In the Australian market, the golden rule for showreel length is 1 to 3 minutes.
The 90-Second Sweet Spot
Ideally, aim for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. This is enough time to show 2-3 distinct, contrasting scenes without overstaying your welcome. Remember, a casting agent will often know if they want to call you in within the first 10 seconds.
What to Cut
- Montages: Lose the intro montage. It wastes valuable seconds.
- Context: You don't need to show the entire scene for context. Start right at the emotional beat.
- Other Actors: Cut around the other actor as much as possible. This is your reel, not theirs.