Demo Reel WIP. Feedback Please

Popeye9

I am working on a demo reel to try and get a job as an environment artist. I have put something together and would like some feedback if I am on the right track. I have not put any music to this as it is a WIP and will be changing some things like titles.

Here is the link it is only 10.3 mb in size and quicktime format.

http://www.sethwolford.com/SethWolforddemo2008.mov

My website sux balls and that is the next thing I will be working on after hammering out the reel.

Zephir62

Way too long, and way too much time is put on each individual piece.

Slum

Unless you need to show something in motion, you really dont need a demo reel. It would be much easier to just look at a gallery with thumbnails.

From the looks of the work in your reel, I'd say you're probably not quite ready to look for a job. Without knowing you, it would appear you have only been doing 3d or any art for a very short few months. Most of your models are built with simple primitives and have very basic textures (especially for their resolution).

I would suggest you work on your skills quite a bit more. Make sure you post up your WIP stuff here in P&P, so you can learn and gather feedback on things you need to work on.

cholden

Agreed, WAY too long. The benefit of a demo reel is, if we want to look at something we pause it. I also don't feel much reason to have a demo reel if it's just a slideshow. Make some cool rotations, transitions, bring your work to life, but not so fast...

...the work (this is going to be harsh): almost all diffuse textures have noticeable tiling, all normals are quickly generated and are flat useless materials, almost all specs are colorless and quickly generated, again adding nothing but a little bit of shiny wetness here and there. To me, you're actively showing you do not understand how to use diffuse, normal or specular maps and are wasteful with UV layouts. Had you NOT shown your materials, I'd have thought you were a better artist. Presentation is a very big deal.

Popeye9

Thanks for the replies and I dont mind the harshnesss These comments definitely will help. I am on here reading everyday and trying to learn I know I should post more. I had in the past been told not to do any motion on my environment pieces so that was the reason for no spinning or motion. I will have to work on my website so that I can send people there to see enviro pieces. I have some work to do which is why I was posting. Again Thank you

Tulkamir

No motion on environment pieces? That's dumbassed. You're making a reel not a slide show.

Using some good camera movements can really help. I'd actually suggest that if you are doing these pieces specifically for a reel/portfolio plan out your camera movements and still shots now, get all your angles down, as well as your lighting. It can really help you to know which specific areas to concetrate on so that you have the most impressive final product.