A showreel is the closest a casting director gets to seeing you work before you walk into the room. So when you are paying for one, you want to know exactly where the money goes and what you are getting. Prices in the UK range from almost nothing for a self shot edit to well over a thousand pounds for a full production, and it is hard to tell from a price list which one you actually need.
I film showreels in Liverpool and I am a working actor too, so I have been on both sides of this. Here is what a showreel should cost, what moves the price, and how to spend less without ending up with something casting skips.
The short version
- UK showreel prices vary hugely, from editing your existing clips to multi scene productions with crew.
- The script sets the price. Scene length, number of actors, locations and action all add filming and edit time.
- Simple, performance led scenes cost less and often work better on a reel.
- My showreel scenes are typically £150 to £300 and up, priced on length and complexity.
1. The three kinds of showreel service
| Service | What it is | Rough cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel edit | Your existing clips cut into a reel | Lowest | Actors with good footage already |
| Scene shoot | A new scene written or chosen for you, filmed and edited | Mid | Actors with few or no credits |
| Full production | Several scenes, crew, locations and extras | Highest | Specific casting gaps or a big career push |
If you have footage from real jobs, use it. Casting always values real credits. Filmed scenes are there to fill the gaps: the casting you are going for but have not had the chance to show yet. My guides to making a showreel with no credits and choosing showreel scenes go through how to decide.
2. What moves the price
Scene length
Casting wants short. A tight one to two minute scene is cheaper to shoot and better to watch.
Number of actors
A monologue is simplest. A two hander needs more coverage, more setups and a reader or scene partner.
Locations
One location keeps it quick. Moving across the city costs time.
Action and movement
Fights, chases and big physical scenes need more takes, more angles and sometimes more crew.
Sound
Clean dialogue is non negotiable. Busy outdoor locations take longer to record well.
Edit and grade
Every scene is cut, colour graded and mixed. More scenes means more edit time.
3. What should be included
Whoever you book, a showreel shoot should cover more than pressing record. Check for:
- Direction on the day. Someone who can help you pitch the performance for camera, not just frame it.
- Proper sound. A lav or boom and someone listening. Bad sound is the fastest way to be skipped.
- Location help. Choosing somewhere that suits the scene and sounds clean.
- Full edit, colour and sound mix. Not just a rough cut.
- Delivery ready to upload to Spotlight, IMDb and agent emails.
- Clear usage. The footage is yours to use for your career.
4. What showreels cost with me
My showreel scenes are typically £150 to £300 and up, priced on the length and complexity of what you want. Send me the scene or the idea and I will give you my best price for what the shoot and the edit will actually take.
| Scene type | Typical price | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| One simple scene | From £150 | A single character led scene or monologue, one location |
| Multi scene or action led | £300 and up | More scenes, more movement, more setups and a longer edit |
Every shoot includes filming on a location we choose together, direction throughout from a working actor, cinema quality camera, lighting and sound, a full edit with colour grade in DaVinci Resolve, and delivery in 4K, formatted for Spotlight, IMDb and agent submissions.
5. How to keep the cost down
Choose
Choose
Prepare
Prepare
Plan
6. How long a reel should be
Short. Casting directors often decide in the first few seconds whether to keep watching, so put your strongest work first and cut everything that does not show something new. My guide on how long a showreel should be breaks it down by career stage, and what casting directors want from a showreel covers what to lead with.
7. Is a cheap showreel worth it?
Sometimes. If the camera work is steady, the sound is clean and the scene suits you, a low cost reel can do the job. Where cheap reels fall down is sound, lighting that flattens your face and scenes that do not match your casting. A bad reel can do more harm than no reel, because it tells casting something you did not intend.
Compare what you walk away with rather than the headline price: a finished, graded, well recorded scene you are proud to send beats three rushed ones.
8. Red flags in a showreel quote
Walk away if you see
Price
- A per minute price with no mention of sound
- Edit, grade or music charged as surprise extras
- A deposit with no clear delivery date
Process
- No one directing, just filming
- No location scout or sound check
- Your scene rewritten into something that is not your casting
Delivery
- Low resolution files or heavy watermarks
- Footage you are not allowed to use freely
- No versions sized for Spotlight or agents
9. What a shoot day looks like
Most people are surprised how calm a well planned showreel shoot is. For a single scene it usually runs like this:
- Arrive and walk the scene. We run it once for blocking and I listen for sound problems.
- The wide. The whole scene played through so the edit has a spine.
- Your coverage. Mids and close ups on you, because it is your reel. This is where most of the time goes.
- Partner coverage. Enough of your scene partner to cut the scene naturally, no more.
- Pick ups. Inserts, reactions and any line we want another pass at.
Then it goes into the edit: cut, graded, mixed and back to you ready to upload.
Questions people ask
How much does a showreel cost in the UK?
Prices vary widely. Editing your existing clips is cheapest, a filmed scene sits in the middle and full productions with crew and several scenes cost the most. My filmed scenes are typically £150 to £300 and up.
How much is a showreel in Liverpool with you?
A simple single scene starts from £150. Multi scene or action led shoots are £300 and up, priced on length and complexity.
What is included in a showreel shoot?
Location chosen together, direction from a working actor, camera, lighting and sound, a full edit and colour grade, and 4K delivery formatted for Spotlight, IMDb and agents.
Do I need a showreel if I have no credits?
A short filmed scene helps casting see you work. Keep it simple and close to your casting.
How long does a showreel scene take to film?
It depends on the scene, but a simple one to two minute scene can usually be filmed well within a few hours.
Can you write a scene for me?
We can choose or shape a scene together that suits your casting, or you can bring one you already have.
How long should my showreel be?
Short. Lead with your best work and cut anything that does not show something new. Casting often decides in the first few seconds.
More guides for actors: How long should a showreel be · Showreel scenes when you have no footage · How to make a showreel with no credits · What casting directors want
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Showreel scenes from £150, directed by a working actor
Filmed, graded and delivered in 4K, ready for Spotlight, IMDb and your agent.