VIDEO · LINDBERG SHOWREELS
I meet many actors who are thinking about the same things. What should I show? How do I get noticed? Who should I contact? What do I actually do between jobs? And sometimes, why is nothing happening?
Lindberg Showreels Talk is my collection of brief thoughts on showreels, casting, visibility, networking, and all the surrounding factors that also matter. Because having good material isn't always enough. How you present yourself, what others find when they search for you, and how clear the overall picture is also influence the perception of who you are.
These are not definitive rules. Just things I observe, reflect on, and think are worth talking about. Because, in the end, it is largely about making yourself clear, easy to find, and being ready when the next enquiry comes in.
Mats Lindberg
TALK 01
Your CV tells people what you have done. Your showreel shows them who you are as an actor.
Short, concrete, and straight to the point. Thoughts on your showreel and the material that should demonstrate how you act in front of the camera when someone hits play.
TALK 02
A showreel is not about collecting as many productions as possible. It should show you as an actor in front of the camera.
If you don't have material that actually shows this, a simple, well-made scene of your own can be a way to supplement it. It doesn't need to be a big production. It needs to be believable.
Casting directors shouldn't have to search for you or wonder whose showreel they are watching. The first few seconds should make it clear who we are supposed to be following.
A good showreel should not just list productions. It should highlight you, keep the focus on you, and show how you act, listen, and deliver in front of the camera.
Networking is not about collecting names on a list. It is about being curious, showing interest, and letting people get to know you.
Not every meeting leads to a job. And that is not the point, either. A good conversation can live on, and someone might remember you when the right opportunity arises.
It’s not about the photo where you think you look the best. Your profile picture should quickly tell a story about your gaze, your energy, and which roles you feel credible in.
Your photos should show different sides of you, but still feel like the same person. Each photo should add something, not just repeat the same expression in new clothes.
A showreel isn't finished just because it's been edited. When it's placed where people are actually looking for actors, it can continue to be discovered long after it was published.
One face. One click. That’s where you act. The easier the path is from someone finding you to the showreel starting to play, the easier it is for them to actually see what you can do.
Do you want to get a notification when I post new tips, videos, or showreels? Tap the bell at the top of my Instagram profile and select All.
The feed doesn't always decide what you get to see. A small setting makes it easier to keep track of what you actually want to follow.
Your actual age is a fact. Your playing age is casting information. What matters is the age you can credibly portray in front of the camera.
When someone opens your profile, you want them to be met first by your face, your energy, and your presence. Let the person come before the number.
If pizza, chocolate, and other people take up more space than you do, it becomes difficult for casting to see the most important thing: YOU.
A showreel doesn't need to show everything you've ever done. It should make it easy to see how you act, how you deliver, and who you are in front of the camera.
The interesting thing isn't the numbers themselves. It’s that a showreel can reach far beyond those who already follow you and continue to find new eyes.
Someone sees you today, someone else next week, and someone might recommend you to a colleague. The more of us there are here, the further everyone's showreels can reach.
Remove training, productions, and everything else already in your CV. What’s left? That’s where your bio starts to get interesting.
Your bio should give a sense of who you are, how you come across, and what you bring to the camera. Read it as if you had never met yourself.
Think a little less about descriptive text and a little more about keywords. The "Skills" field should quickly show that you can do exactly what someone is looking for.
Riding. Golf. Guitar. Sailing. Dancing. Manual driving licence. Small details can make a big difference when someone is going through many profiles in a short amount of time.
When you repost something you think is good, you’re not just helping the person who made the post. You’re also helping more people find their way there.
Someone comes for a tip, someone else for a showreel, and along the way, you might discover an actor you would never have seen otherwise. That’s how we can help each other go a little further.
Your acting profile doesn't need to be finished. It needs to work. You can improve your photos, showreel, bio, and website along the way.
Make it as clear and good as you can with what you have today. Use it. See what works. Improve the next thing. One doesn't have to wait for the other.
