Concept portfolio creation thread?

[keenerbean]

Hey y'all, I'm looking for a new concept art job and one of the places I applied to kept mentioning submitting a "reel". I assumed they must mean if I had any video of animation or 3d models to show, to throw those in with my hard copy portfolio. I haven't created a new reel since digital animation school as my focus narrowed much more into concept design. I ended up giving them my VHS student reel along with my 2d work in book form. However, when I followed up with the head of HR she urged me to submit a DVD. It could be I'm over thinking this and they just don't want VHS, but the way they kept refering to a reel rather than a portfolio made me wonder.
My question is, are digital portfolios the way to go now? Am I supposed to create some sort of fancy slideshow with my illustrations maybe with panning and zooming? Is this common? The only place I've seen it is on Gnomon dvds in the bonus section showcasing the featured artist's work. I'd ask the lady I spoke with more but she quit apparently.

[Spacemanchuck]

Well by reel they mean a demo reel of your work. This would be of your animated work put onto a cdrom, or a DVD. Your paintings, sketches, sculpture ect, you should have on a cdrom or DVDrom as well as a hardcopy. Different places want different things. I have often thought that the forum could use a good sticky thread on the topic of portfolio creation, that would answer questions like these. Maybe someone could bring it up in the lounge...

[keenerbean]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, having your work available on a CD as well makes sense. I guess I'm just really wondering about presentation, and what's best. Would I make essentially a website on a CD or author a DVD with a menu and everything, or just have DVD that plays a slideshow as soon as you pop it in the machine. Maybe they just want the files in digital format to be able easily distibute them among relevant co-workers.
I think a portfolio creation sticky would be invaluable. Show what's out there, what works, what doesn't and why.

[keenerbean]

I asked a friend I used to work with and here's what he said....

"As for the reel its funny because I hear that often but have never quite determined
what they mean even though I'm in the business! I'm thinking there are far more animators
and modellers out there so it mainly applies to them.But on this end if I had to look through
a bunch of folios a DVD or a printed package would'nt matter to me as long as your art
hits my eyeballs somehow and without a song and dance.The fancy swooping and pans
would sell me on your skills as a DVD editor-dude but I'd just want some labeled folders
headed with 'characters','environments','storyboards etc. so I can quickly click through
your stuff.But I guess thats where the DVD comes in handy as a quick click interface.
You might want to submit both DVD and a booklet of your work just to cover both bases.
They'll know pretty quick if you fit the bill or not."