Pro Editor Reveals How To Build A $100K Showreel

When I was early in my editing career, I thought a great showreel meant throwing all my best work onto a portfolio website and hoping clients would find it. They didn’t. Once I fixed my approach, my income completely changed—I started hitting six figures consistently and eventually made over $1M from editing before 30. In this video, I break down the steps I used to build a $100K showreel that actually lands high-end jobs.

The biggest mistake I see editors make is starting with a portfolio instead of a person. A portfolio site full of random work is like a billboard in the desert. Instead, I start by identifying who I want to work with—a specific producer or decision-maker at a specific agency—and reverse-engineer my reel around their needs.

Once I know the person, I build a custom showreel just for them. That means only showing work that matches their style and industry. If I’m targeting an agency that specializes in comedic public service announcements, I’m not showing corporate videos, documentaries, or unrelated ads. I narrow it down aggressively until I’m showing just 4–5 pieces that feel like they were made for that client.

Then comes the reality check: if someone clicks your reel, they’ll probably only watch 15 seconds or less. That’s why I always start with my strongest piece. I test my clips with friends, family, and colleagues, rank them, and cut anything that doesn’t hit. Sometimes a recognizable face or celebrity can be the perfect hook—even if it slightly breaks the “rules.”

Finally, I make it insanely easy to watch. One clean link. No scavenger hunt. No portfolio browsing. I use a single page where my clips play in order, back to back.

The steps in short:

• Start with a person, not a portfolio

• Build a highly targeted, custom showreel

• Lead with your strongest work

• Send one simple, clean link

If you nail these, your showreel stops being a passive asset and starts becoming a serious income driver.