highlighting and showcasing your work.  If you are a beginner in the field you can't make a reel.  It takes several projects, usually a couple years AT LEAST to generate enough experience to make a reel.

I would have to see all this information in context, but it looks like what they are doing is offering you an alternative to the reel.  (I can't tell from what you provided if its in addition to or rather than the demo.)  Basically you will need to prepare the scenes and film them, and then send them the DVD.  Make sure you follow every instruction they gave you (listed above) exactly.