April 2016 Update.
The Reelshow has closed.
After nearly ten years we have taken the difficult decision to close The Reelshow. Below is a bit about the site and why we started it in 2007.
About The Reelshow
Reelshow International also known as The Reelshow is a website for film students, recent film graduates and film schools from all over the world to showcase their work and take part in our free online student film contests.
The Reelshow was co-founded by Mary Lou Clarke and Richard Dodd in 2007. Mary lou is the present CEO.
Reelshow International Ltd is registered in England and Wales with company number 6585454
The registered office address is: 127 High Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5JJ, UK.
Why we started The Reelshow
In 2007 we were known as ‘thereelshow.biz’, co-founder Richard Dodd explained back then the motivation behind the creation of the company:
As publisher of this site and a Director of Photography in the United Kingdom I have felt for a long time that the average graduate of a film school sees his/ her efforts wasted because of the lack of opportunity to show that most precious achievement, ‘The Showreel’.
Three years of hard work and study, now contained in a DVD or a film can, and no-one, apart from a few family members and friends, actually gets to see it.
Many times on a film set I have been gently and persistently persuaded to give up a few precious minutes of a lunch break or at wrap time to huddle over a computer screen to watch the runners or the third assistants precious work.
In all honestly, sometimes it was an embarrassing experience. The work was often appallingly directed, badly acted, poorly lit, lacking in research and generally depressing.
My great difficulty at such times was being tactful enough not to hurt anyone’s feelings but finding the correct words of encouragement to make sure that the proud director or camera person, etc – ect, was not totally disillusioned by callous or off hand comments.
Some of the creators of the worst films I have viewed have gone on into the industry and become very successful.
Occasionally at these viewings that I have agreed to, I have emerged from the viewing room absolutely stunned by the quality of the work on display,the exhibition of talent on some reels has been nothing short of astonishing. Sadly these talented people face the same problems as the less talented ones, no one gets to see their product.
This is where “Reelshow International” hopes to make a difference.
Quite a few years later we know we have made a difference to hundreds of film students around the world. With You Tube and then Vimeo the internet changed forever. Anyone, almost anywhere, can upload their video and get some sort of exposure.
The Reelshow has changed direction over the last few years because we cannot compete with the likes of You Tube, but we remained an exclusive online platform for film students to link their films to us and take part in our free online student film competitions. Our objectives were to provide film students, graduates and film schools somewhere to showcase their films to their peer group and to have fun with the contests as well as providing useful resources such as our International Student Film Festival Directory.
