WHY CHOOSE DANIEL HARDING SHOWREELS?

To end this series of ten articles, I thought it was about time I tried to promote myself and convince you that Daniel Harding Showreels is the right showreel company for you

Bespoke

I've spent a lot of time honing the craft of producing a showreel from scratch, and whilst there is still (a little) room for improvement, my attention to detail and commitment to showreels in general is hopefully plain to see - notably, from my website, examples I post and this blog series. Having said that, the main thing I offer beyond what some of the other showreel companies out there do, is that everything is 100% bespoke. So, no duplicate or cookie-cutter scenes, and no basket scripts. I write specifically to my client's wants and needs, and I take into consideration their casting type and ability - I want scenes we can both be proud of. If there is something my client doesn't like, then it can be changed easily. Because I write, film and edit the scenes myself, I can make amendments without the need of a second person, waiting for their approval or time in their schedule. This obviously means a lot more work for me, but I am committed to each and every project - I even travel to locations at no expense to my clients (assuming they live in the South East and London - otherwise I do require a bit of petrol money, sorry!), which goes a long way to making sure the scenes are not duplicated or the like someone else's - what would be the point for you? Because it's not going to help you stand out. Some companies also advertise that filming will take place at one of their locations - personally, I think this a big no-no. It's lazy on the filmmakers part, because it's less work for them, and likely more expense to you. They know the location and they know how they're going to film it, and will likely just repeat what they've done previously. I think locations should only be used once. You want to put the filmmaker in a position where they have to think and do something new. You'll hopefully get a better scene out of it, and at the very least, it'll be your scene which is not shared with 3/4 other people.

Me

Modest, much? Well, it's an important point and one I considered leaving out. But honestly, when you're paying for your own 'showreel from scratch' what you're really paying for is the filmmaker. My advice is to watch my stuff (both other showreels and the films I make) - here is my other website https://www.23halfFilms.com, I recommend checking out Dinner With Mum. You're spending money, so you need to make an informed decision and make sure I am a bonafide filmmaker. If I can lay down my case further, from what people tell me, I know that I am professional and hard-working. I am also committed, friendly and reassuring - qualities I imagine are only a good thing, right? But personally, I know how much research and work I put into everything I do. I am constantly working on the Daniel Harding Showreels website, making sure it's informative, streamlined and clear (I am actually do that exact thing right now!). It's taken years to get it to a point where I am relatively happy with it, all in the hope that it makes the clients experience that much easier. I regularly ask clients to leave a testimonial for me, so be sure to check out that page, as well as the scene and scripts examples I post. I pay particular attention to the clients needs, which I take pride in - I personally think it's my best quality when it comes to filming showreels. I adapt to every client, and know that different people will need different things. It's my job to be open to their ambitions, and I work hard to achieve it. I don't want to treat two clients the same, whilst also being set on producing quality work. I don't like to cut corners, and I'm not lazy. I work 7-days a week because I love what I do. I am always available by email, and I'll never intentionally ignore you. I want to produce great scenes for my clients, but I also want to be nice to work with.

Quick turnaround

"I pride myself on a quick turnaround without compromising on quality", is a phrase I love to use and the mantra I hope my company lives by. When you're paying for a showreel you don't want to wait weeks or even months for the footage to eventually arrive. What's the point? You might as well spend your time trying to get cast in something! But at the same time, you don't want it to be rushed and bashed out without much care. Personally, I feel I can do both. I work quick, but I am also a perfectionist. You can be rest assured that I won't export a scene that I am not 100% totally happy with. I've worked into the night countless times, dedicated to the scene I am editing. I suggest to my clients that the edited scenes will be finished a few days after a filming, but between you and me, I always try and succeed that expectation by getting it finished the next day. If I don't, then it's probably because I am already booked on another job, or perhaps it's my birthday (I do give myself that day off - the 16th of May if anyone wants to send me an e-card). But it's part of the service I've worked hard on trying to get the balance right for. You want it quick, but you want it the best it can be as well, and I can honestly say that I feel like I offer both.

Attention to detail

If you haven't gone through the process of booking with me (yet) you might not know that I love attention to detail. As I said previously, I've spent a lot of time making sure this website is the best it can be. It's involved a lot of trial and error, but I've slowly come to a system I feel works for me. All the information I get from a client goes into a little spread sheet that I try and keep updated, and so I'm not at a loss for what is going on. I know how many scenes each client wants, where they live, whether they need scene partners, their age-range etc. I love details, it's where we become individual people, right? Life is in the details. I don't treat any two clients the same, and whilst this creates more work for me, I know that it's important to pay attention to the details otherwise the work suffers. I sometimes worry that my process can be a little overwhelming to some people and I know we're all different, so if you're thinking of booking with me but there is something about the way I do things, please let me know and I can adapt my method to suit you - I am here to serve, after all.

Price

I've just spent a tonne of money on new equipment, but have kept my prices the same. Why? Because I am happy and content with the prices I charge. I know that actors aren't exactly the most frivolous bunch, and so I don't want to take advantage and stop them from having a warm home this winter. My prices are honest representations of the work that it takes to produce a scene / showreel. Obviously, there are cheaper companies out there and there are more expensive ones. Personally, I am suspicious of the cheaper ones, and roll my eyes at the more expensive - that's how I know my prices are right for me. They sit nicely in the middle. I could probably charge more, but I don't want to. I don't want to price myself out of someone's budget who might need a showreel. Recently, I've opened up the possibility of my clients sharing the cost of a showreel with another actor (but before you do this, there are a lot of things to consider), which shows that I am willing to help an actor out if they're struggling to afford a showreel. When considering your own showreel from scratch, you need to think about how long it's going to take you to see a return on that investment - after all, getting jobs is what this is all about, right? If for whatever reason you're put off by prices (too cheap, or too expensive - I've had both), then all I can say is you get what you pay for - look at my examples. It's the quality of work I produce, and I know how much work it takes to get that level of work.

Lastly, say hello!

If you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them to the best of my ability. On my website there is a FAQs page which is a pretty comprehensive and complete rundown of questions people typically ask me - so maybe check that out first. Otherwise I am available by email 24/7 danielhardingshowreels@gmail.com (but I may need sleep at some point, sorry!), so come say hello and let's get the ball rolling on your new showreel!

Thank you for reading 'Why Choose Daniel Harding Showreels?'

I've been making films for over ten years now, so my thoughts and opinions have formed from that practical experience. Therefore my biggest piece of advice is to go out there and try it for yourself - it's the best way to learn. If you agree or disagree with any of my points, I'd love to hear from you. Tweet @DHshowreels with your suggestions!

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