Acting Reel Tips to Make Your Own Demo Reel

<p class="articletext">Having an acting reel is a really important part of marketing yourself as an actor, but it can be expensive. If you are familiar with software like iMovie or Movie Maker, you can try to create your acting reel yourself, especially if you only have a few scenes to work with. Below are seven editing tips that will help your homemade acting reel look more professional.<br />
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Acting Reel Tip #1 – Avoid DVDs <br />
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It's great to have DVD copies of films you acted in, but it makes editing your reel very difficult, because the video on DVDs needs to be reformatted before it can be edited. If you can, try to get copies of your film acting footage as video files you can easily work with. If you have a Mac computer, ask for Quicktime files. If you have a PC, ask for AVI files. The best way to get the files you need is to contact the editor of the movie you were in. If they are not on set when you shoot, get their name and number from the director or producer. Most of the time, they'll be able to burn CDs with the scenes you want in the format you ask for. If not, ask if you can get a copy of your scenes on a miniDV tape. If you have a consumer miniDV camera (or can borrow one), all you have to do is plug it into your computer and capture the footage you need. <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #2 – A little extra time now will save you a lot of time later <br />
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Beyond cost, one of the advantages of making your own acting reel is that you can edit it as often as you like. In order to make this process easy, stay organized when you first create your acting reel. Name all your original scenes carefully and keep a copy of the project you created your reel in, whether it's in iMovie, Movie Maker or another editing software. If you stay organized, you can update your reel in minutes. This way, when you see a role you want to audition for, you can include the perfect scene for it on your reel before sending it to the casting director. <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #3 – Keep it simple <br />
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Your acting reel doesn't need flashy titles and transitions. A simple fade in and fade out with your name and contact information on a black background works great. You can create that in minutes on iMovie by using the "centered title" template. Stating your name and contact information simply will keep the agent and casting director focused on what matters – watching your acting and writing down your contact information. The important thing is to make sure your slate stays on screen long enough for people to write it down (4-5 seconds if it only includes your name and number, longer if you have more information, like your acting agency's name or your webpage's address). And also make sure you put in the same information at the end of your acting reel. That's the time people are going to write it down… after seeing your best onscreen acting! <br />
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Which leads me to the next point… <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #4 – Keep the best for last <br />
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If you're wandering in what order to include your film scenes on your reel, here's my advice… Choose a really good scene to start off your demo reel (so busy casting directors keep watching) and pick your best scene to end the reel (so that casting directors pick up the phone to call you). Once you have your first and last scenes, filling the middle of your reel is easy. Line up your middle scenes with one goal in mind – for the viewer to keep watching. This means cutting out anything that feels too long or redundant. If you can, keep surprising the casting director by switching genres or character types. <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #5 – Make a short intro <br />
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Do you have good moments from the films you've been in that just aren't long enough to include in your acting reel? If you have good on screen moments you don't know what to do with (for example, a good close-up reaction shot or a silent bit in an action scene), you can edit them all together in a quick montage set to music right after you slate your name at the beginning of your reel. A quick montage (30 seconds max) can really set the tone for your reel. Setting it to music is easy with software like iMovie (the iLife sound effect library comes with "Jingles", short instrumental pieces perfect for an intro montage). <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #6 – Use your editing scissors <br />
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A typical acting demo reel is 3-5 minutes long, but having a great 2-minute reel is a much better idea than having a 5 minute average one. Don't feel like you have to include all the film acting you ever did on your reel. Only pick your best acting moments (and make sure you include close-ups so the viewer knows which actor he's looking at). Your acting reel is all about you. Ideally, it shouldn't feature a close-up of any other actor for more than a few seconds). If you have two good acting moments in a scene separated by lengthy dialogue by other characters, cut out the middle dialogue and drop a quick fade in/fade out between your two acting moments (you can do that in seconds on iMovie by using the "fade through black" transition). Remember… The acting agent or casting director watching your reel doesn't care about understanding the scene you're in, they just want to see you act. <br />
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Acting Reel Tip #7 – Make the most of your scenes <br />
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If you're starting your film acting career, the problem may not be cutting from your reel but adding to it. If you have very few film scenes to include on your reel, get creative! Consider adding footage from a student film or a commercial. If you had a very small role in a film with a recognizable actor or director, you can use a "lower third" title under the footage to mention the name of the actor or director. If you have no footage at all and really feel that you need a film reel, you may want to hire a young director to shoot a few scenes starring you. Film students will probably be willing to do it for free if you pay for the camera and sound package. We'll have more articles on "how to do it yourself" in upcoming newsletters. <br />
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Hope all these tips help you make a great first acting reel!</p>

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Alex Swenson has worked as an actor, writer and film editor for the past 15 years in New York and Los Angeles. She has created the website <a href="http://www.acting-school-stop.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acting School Stop</a> (<a href="http://www.acting-school-stop.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.acting-school-stop.com/</a>) to help young actors start an acting career. You can find out more about <a href="http://www.acting-school-stop.com/acting-reel.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">getting an acting reel here</a>.</p>

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INTERNET BANKING SERVICES IN BANKS-BOON TO CUSTOMERS | ArticlesBase.com

<p>The contemporary trends in Banking operations and services with the help of computers are quite cheering for customer. As we find information technology invading the banking sector, only banks, which used the right technology, could come out with success.  Banks are required to ‘restructure’, re-invent and reengineer themselves go meet the necessary performance improvement and get the competitive edge due to the introduction of information technology (Internet Baking) being an imperative one</p> <p><strong>Application of Information Technology</strong></p> <p><strong>Phone banking:</strong></p> <ol> <li>               Bank on phone, provides easy access for customers to have large businesses through   telephones. Data are exchanged   over the phone regarding any queries, to issue instructions on balance transfer, statement of account, cheque- book, stop payments, new schemes, interest rates etc. at any convenient time and place. Tele banking has gone a long way in providing maximum customer satisfaction within the limited infrastructure.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Automatic Teller Machines:  (ATM) </strong></p> <ol> <li>Now, the banks provide this facility in a more sophisticated way that a customer of one bank and branch can withdraw from any other banks, at any other branch, nation wide. In developed countries, this service is provided to their blue chip client globally. This is possible only through worldwide networking and communication system.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Credit cards:</strong></p> <p>               These plastic cards enable customers to spend whenever he/she wants within the prescribed limits and pay later. Debit card is a prepaid card with stored value, whereas credit card is post paid with fixed limits. It is seen that spending is higher through debit cards than with credit cards currently CITY Bank and time bank have started with Debit cards and now other banks are also following these to launch their own cards.</p> <p><strong>Electronic Funds Transfer: (EFT)</strong></p> <p>           Electronic funds transfer is a system of processing and communication of payment through electronic methods. EFT assumes greater significance in the banking system as the RBI also encourages the commercial banks to adopt this technique. Normally, payments are made through cash, cheques, drafts and credit cards. The latest in this process are the debit card system, charge, digital cash, and electronic purse and so on.</p> <p><strong>SPNS- (Shared payment network system):</strong></p> <p>                  SPNS installed by the IBA in the city of Mumbai, enables electronic banking service like cash transactions, extended hours of banking, utility payments, cheques, point of sale facilities by the SPNS can go to any ATM linked to SPNS.</p> <p><strong>Electronic Clearing Services [ECS]:</strong></p> <p>                   Electronic clearing of funds from one centre to another for handling bulk transactions like salary, interest, dividend, commission etc., has dispensed the cheques. A part of electronic clearing service is computerized clearing of cheques at metropolitan centers and linking with international communication system of SWIFT. These services have contributed in a great way towards improving the customer’s services globally. ECS was introduced in India in 1996. It has made it possible for customers to get the funds next day itself.</p> <p><strong>Point of sale [POS] terminal:</strong></p> <p>                     Payment card at a retail location for electronic transfer of fund is called POS.  The client enters his personal identification number [PIN] and confirms the amount due. Customer’s account is automatically debited with the amount of purchases and it credits the retailers account POS installed at petrol stations and large retail houses are linked to banks network.</p> <p><strong> D-Mat Accounts:</strong></p> <p> Transacting shares business through electronic media is called D-Mat.  Investor opens an account called Demat Accounts with DPS.  They get shares in electronic form.. Then they send the actual shares to the investor.  Investor pays for the opening, maintenance and collection of shares.  This has reduced the paper work, bad deliveries; loss of shares and less transaction cost.  However delays in demating, higher cost charged by the investors has not given a good start for the growth and scope of Demat in India.  Depository participant sometimes make illegal money at the cost of investors.  SEBI should find ways to over come this to give a good scope for Demat in India.</p> <p> <strong>Electronic Data Interchange-EDI:</strong></p> <p>EDI refers to the electronic exchange of structure information using telecommunication like payment orders, debits credits, statement of account etc.  As part of EDI, satellite communication network is also entering the banks.  EDI will very soon do away with branch banking and the customers will be identified as ban customer and not branch customer</p> <p><strong> E-cheques: </strong></p> <p>Digital cheque used by the payer to the payee through internet is called e-cheques.  Electronic versions of cheques are issued, received and processed.  Most of the banks use e-cheques.  A secure means of operation is provided for collecting, payments, and transferring cash flows through this method.  The payer issues a digital cheque to the payee and the entire transactions are done through internet</p> <p>  <strong>Benefits of Internet Banking Services</strong></p> <p>     1.It reduces cost of   both in services and administration</p> <p>     2. Overcoming the geographical barriers</p> <p>     3.  Cost minimized for customers</p> <p>     4. It helps to maintain customer loyalty</p> <p>     5. Web site enables banks to develop advertisement</p> <p>     6. Information technology enables banks to deliver products and services</p> <p>     7. Multimedia capabilities offer homogenous branding     </p> <p>     8. Online banking encourages promotion of various schemes of the bank</p> <p>     9. Individualized and customized services with the help of integrated customer data       </p> <p>   10. Minimizing fraud and misappropriation by inter-branch reconciliation      Convenience to customers â€" like card free banking, cash free banking provides a domain of access to banking services.</p> <p> From the discussions on the internet banking services, it is felt that, this will enable the domestic banks to challenge the competition from their foreign rivals. Further, there will be a reduction in the staff strength to a considerable extent due to the adoption of information technology and ultimately banks can provide timely services to customers to their fullest satisfaction.</p> <p> </p> <p>.    </p> <p> </p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><p>Dr.R.SRINIVASAN is a Post graduate in commerce and Management. He received his doctoral degree from Alagappa University in 1997. He currently teaches financial management and Research Methodology Subjects in Post graduate and Research Department of Corporate Secretaryship at Bharathidasan Government College for Women (Autonomous), Pondicherry University, Puducherry. Before Joining BGCW, he was teaching in SNR College, Coimbatore, Sindhi college, Chennai& T.S.Narayanasamy College, Chennai for eight years. He was with the industry for a short term at Salzar Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore. He has about 20 years of teaching experience and having research experience of 15 years. His interests are in Accounting and finance, Capital Market, Quantitative Methods. He underwent the Faculty Development Programme at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad during 2000-01. He has presented 20 papers in national and international conferences and has published twenty papers in the areas of Finance and Human resource Management in National Journals. Co-authored a book titled, ‘Investors Protection, published by Raj Publications, New Delhi He has delivered lectures in contemporary finance topics at Pondicherry University. He is involved in consultancy projects for Godrej Saralee, Chennai in the areas of Statistical Applications. He has supervised a number of research projects in the area of corporate finance and Human Resource Management. He is the Board of examiner in corporate Secretaryship and Management for the past two decades.
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Computer TV tuner for laptop pc and computer | ArticlesBase.com

<p>When it come to choose a TV tuner card there can be two choices: The first one is hardware based and the second is software based TV tuner. Both of these will work fine in the laptops. External PC TV cards can be plugged and played in the form of USB device. <br /> <br />These TV tuner cards for laptop PC are equipped with its own software which is compatible to the laptop. This software enables one to stream hundreds of live television channels with the help of wired broadband connection. <br /> <br />The other solution is known as satellite TV software. This after installation gives access to thousands of channels in different languages. These work on both wired and wireless broadband connections and streams live channels through Internet. <br /> <br />Both of these options can be purchased by making a one time upfront payment. If I would have been given a choice I would have opted for 3000 channels package that comes not more than $50. This is economical and good to use. <br /> <br />Majority of PC tuner cards require wired connections whereas satellite television works fine with wireless connections. <br /> <br />As these computer TV tuner for Laptop PC allows you to use your laptop as a TV and digital multimedia center one can enjoy free air entertainment whenever you like and wherever you go. You have the option to record TV programs while watching live programs of TV on your laptop. <br /> <br />There are several optiosn to watch TV using a pc TV tuner online but the one I have found reliable is using the pc TV software with more than 3500 TV channels. <br /> <br />You can get more details on how to watch live TV streaming from the best website here: <em><a href="http://pcsatellitetvreviews.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Top Website to live TV Streaming Free TV </a></em></p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><p>Robert Edmonds is an expert in revieiwing online digital products. Read more on top free live TV streaming website to watch abc, cbs, nbc TV free online here: <i><b><a href="http://pcsatellitetvreviews.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Website for Streaming Free live TV to watch TV on On Computer </a> </b></i> or </b><br /> </b><br /> or watch live TV streaming free online, Now: <i><b><a href="http://freesatellitepctv.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Top TV tuner Sites For Free Live Fox NBC, ABC, CNN TV Streaming Online </a> </b></i></p>

Clearing Clutter From Your Home - Part 1

What are we supposed to do with all the stuff we have in our house if we don't have enough storage space or closet? Should we just close our eyes and toss it or should we buy decorative boxes to hide it? That seems to be my biggest problem. I am expecting company so I have been trying to clean house, but I keep running into the same problem that I have had for a long time. I have news articles that I want to read, paperwork I want to finish, some kind of art or computer project that I want to work on, or things that I brought home from the store that I have laying around the living room or dining room.
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<br>As I begin to clean, I must first do something with all those "extras". So, I start to gather up everything and take it to" the table" in my bedroom where nobody goes but me and my husband. The problem with that is the fact that every time I have company, that is always where the "extras" end up and" the table" has become stacked up so high that I have forgotten some of the mess underneath.
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<br>Okay, now I have to put all that stuff away but I don't have anywhere to put it. That is one of the biggest challenges in my life. I wish that I had more space to keep things that are important to me, but my home is just not big enough. So I have to decide what I want to keep and what I need to throw out. Unfortunately, many years of marriage and parenting have left me with way too much stuff to store. That leads to problems with parts of my home being messy, even if the "stuff" is very important to the family, as well as many plans and projects that are left unattended but need to be taken of.
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<br>Here are examples of some of the things that I have collected this year: birthday cards from my kids, valentine and anniversary cards from my wife and new clothes that don't fit that need to go back to the store. I have a whole box of my children's keepsakes and 12 years of pictures that I started to sort to make Christmas presents for each of my children. I have not finished the job but I still "plan" to get to it. There is a bag of baby clothes for a baby shower, plus a bag of clothes (some new and still have price tags on them), another bag of gently used clothes and assorted stuff that I have put away to give to charity. All of this stuff always ends up in my bedroom whenever company comes, and somehow they never get taken where they belong or taken back out of my bedroom.
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<br>Let us talk more about my plan. I have not finished the job but I still "plan" to get to it. There is a bag of baby clothes for a baby shower, plus a bag of clothes (some new and still have price tags on them), another bag of gently used clothes and assorted stuff that I have put away to give to charity. All of this stuff always ends up in my bedroom whenever company comes, and somehow they never get taken where they belong or taken back out of my bedroom. Please read further in part two of this article series.
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