The relevant details up front; my name is James Pitt, I've been acting and producing for 20 years, this year. At this point in my career, every audition is a major one. So what you're going to read here is based upon two decades of encountering gifted professionals in our field, and the many, many, who... well... aren't going to help you. The professionals at CreateYourReel are as highly skilled at direction and production as the production teams we're auditioning for themselves, and in some cases, are simply better. I have been blessed beyond words to be directed by James Cameron, Bill Butler, Kevin Dowling, and the best piece of dramatic footage in my career is a taped audition directed by Steve Hosford at CreateYourReel. He's one of the best directors I've ever met in my life. He's a gift. He sees things in the material sometimes that you don't; you NEED THAT in this work. We can't do this work alone; we're not meant to. This takes collaboration to do well, but the problem is finding people to partner with who are a help, not a well-intentioned hindrance. Not only is Steve capable of helping me play up to my best for auditions and updating reel footage, each session makes me better at what I do. This work is hard. In 2019 everyone wants to do it, so you had better be incredible at what you do. You are not going to find better for creating or augmenting a reel and taped auditions, or highly efficient film production than here. read more

I was scared to commit to investing in my reel - but I am so glad I did ! From booking the date , to working with Retta on the script , to shooting the scenes - it has been smooth and easy and I am beyond satisfied. The scenes came out great and my agent loves them. I needed to fill in my reel with a couple roles that I could play , and they have blended in seamlessly with the reel I had already of work I have shot. I have heard horror stories about other companies, and some friends "reels" look very shoddy. CYR made a really professional looking product for me and I am happy I used them. read more

Kevin, Retta, Steve and the whole gang at CYR are awesome. They provide a great service to actors who need a whole reel, or maybe just a clip to round out their reel. I've shot with them twice and have gotten great, professionally produced footage quickly and easily. The footage has helped "beef" up my reel, which in turn has gotten me called in much more frequently. Combine that with some great headshots and this is an invaluable tool for the developmental actor! Don't waste your time trying to become a one-person production company and shoot footage for your real yourself (unless you really know what you're doing). Leave it to the pros at CYR who will take care of everything. They have a mini-sound stage with tons of sets and props and they put everything together for you. All you have to do is show up and be your best performer. They can even recommend great make-up artists as well. It's a turnkey service run by excellent and kind folks. If you're on the fence, or thinking of another company that does this, just do CYR, you'll be happy you did. read more

Is it normal to rush a major tool that EVERY casting director & agent is going to see? Createyourreel.com (CYR) reminds me of an unethical car dealership that is desperate to sell cars. I was going to shoot another demo reel with CYR. However, they started becoming very pushy about getting the demo reel shot as they were going to increase their rates the end of July. I put down a $200 deposit which I regret. I started this process to find out that CYR was only interested in the money. They want to keep my $200 deposit as I'm not prepared to shoot within days. I'm under the impression they work off a commission as they are really pressuring to collect the money before August regardless if I have shot my demo reel. Keep in mind I'm paying them for a service and I am a repeat customer. They are treating it like they need to hit a sales quota! I asked that they grandfather me into the old rates and wait until I am able to shoot my demo reel. Yesterday I was talking to a classmate who they were also trying to coerce into shooting his demo reel before the end of July when they increase their rates CYR obviously doesn't understand the countless hours of rehearsals, classes, & coaching the serious actors commit to their scripts. They simply want to manufacture demo reels as fast as possible. Not a company I would trust for quality to tool to present to casting directors & agents. read more

Create Your Reel was such an incredibly positive experience for my daughter! Her manager requested a reel from her and we searched all over the net and read many reviews on Yelp! We decided on Create Your Reel and the staff was fantastic! I was a bit concerned at first because they are in the midst of a studio renovation, but the entire set up was completely professional!!! Kevin and his team respond to all inquiries very quickly and they will not edit any copy without approval! Most of the reels we looked at online seemed very cheesy and lacked authenticity so making sure that my daughter received professional and believable copy was of utmost importance!! They covered everything from start to finish and she got the reel the way she wanted it. We are so glad we chose Create Your Reel as our service. read more

As We Are finally coming out of this pandemic, I want to go on record that I am proud to be returning to Create Your Reel for my Demo Reel Needs. They have made some upgrades during this downtime, and I am excited to utilize their new style. I still am proud of my demo reel which consists of 3 minilogues that have no expiration date as far as I'm concerned. Kevin and Retta have been doing a great job running their small business for actors for the past 15 years or so. And now it's time for myself, as well as all actors to get back into the game. Thanks again CYR for providing a safe space for actors to shine! read more

I am completely thrilled and happy with my new reel! The group at Create Your Reel exceeded my expectations from start to finish. If you need a reel, I would say let them take you through the process...I did, and they made sure I had a wonderful reel. These people really know what they are doing. Besides being professional and knowledgeable, they are a very kind bunch that truly want their clients to succeed. Sometimes in the entertainment business you don't know who to trust, but I recommend this company with full confidence. They made it so easy. Thank you Retta, Kevin and Steve!!! read more

Create Your Reel - Video/Film Production Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Let me begin by how talented Kevin is! You will get amazing coaching as intricate as how you are breathing when speaking the line. He is a perfectionist and ur scene will not be completed until it's perfect. The live green screen is pretty amazing! I've never seen it done before. Very talented and he will go the extra mile for you to love your product! read more

So great! Have been a return client for years! They are so professional and make sure you are 100% happy! Now I have scenes for comedy and drama! Well rounded reels with great production quality! Don't hesitate! Just use them! read more

These guys were really great to work with. My classmate had found them online and asked me to do a scene with him. I agreed and decided to shoot a scene for myself as well to beef up my reel. All the info is on the site with rates and explaining how it all works. They were flexible with our schedules and needs. On the day of the shoot we spent about 7 hours total for one 2 person scene and 3 minilogues but it seriously flew by. With their direction and coaching, we both got amazing scenes. read more

So I know this place already has great reviews, but I just had to write one for them not only because I so appreciate what they do - but to also encourage other actors not to hesitate to work with them! For the longest time I didn't think I needed to go to someone like Create Your Reel. I could do it myself, I had some credits - even shot a few web series, I'll put it together myself blah blah blah. Well that was dumb! I just shot with them and the quality is far superior and most importantly they create clean clips - focused entirely on you! Yes, it's great if you have a scene with Tom Hanks but if you need a reel/clip that truly showcases you (which we all do) then make your life easy and just go here. The writing is great, the director is awesome and the entire experience was a blast! And frankly it's cheap! If I add up the cost and time and energy in trying to do it myself (I even bought Final Cut) their service is a steal! Actors, as a friend and colleague, make your life easy, let them help you so you can get to work! Your agent will be better able to sell you to casting - it's as much of a requirement as a headshot is these days. Really. I wish someone would have told me a couple of years ago to just shut up and do it! So I hope you do! Best of luck actors! :) read more

Cannot recommend them enough. Seriously. Being a film major, I was super picky of who I went with. The frustration with actors is that you can't get a reel without experience and you can't get experience without a reel. Even if you do student films or shorts/indies, it can take months waiting for the footage, IF you ever get it. Sometimes it's poor quality or unusable. With everyone now producing content, there's little to no excuse for not having something to showcase. I had a wonderful experience. Make no mistake though, YOU have to put in the work. Do your research on the shows you would be on, your look, etc and keep working hard even after you have a reel. They're amazing but you also have to hustle. Everything was so quick and efficient! I shot three different scenes in one day and had the footage within a couple of days and the completed reel shortly after that. They were super amazing and professional. Would definitely go back. I wish I hadn't waited so long. read more

I love this company! A reel is a very important tool for an actor. It shows how you look on camera and how you read. Create Your Reel is the best Reel producing company. They are professional and the quality is amazing!!! People often watch my reel and inquire which TV the clips are from because the quality is that amazing. This is by far the best investment I made on my career. I use to work at a Casting Director Company and repeatedly heard from agents and casting directors that it is important to have footage and it is important to have good quality. If you put poor quality video footage they will think of you as ammature and this is NOT the first impression you want to make with a casting director. I also love that Create Your Reel puts you in the drivers seat. You are in control of the content, which ensures that you are producing footage that will inform casting directors of your casting type. They were voted #1 for a reason and I would certainly use their service again. See for yourself you can view my reel here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owTyVzJIG_4 read more

CYR is awesome for what it is: a place to get original footage prepped, shot and edited for a demo reel. That is what they do and they do it well. They do a verbal consult but everything is crystal from the site. They write your scenes but you have the freedom to weigh in and tweak it... only you know yourself, and what sells you the best and they get that. It really is about you at CYR. Before you get there to shoot, they know your chosen scenes and so they prepare your background beforehand (it saves time). The crew on set are always looking to guide you so your relaxed while in the moment of your scene. After a few takes they see your selling points and adjust their critiquing accordingly. The price is a big investment so go in knowing who you are and what type of work you will book eventually. That is key. As for agents knowing it is not a "real reel" with real footage... that is a given. My agent needed a reel to pitch me to casting directors and so it was a given I would need to have one 'created'. I viewed Kevin and his team's work and felt their work was the most professional out there; they also had competitive pricing. I went back after booking co-star roles because I realized there were roles that I was never being called in for... I believed I needed to show myself within that context and so I shot two more scenes with CYR one year later. The scenes were a bounty hunter/detective and the other a nurse/doctor. Within a year's time I booked a role as a social worker, a kill-house operative and CIA agent for major TV network shows. Coincidence, maybe... I went back to CYR after booking a bunch of 'real' shows/scenes because Kevin is the master editor in my book! I sent him my good news and asked if he could add these co-star/guest-star scenes to my reel. I know you can get that done at AA and LACasting but they will not edit it, they only add it to the front of your reel or keep as a separate clip. The finished reel is always done professionally and Kevin asks questions and works through your confirmations every step of the way. CYR is great and they really want the best for you... (I am still a client!)Kevin recently added my latest guest-star scenes, from a new FOX drama, to my reel and it is nothing less than awesome. read more

"I had an awesome time! You get the professional look for your reel at a very affordable price!! I would recommend Create Your Reel to any actor that is serious about their craft!" -Adrian Flowers read more

Perfect experience from the beginning to the end. It was such a smooth ride working with them. These guys are so professional and real experts in what they do. I did my research before I went to them and I can for sure say that they are the best. I needed great footage to show for, trying to get auditions for bigger roles that did my acting justice. And that's exactly what I have received. Director Steve Hosford is fantastic and so is their make-up artist they recommended Lisa Marie DeRoma. Love them. read more

This was a great experience from the moment I spoke with Retta. CYR is an extremely professional team that creates brilliant scenes for your reel. Custom scripts, superb direction, and flawless editing. I did very little research for this type of service because for all of my years in Hollywood I was told never to create a fake reel. I was told to do student films before contacting one of these companies. Well, after waiting for years to get the correct scene, footage, and quality I was DONE waiting. A casting director recommended CYR to me so I took a look at their work on their site. The scenes were so good I signed up right away. Tonight I received my scenes and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to load them to all the casting sites. I am VERY happy. You will be too. read more

Create your reel was such a wonderful experience. I've worked with a few demo reel companies over the years and this one takes the cake. They were quick, organized, and the final product looks fantastic. I would recommend Create Your Reel to any actor looking for an entire reel or just fitting a character into an existing reel. Scheduling for a phone consultation was fine. They got a hold of me when I'd scheduled and answered all my questions. The scenes they sent to me were all excellent. It was difficult to choose which ones I wanted to shoot. On the day we filmed everything went smoothly. They were fast on the set ups, so they could spend more time on me. The great thing about CYR is that they make you work, and get the best take they can out of you. You only have a few seconds to show yourself off and they make sure they capture it. The end result looks great and I'm proud of the work I did there. I'll definitely go back for any reel work. Thanks CYR! Best, Bryan read more

I wrote a glowing review for CYR a while ago but for some reason it was taken down...? Anyway, I worked with Kevin and Co. over the summer and had a TERRIFIC experience. They were so professional, had great scenes for me to work with, and of course the product looked top-notch. In fact, some folks have even asked what show my scenes were from because they looked so good. They were all super friendly and prompt, too--no waiting around for days to get the finished product. I will definitely keep using CYR for my footage needs!! They absolutely earned their "Best Of" awards from Backstage magazine. Hands down. read more

Awesome experience! I researched just about every reel company in town before settling on CYR. They produced a high-quality reel with created content, focused on me, and with a great turn around for delivery. These guys (and gal) are professional, friendly and efficient. Trust them, they know what they're doing! read more

I have worked with the Create Your Reel team for servers years as a makeup artist. I am only writing this because I have worked with other Reel companies recently on actors request and I wished they had found Create your Reel instead. I found the others to be just average. I hate to see people's hard working money not well spent. I worked with many actors with Create Your Reel and saw first hand they had great direction, cool backgrounds for scenes and overall quality work was being made. read more

I wanted to work with CYR for my new reel cause I witnessed the professional and proficient handle they have on crafting unique reel, when I was helping my friend shoot his there. When it was time to shoot my new reel; I knew where to look first. I went to the site, which has all the necessary information from reel samples and rates to arranging an appointment for a phone consultation. I was baffled by many other websites I came across in my research that lack basic information of their service. At CYR, everything was explained and my questions were answered after the call ( shout out to Retta) and it's been a pleasure working with CYR from then to now receiving my finished reel. As for the actual shoot, it was one where I was allowed sufficient amount of time to get great takes and explore different nuances. Steve, the director is great to work with and he's encouraging and collaborative on set. We shot multiple takes and there was a lot to choose from for the edit later on. He also did great work on the set designs crafted for each scene I shot. Kevin did a tremendous job at editing my reel, answering all my questions/emails and just being an all around awesome person. Thanks for delivering the promised quality and timely service. I highly recommend their service. Mika-L Hailu read more

I just completed my work with CYR for my dramatic and comedic reels. The experience was amazing from start to finish. The initial call really breaks down all the steps so you are aware of all that's involved. The finalizing of premises, scheduling time and final edits were super easy. The day of shoot was sooo much fun! We talked through my premises so they completely understood my vision and then we played around with it. It was a super fun creative experience. The outcome was 2 solid reels which I'm hopeful will step up my game! I definitely recommend CYR for those that are looking to pull together a professional quality reel! read more

Was referred to the company by my friend Marc- can't say enough about my awesome experience! Kevin got me great quality footage from my recent tv appearance. I was given two options to choose from one a longer cut and one that went straight to the action of the scene. Will definitely recommend! read more

I had to sign up for Yelp specifically to review this company! Funny thing is, I was not even their client. I went to support a friend who's becoming an actor and the director allowed me access to the studio to observe my friends acting and totally made me feel welcome and NOT in the way. Everything they told my friend they would do, they did. including having a link with all the best shots for him to choose from, emailed to my friend within 24 hours. It was there in less than 24 hours and the quality of the lighting and set and film is simply amazing. We spent 5 hours filming and then drove 80 miles home to South Orange County where I realized I'd forgotten my new, expensive prescription glasses. Total Bummer =(( I went on their website to the 'contact us' section and filled in the email template explaining what had happen. I was not expecting to hear back. So I even said I would 'Paypal them' the expense and a little 'extra' if they could ship them to me. I know it's an expense and inconvenient for them so I was fully prepared to pay. I woke Monday Morning to an email from one of the owners Retta asking for my address and she UPS'd them to me within 2 business days. I was and still am completely blown away. I was not even their customer and my issue was treated professionally and seriously and compassionately. Places of business usually care about their customers, but there was nothing it for them to help me out, yet they did. Anyway, they are the real deal! If you trying to be an actor, the service and product they offer is a must have if your trying to break into show business.. read more

This review is long overdue! I had the pleasure of shooting my reel with Create Your Reel with two minilogues and one 2-person scene a few months ago and it has gotten me a lot of auditions! My previous reel was dated and crippling my opportunities to get called in. As soon as I posted my new reel the auditions started pouring in!!!!! These guys are super professional, pros, and extremely fun to work with! Their prices are right on point too! I've even had industry legends and professionals ask me for their information after seeing my reel!! If you are going to shoot with them please select the direction option. It costs a bit more but it's crucial! You have no idea how your performance looks with the angle and framing unless you're directed. Don't look at it as an expense, it's an investment in your image, package, and career. Aside from highly recommending them I will most definitely be shooting with them again soon. Five stars aren't enough! read more

This is a service I would highly recommend. If you want a clip that looks professional this is it. Steve Hosford is outstanding. He works with you until you have it right. He knows how to bring out your emotions and his technique to have you memorize your lines is fantastic. It is worth the money, a GREAT INVESTMENT. I will be using this service again. His business partner Kevin is cool. They know their business. Do video clips of various characters. This is what casting directors are looking for. Believe me, or do whatever you think works. I know without a doubt that create your reel is what I WILL ALWAYS USE. read more

A HUGE waste of money. They put their best filmed scenes on they're website, and what you get is nowhere near what they advertise or tell you to expect. Kevin was extremely unprofessional and rude and made me very uncomfortable. When I told him and the rest of the team setting the props and background that I had asked for something other than what they set up, they responded "you know that means we have to do this all over again? This took over 15 minutes to set up." I felt guilted into not speaking up for myself and asking to get what I paid for- really just manipulated into getting a poor-quality product. They filmed my scene late at night and the director/ camera operator made it very clear that he didn't want to be there and that he was tired and bored. The other gentleman that was on set and was suppose to be supervising sat in the corner texting and playing games on his cell phone. I couldn't believe I was there and getting such a terrible experiene and the amount they charge and I was helpless to do anything about it. The product is even worse than the experience. The music Kevin chose was random and haphazardly thrown together and edited into the scene. When it told him the type of background music I wanted he told me to go find it myself because he was too busy. When I told him he might have sent the DVD they create to the wrong address he sent me an email titled "FYI" and then told me off for thinking he had sent it to the wrong address. The truth was it showed up later than the time they said it would ( I believe it was either 48 or 72 hours) because they just didn't send it when they said they would. ALL AROUND HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE :( I really was disappointed and I don't want them to rip off more people for an exuberant amount of money in exchange for a poor product and service. Stay away. read more

My name is Simon D Scott. I'm a Canadian, bilingual actor. Fow a while I've been searching for a business in Canada that could shoot and edit a short, professional demo for me. Unfortunately, everywhere I looked, they offered the same kind of service: A simple casting room with a black, white or blue backdrop. That was unfortunately NOT what I was looking for. I did not want an "audition room" demo. What I wanted was a real set, ambiance, sound, great image like it was edited from a real movie or tv scene. So I turned my eyes toward the USA, and I was disappointed to see that although some offered the kind of service I was looking for, it looked like it was shot by amateurs or the price was in the mid 4 digits! Then, a friend of mine told me about create your reel. I was a bit discouraged with the results of my search so far but I looked them up online nonetheless. When I saw their portfolio, I simply could not believe my eyes (and ears) ;-) So what if I had to fly from the east coast to L.A.? No problem! The asked price was really reasonable for the quality they seemed to offer. WHAT TO EXPECT: From the first call you get from them, the whole process is friendly yet professional. They really work HARD to make sure the scene(s) you select are really what YOU want or need. You give them your premises, they write magic, and you're ready to learn your scenes a week before the shoot. They even referred a GREAT make up artist, Lisa Mari DeRoma! The day of the shoot, I was greeted by the team who was fast at putting me at ease. They KNOW this product will be your official visit card and how much energy you've invested in this. They won't ever let you down. You'll shoot until everyone is happy with the scene. Before you know it, you're done shooting, you're sitting with the whole team, reviewing the rushes and selecting with them the scene(s) that will go on your demo reel. Then it's the editor's turn to do his magic. When I got my reel, I was really, REALLY happy. I've worked in the media for 17 years before becoming an actor. I can appreciate a professional product. The image was awesome. The sound was perfect (and so was the ambient sounds and music, present without being intrusive). This thing really looked like it was taken out of a tv series or a movie! I got more congratulations than I can count since I shipped this demo to castings. It helped me get a new agent. You know how it goes: they all write on their websites "If you don't have a demo reel, you can shoot a scene with a home camera".. But you KNOW you'll be on top of the list when they see your demo reel. If you are serious about your carreer, if you're as much concerned about your professional image as I am, then you should go with Create Your Reel. Simon D. Scott SAG/ACTRA/UDA read more

They awesome at what they do. Effective , sharp, and in a timely fashion. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to truly showcase their talent. read more

Best place ever to create your acting reel. After months of research and asking fellow actors where to have this done, I found that CYR was the best in price, quality, editing, music, direction, script, etc. Stop looking any further and just make an appointment for your consultation. you will not be disappointed. read more

From start to finish, CYR was extremely hands on in making sure we created the best reel possible. From allowing me to co-write my scenes so that I was happy with them, to shooting as many takes as I needed to get the best shot, they were extremely helpful. The amount of patience these guys (and girl) showed throughout the whole process blew me away. It's so rare to find that in this industry. I truly can't say it to them enough, thank you! read more

I've used CYR several times now, and I love the content I've received. So easy to work with, and now I have high quality footage for my reel. They definitely have a return customer! 100% recommend them. read more

Kevin King, thank you...thank you...thank you!! What do you do if you have a director that wants to see your reel and you don't think the one your have is good enough?? Well, I will tell you what I did....I contacted "Create Your Reel", referred by my agent, and voila! I told Kevin I needed my new clips added ASAP. Within 24 hours...BAM!! I have it! I hate to sound cheesy but I am so thrilled with the professionalism, speedy service and quality at which they edited my reel. I am now the proud owner of a Dramatic Reel that I am thrilled about. Thank you Kevin @ "Create Your Reel"...oh and my agents recommendation. My advice?? Go for it...be bold...step outside of your comfort zone...they don't bite. Be proud of who you are and let "Create Your Reel" take care of that fact that YOU ARE ENOUGH!! read more

This is my second time using this amazing team! I can't put into words how easy and wonderful they ALL are to work with! Steve...so talented and a great eye. Kevin is hilarious and made the film look completely amazing and Retta is so kind and quick to respond. Don't even think twice! DO IT! read more

I had a very good experience with these folks. The process is clear, they've delivered on time. For the money, I think this is a great value. Sure, everyone knows you've had this shot yourself .. its not a real show. But the script was pretty good, the set looks great, good sound. It shows you care to invest in yourself and make a reel. I've found dealing with the team very professional and straight forward. At the end, they deliver your scenes in multiple formats, ready for web posting. read more

All I can say is WOW!!!! I am beyond satisfied with the care and attention that I received from the entire CYR staff. Retta was so polite and helpful during my phone consultation. She walked me through the entire process step by step. My scenes were crafted to my exact specifications and the writing exceeded my expectations. My shoot day was a dream. Steve, my director, was focused and very professional. He gave great input but also allowed me the freedom to experiment. And thanks to Kevin, the editing process was quick, efficient and painless. I couldn't be happier with the final product! read more

Wow, talk about friendly and professional! Kevin air checked and delivered my current costar on criminal minds just a little while ago. It looks amazing, and he delivered it quickly, despite me asking for some adjustments. Will definitely be using their services again. read more

I'd been needing a reel for a while and, after doing a lot of research, found Create Your Reel to be the best quality for the money they charge. I shot three scenes and my director let me shoot as many takes as I wanted. He was very patient while waiting for me to get ready between scenes and he was able to give me some great feedback while we were shooting. I got all the footage we shot the next day and was able to go through it all at my leisure. Once I picked out the takes I liked, the editor got the finished reel back to me in a couple of days. The people I worked with there are very nice and very professional. They made sure I had final approval over everything. I highly recommend them. read more

I had an Excellent experience with CYR. They are a well-oiled machine, which provided me with the peace of mind I needed to focus on delivering my best work. I found everyone to be professional and easy to work with and am very happy with the final product. I would highly recommend working with CYR to get great original footage that you can use on it's own or as a compliment to your existing work to show industry professionals your range. It's a great marketing tool! read more