You've done great work on set. Now you need that footage for your showreel. But getting it can feel impossible.

Here's what actually works and what you need to know about the legal side.

Using Professional Footage You've Already Filmed #

The Legal Reality

You don't own the copyright to productions you appear in. The production company does. This means you legally need permission to use any footage in your showreel, even though you're the one on screen.

This applies to everything: TV shows, films, commercials, and even many student projects.

How to Ask for Permission

Contact the producer or production company directly. Send a simple, polite email like this:

Hi [Name],
I worked on [Project Name] as [Role]. The film looks great and I'd love to use my scenes in my acting showreel. Could you send me the footage or give me permission to extract it? I'm happy to credit the production.
Thanks for considering.

Most producers understand that actors need showreel footage. Many will say yes, especially for smaller productions where you worked for free or low pay.

What If They Don't Respond?

This happens constantly. Producers get busy. Projects sit in post-production for months or years. Your emails go unanswered.

You have three realistic options:

Option 1: Wait and follow up. Send another polite email every 2-3 weeks. Sometimes persistence pays off.

Option 2: Extract it yourself. If the project is publicly available (on TV, streaming services, YouTube), you can technically record your scenes. Many actors do this. Is it legal without permission? No. Do people get prosecuted for putting their own work in a demo reel? Almost never.

Option 3: Move on without it. Sometimes footage just isn't happening. Focus your energy elsewhere.

Ripping from DVDs or Downloading from the Internet

Let's be direct about this. Technically, ripping footage from DVDs or downloading it from streaming services without permission violates copyright law.

The practical reality? Thousands of actors do exactly this for their showreels. Casting directors and agents know it happens. Prosecution is extremely rare because you're not selling the footage or competing with the original product. You're using short clips to promote yourself professionally.

Your footage might get flagged if you upload it to YouTube. The platform has automated copyright detection. If this happens, you can dispute the claim by explaining you're an actor using the footage for professional demo purposes.

That said, the risk exists. Some production companies are stricter than others. You're making a calculated decision if you proceed without permission.

Creating Your Own Footage When You Don't Have Professional Work #

Many successful actors started with self-created footage. Casting directors now accept this, especially for newer actors.

Self-Tape Style Footage

The simplest approach. Film yourself performing a scene in self-tape style: plain background, good lighting, camera at eye level.

Use your smartphone. Modern phones film in 4K quality. You don't need expensive equipment.

What you need:

• A reader (friend or acting partner) off-camera
• Natural lighting or two inexpensive softbox lights
• A plain wall as your background
• A tripod or stable phone mount

Choose contemporary scenes with conversational dialogue. Avoid famous monologues from recent hit films. Casting directors see those constantly.

This costs almost nothing and gives you something to submit while you book real projects.

Filming Proper Showreel Scenes

A step up from self-tapes. You film an actual scene with production value: multiple camera angles, better lighting, location variety.

You can do this yourself if you have filmmaker friends, or work with film students who need portfolio material. Trade your time for theirs.

What makes this work:

• Write original scenes tailored to your casting type
• Keep scenes under 90 seconds
• Focus on roles you actually get cast for
• Film in quiet locations with clean audio

Again, don't use scripts everyone recognizes. Casting directors get bored seeing the same material repeatedly.

Professional Showreel Services

Companies exist specifically to create showreel scenes for actors. They provide scripts, directors, crew, and editing.

This costs money (typically £200-£800 per scene depending on location and company). But you get professional-quality footage quickly.

Warning: Some companies recycle the same scripts. Multiple actors end up with identical scenes. This looks terrible. Ask to see samples and confirm you'll get original material.

Student Films and Short Projects

Excellent middle ground between amateur and professional footage.

Film students need actors for their projects. You need footage. Make it clear upfront that you require a copy of your scenes for your showreel.

Get this in writing before you commit. Many actors work on student films and never see the footage because the project falls apart or the student disappears.

Most film schools understand this arrangement. They'll typically provide footage within 3-6 months after shooting.

What Casting Directors Actually Think #

Here's what matters to the people watching your showreel:

They care about your performance. They care about decent video and audio quality. They don't care whether footage is from a Netflix series or a well-made self-tape.

A self-tape with strong acting beats professional footage where you're barely visible or your performance is mediocre.

Label self-created content clearly. If you film your own version of a scene from a TV show, write "self-taped scene from [Show Name]" not just "[Show Name]." Don't mislead anyone about the source.

The Bottom Line #

For professional footage: Ask for permission. Most producers will say yes. If they don't respond after several attempts, you're making a personal decision about risk versus reward.

For self-created footage: This is increasingly standard, especially early in your career. Focus on quality acting and decent production values. Update it with professional footage as you book more work.

Your showreel exists to get you auditions. Whether the footage comes from a broadcast show or your friend's living room matters far less than whether it shows you can act.