Re: Starting work/portfolio

Adding to David & Dave's advice:

a) Don't bother. If they can't pay you, their company name would probably be meaningless on a reel. Just make up a graphic animation that looks good enough to pay for, and there's no need to include a company name. Look at the reels on motionographer and elsewhere -- not all of them show client names.

b) It should be made up of the best stuff you've got, whether it's all client, all self-directed, or a mix. If your client work sucks (or you don't have any), don't show it. Above all, the reel has to hold the viewer's interest. If it doesn't do that (too many clips from the same job, clips too long, dull clips), then you need a new reel. If you can't hold somebody's interest with your stuff, learn how ... or learn to accept a role as an operator, not a designer.