Acting Showreels & Self-Tapes

Acting Showreels and Self-Tapes in Manchester

Casting directors and agents decide quickly. A sharp, well-made showreel or a clean self-tape gets you noticed in the first few seconds. We make acting showreels and film self-tapes for actors at every stage, from drama school graduates to seasoned professionals.

Forshaw Media is an award-winning video production company based in Manchester city centre. We work with you to show your range, your presence and your strengths, whether you’re editing existing footage, filming new scenes or sending an audition tape tomorrow. 

Acting showreel services

Showreel editing. Already have footage? We cut your existing clips into a seamless showreel, with colour grading, sound mixing and a running order that puts your best work first.

Bespoke showreel filming. Need new material? We can script, direct and film original scenes designed to show your range, using multiple cameras, custom lighting and professional audio.

Monologues and single scenes. A shorter, lower-cost option: one polished scene or monologue you can use on its own or as part of a longer reel.

Full edited showreels. A finished reel combining new scenes and existing footage, ready for your agent, casting platforms and website. See the process below.

Showreel refreshes. Update an older reel with new work, a new look and a tighter edit.

Self-tapes in our Manchester studio

Auditions can come at short notice, so our self-tape service is built to be quick. For just £50 for a 1 hour slot, we capture your audition piece in our city centre studio, using high-quality cameras, lighting and audio. We then help you choose your best takes and edit them, ready to send.

We know how tight casting deadlines can be, so we’ll do our best to fit in very short-notice bookings. 

What’s included: studio time, professional camera, lighting and sound, help selecting takes, editing and delivery of the final file. 

Our studio is a controlled black box with plain backdrops, so the focus stays on your performance. 

Who we work with

We work with actors at every stage: newcomers building their first showreel, graduates putting together a professional reel, and experienced performers updating their portfolio. We also film for theatre actors, voice and presenting talent, and performers who need a monologue or demo reel. 

If you need help finding scenes and developing your material with someone who knows what casting directors look for, check out our friends at Actors Pathway.

What goes into a good showreel

Contrasting scenes. Choose two to four scenes or monologues that show different sides of you, such as a dramatic piece alongside a comedic one.

Range and chemistry. A two-person scene shows you can work with another actor and build a connection.

Special skills. If you have dialects, accents, stage combat or dance, include a moment that lets those skills shine.

Your best work first. Open strong, and keep the reel tight. Ideally you want a strong 2-3 minutes.

We work with you to choose and refine the right mix for your type and goals.

How a showreel project works

1. Consultation. We talk through your acting brand and goals, the roles you want to play and what you already have. We help you pick the best scenes. 

2. Pre-production. Scene selection, scripts if we’re writing bespoke material, wardrobe and locations. Most of the first week goes on planning.

3. Shoot day. Half a day to a full day, depending on the number of scenes and setups. We run a short on-set rehearsal to lock in blocking and camera angles before we roll, and film with multiple cameras, custom lighting and professional sound.

4. Editing and grading. We cut your scenes to highlight your pace, emotion and presence, apply colour grading and mix the audio for clarity. Editing, sound and grading usually take two to three weeks.

5. Feedback and delivery. You review a draft, we make revisions and then deliver your finished showreel. We include 2 rounds of editing revisions as standard. If you need it sooner, rush-turnaround options can be arranged.

How to prepare for your shoot

• Choose two to four contrasting monologues or scenes.
• Bring several wardrobe options that suit different character types.
• Warm up your voice and body on the day, so you’re performance-ready.
• Send us existing footage, headshots and reference material beforehand, so we can tailor our approach to your style.
• Tell us the type of roles you want to be cast in.

How much does an acting showreel cost in Manchester?

Price depends on the scope of your project. The main factors are the number of scenes, whether we need to write bespoke scripts, whether we shoot in the studio or on location, and any extras such as wardrobe, make-up or supporting actors. Editing time, revisions and custom graphics also affect the cost. Self-tapes are £50 for a one-hour slot. After a short consultation, we’ll give you a clear quote with no hidden extras.

Why choose Forshaw Media

We’ve been making video for more than 10 years, we have our own city centre studio, and we work closely with you at every step so the finished reel matches your vision. Clients tell us we’re collaborative, quick to respond, affordable and professional, and that the final result is better than they hoped.