How Long Should an Actor Demo Reel Be?
- Jason Gullifer
- 19 hours ago
- 1 min read
One of the most common questions actors ask is: How long should my demo reel be?
The answer is simpler than most people think.
Ideal Demo Reel Length for Actors
For most actors, the ideal demo reel length is 60 to 90 seconds.
Casting directors are busy. Agents are busy. Managers are busy. Your reel needs to showcase your strongest moments quickly and efficiently.
If your best material is compelling, it doesn’t need to be long.
Why Shorter Reels Perform Better
Short reels demonstrate confidence.
They show that you understand:
pacing
editing
performance selection
industry expectations
A tight, well-edited reel keeps attention. A long reel risks losing it.
What Casting Directors Actually Watch
In many cases, casting professionals decide within the first 15–30 seconds whether to keep watching.
That means your strongest moment should appear early.
Avoid:
long intros
music montages
slow build-ups
filler dialogue
Lead with your best performance.
When Longer Reels Make Sense
There are exceptions.
If you are:
An established actor with multiple strong clips
Submitting for very specific roles
Creating genre-specific versions
You may have multiple targeted reels rather than one long reel.
For example:
Final Recommendation
A strong actor demo reel should:
Be 60–90 seconds
Start with your best scene
Showcase clear character range
Look cinematic and professionally edited
If you’re unsure whether your current reel hits these marks, we’re happy to discuss strategy.
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