Bleeped swears in demo reel? at DVinfo.net

Nathan Quattrini · January 18th, 2011, 11:53 AM

I am preparing my first acting reel, and it seems I get cast as a foul mouthed low life a lot, thus many of my good shots have me swearing in them. My question is, do I bleep the swears? Leave them? Personally bleeping them takes away the feel of a scene, but at the same time I know people these days are offended so incredibly easily that to hear a swear may throw my reel in the trash on first utterance. Any ideas? Thanks!

Renny Hayes · January 18th, 2011, 12:42 PM

Beeping sounds intentionally cheezy. Why not just mute the word, or part of it?

Brian Drysdale · January 18th, 2011, 12:47 PM

I suspect having mostly those roles in your reel wouldn't really help get other roles anyway. They'll want to see you playing the banker or executive or father or whatever, so you'll need to have a balance in the roles you use in the reel. If you want to play the heavy it's fine.

Perhaps give them a warning title that you've played edgy roles and put them at the end of the reel. They should be looking at the performance anyway.

Auditions should also be part of the process.

Buba Kastorski · January 18th, 2011, 01:43 PM

I agree with Brian, don't bleep or mute anything, but give em a warning title at the begining of the reel, I don't think underage children will be watching it; anyways, if Hollywood goes unprintable, why can't you?

Bruce Foreman · January 19th, 2011, 04:59 PM

So that you don't wind up with nothing but "bad language" scenes in your demo reel, have someone shoot some stuff on you for this demo reel where you deliver lines and performance with "intensity" but no "questionable language".

Lines like, "Where do you get off..." and "Don't con me!".

Show that you can do other roles, too.

January 18th, 2011, 11:53 AM	#1
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	Bleeped swears in demo reel? I am preparing my first acting reel, and it seems I get cast as a foul mouthed low life a lot, thus many of my good shots have me swearing in them. My question is, do I bleep the swears? Leave them? Personally bleeping them takes away the feel of a scene, but at the same time I know people these days are offended so incredibly easily that to hear a swear may throw my reel in the trash on first utterance. Any ideas? Thanks! __________________ Cinematography Site

January 18th, 2011, 01:43 PM	#4
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	I agree with Brian, don't bleep or mute anything, but give em a warning title at the begining of the reel, I don't think underage children will be watching it; anyways, if Hollywood goes unprintable, why can't you? __________________ I love this place!

January 18th, 2011, 12:42 PM	#2
Renny Hayes Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 26	Beeping sounds intentionally cheezy. Why not just mute the word, or part of it?

January 18th, 2011, 12:47 PM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	I suspect having mostly those roles in your reel wouldn't really help get other roles anyway. They'll want to see you playing the banker or executive or father or whatever, so you'll need to have a balance in the roles you use in the reel. If you want to play the heavy it's fine. Perhaps give them a warning title that you've played edgy roles and put them at the end of the reel. They should be looking at the performance anyway. Auditions should also be part of the process.

January 19th, 2011, 04:59 PM	#5
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	So that you don't wind up with nothing but "bad language" scenes in your demo reel, have someone shoot some stuff on you for this demo reel where you deliver lines and performance with "intensity" but no "questionable language". Lines like, "Where do you get off..." and "Don't con me!". Show that you can do other roles, too.