I Wish I Knew This Before I Made My First Editing Showreel

If you’ve ever spent weeks perfecting your editing showreel only to have it land with a thud—no callbacks, no gigs—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. When I first started, I thought the secret was to show everything I could do. But after years (and plenty of trial and error), I learned six lessons that completely changed how I build my reels—and how often they land me work.

Here’s a quick rundown of what I wish I’d known from the start:

• Lesson 1: Make your reel for the viewer.
  Your showreel isn’t about showing off everything you can do—it’s about showing exactly what the client wants to see. Once I stopped making reels for myself and started tailoring them for my audience, everything changed.

• Lesson 2: Pick a niche and double down.
  Don’t try to impress everyone. Focus on what you’re best at, what you love doing, and what pays well. That overlap is your niche—and each niche deserves its own focused reel.

• Lesson 3: Send unique reels to specific people.
  The scattershot approach (spamming links to anyone who might hire you) rarely works. Instead, research a potential client, curate a reel that fits their style, and send a thoughtful, personal note. That’s how you get noticed.

• Lesson 4: Polish your brand.
  Presentation shapes perception. A sloppy website, outdated email address, or clunky reel layout can make great work look amateur. Keep your materials clean, modern, and easy to navigate.

• Lesson 5: Show emotional storytelling.
  Fast montages with flashy cuts might look cool, but they don’t prove you can tell a story. Include scenes that show emotion, pacing, and rhythm—editors are storytellers first.

• Lesson 6: Create the right projects for your reel.
  If your reel doesn’t yet reflect the kind of work you want, go make that work. Team up with filmmakers or creatives on projects that push you toward your dream gigs, even if it means volunteering at first.

Once I started applying these lessons, I stopped chasing jobs and started attracting them. If you want your showreel to open doors, start building it with your ideal client in mind—every frame, every time.