Demo reel or not?

3DRyan

So this is a follow up to what someone said in another thread I started. I'm an environment artist and I'm curious about one thing.

Demo reel or not?

Is is something studios look for? Or is a high res gallery enough? Someone said they're only useful for animators.

sound off.

Ben Apuna

Well maybe if you've got some awesome particle systems integrated into your environment or some animated objects in your scene then a demo reel might be a good idea.

Even so, a high res gallery (no flash) is probably a better way to go about showcasing your work to those that are hiring.

If you make the demo reel anyway be sure to make the gallery your highest priority.

I think malcolm's portfolio is a pretty awesome example of how to show off environments via a gallery, do something like that.

Elyaradine

If two of polycount's most respected say high res screens are better, it's probably not necessary to create a new thread for a third, fourth or fifth opinion. :P

Frump

Demo reels are annoying as a viewer and the person responsible for making them. They are not easily updated, often loud and obnoxious, badly compressed and as a viewer you lack control over seeing the work.

Take a look at a bunch of portfolios of people on the forums. Off of the top of my head I can't even think of one that has a reel. Pretty good indication there.:)

3DRyan

And...... I'm sold! Thanks everyone, just wanted to be absolutely sure. It's a big decision whether or not to do it, so I wanted to be sure.

Kudos!