Building Your Showreel

In This Section, You Will Learn:

• • What a showreel is and why you need one
• • Showreel structure and pacing
• • What to include and what to skip
• • Music selection and timing
• • Editing your showreel
• • Render settings for quality

What is a Showreel?

• A showreel is a 30-90 second video showcasing your best work.
• Why You Need One:
• • Clients watch before hiring
• • Shows your style and range
• • First impression is everything
• • Better than listing individual projects
• Showreel vs Portfolio:
• • Showreel: Quick overview of ALL your best work
• • Portfolio: Individual projects with context
• • You need BOTH
• Where to Use Your Showreel:
• • Behance cover
• • Upwork profile video
• • LinkedIn featured section
• • Personal website homepage

Showreel Structure

• The ideal structure for a motion graphics showreel:
• 1. Opening (0-3 seconds):
• • Your BEST, most impressive work
• • Hook the viewer immediately
• • Make them want to see more
• 2. Body (3-50 seconds):
• • Show variety (logos, text, effects)
• • Quick cuts (1-3 seconds each)
• • Build rhythm with the music
• 3. Closing (last 10 seconds):
• • Second-best work (memorable ending)
• • Clear credits: Your Name, Email, Website
• • Call to action: 'Available for freelance work'
• Golden Rules:
• • Put best work at start AND end
• • Middle can be less impressive
• • 60 seconds is ideal length

What to Include (and Skip)

• INCLUDE:
• • Logo animations
• • Text/kinetic typography
• • UI/UX animations
• • Social media ads
• • Explainer video clips
• • Your best original work
• SKIP:
• • Practice projects (unless amazing)
• • Tutorial recreations
• • Work you're not proud of
• • Long scenes (keep clips short)
• How Many Pieces?
• • Quality > Quantity
• • 5-10 strong pieces is better than 20 mediocre ones
• • It's okay to start with fewer and add more
• Update regularly as you create better work.

Music Selection

• Music makes or breaks your showreel.
• Where to Get Royalty-Free Music:
• • Artlist.io: Great quality, subscription
• • Epidemic Sound: Huge library, subscription
• • YouTube Audio Library: Free, decent quality
• • Mixkit: Free, good selection
• Choosing the Right Track:
• • Match the energy of your work
• • Consider your target clients
• • Avoid lyrics (distracting)
• • Choose tracks with clear beats for cutting
• Editing to Music:
• • Cut on the beat
• • Match energy (fast music = fast cuts)
• • Create rhythm and flow
• Music choice shows your taste. Choose wisely.

Editing and Exporting

• Editing Tips:
• • Use Premiere Pro or After Effects for editing
• • Keep clips SHORT (1-3 seconds)
• • Create visual variety (don't repeat styles)
• • Add simple transitions (cuts work best)
• Export Settings:
• • Resolution: 1920×1080 minimum
• • Frame Rate: 30fps (or match your animations)
• • Codec: H.264 for web, ProRes for quality
• • Bitrate: 15-20 Mbps for crisp quality
• File Sizes:
• • Vimeo/YouTube: High quality, larger file okay
• • Twitter/LinkedIn: Under 512MB
• • Website: Optimize for loading speed
• Always watch your export before sharing. Check for glitches.