Portal to Portfolio
Introduction
In the following article I am going to be going more in depth in portfolios specifically. I touched on creative portfolios and portfolios in the media industry quite briefly in my article on CVs. This article is acting as a spiritual follow up to the CV article is it is in a way a follow on piece from that, but never the less this article is going to be one of the shorter articles as it isn't as in depth of per say my case study on Walt Disney pictures but it is quite unfair to compare the two articles because the case study is supposed to go in depth where as this article is more intended to lay out the basics with the occasional further explanation. So without further ado let us together transition smoothly from the introduction into the first part of this article.
What is a Portfolio?
A portfolio is a compilation of some or all of the work that you have produced over the course of your life and career. A portfolio is good when it comes to applying for a job because it allows you to show a potential employer what you are capable of and what kind of work that you can produce. A portfolio also allows for you to be able to show off your work and show the kind of quality work that you are able to produce, a portfolio in a way acts as evidence or a visual representation of what you said that you were capable of in your CV. A portfolio is very useful, especially within the media industry and more specifically in the creative or technical side of the media industry where not only is it highly competitive but also it is very much chock full of people who are all gunning to try and get that job, and a portfolio is your chance to show not only are you better than everyone else who is trying to get the job but also a portfolio will give you the chance to show that you are far more passionate and that you have a genuine want to do this as if you have passion for a project, more likely than not the project's final outcome will be better than if you didn't put any passion into it.
What is a Promo reel?
A promo reel is a promotional video where someone you will compile a series of clips from the different films/tv shows/web shows/documentaries etc that you have appeared in or had involvement in. This can either be in front of or behind the camera. A sizzle reel is essentially when boiled down to its core basics it is a video version of a creative portfolio. A sizzle reel is especially good for actors as it allows actors rater than just listing the roles that they have played they are able to actually show their work to a potential employer and give said potential employer a genuine look at what that actor is capable of and how they are able to perform as well as what kind of roles they are good in. A promo reel similarly to a portfolio is a self marketing tool used to make your self look really good.
Why are they used and why are they important?
Both portfolios and promo reels are used to promote yourself and your abilities to a potential employer. A portfolio and or a promo reel are important because they allow the potential employer to see exactly what your abilities are what you are capable of making and producing, this also shows the potential employer that you are able to produce quality work and this in turn shows that you are able to deliver what you promised within your CV. Your portfolio represents you and your work. Your Portfolio and or your promo reel is a representation of your ability and shows potential employers your creative ability as well as your ability to do the job that you want to do, if that makes any sense at all. Portfolios allow for you to show the things that you have accomplished as well as the quality of work that you can provide to a potential employer looking for someone to the fill the role that you are trying to get.
Both portfolios and promo reels are used to promote yourself and your abilities to a potential employer. A portfolio and or a promo reel are important because they allow the potential employer to see exactly what your abilities are what you are capable of making and producing, this also shows the potential employer that you are able to produce quality work and this in turn shows that you are able to deliver what you promised within your CV. Your portfolio represents you and your work. Your Portfolio and or your promo reel is a representation of your ability and shows potential employers your creative ability as well as your ability to do the job that you want to do, if that makes any sense at all. Portfolios allow for you to show the things that you have accomplished as well as the quality of work that you can provide to a potential employer looking for someone to the fill the role that you are trying to get.
What sector of recruitment might rely on a portfolio/promo reel?
When it comes to areas of the media industry that rely on you having a portfolio/promo reel the creative side is by far the most common sector of the media industry that will rely and want to see your portfolio. Since the majority of people who work in the Creative side of the media industry. People like Writers, Directors, Actors, Cinematographers, journalists, camera operators (sometimes), editors and animators. Will rely on their portfolio to help them secure work. The reason why portfolios are really important in the creative side of the media industry is because since a majority of people who work in the creative side of the media industry are freelancers this means that when they are finding and securing work they will need to show their potential clients the work that they have done as to show that they are capable of doing a good job and are the person most suited to the job that the client needs completing. The technical side of the media industry also relies on portfolios because similar to the creative side of the industry quite a few people are freelancers and as a free lancer you need to have a portfolio of your work as to show that you are capable of doing the best job and showing that you are better than the other people contending for the job.
Three Examples of Online portfolios
My three examples of an online portfolio are the following:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/71036405/The-Charlotte-Vitra-Magazine
https://www.behance.net/gallery/70721183/Creatures-3
Charlotte Vitra Magazine: The portfolio has a unique style that is realistic but at the same time still retains a sense of being a drawing, this is due to the use of what seems to be watercolours, with the background being very stylistic and the faces especially are drawn quite realistically which fits really well with the image and doesn't stick out but its noticeable enough where you will notice that compared to the rest of the image it is the most realistic in style.
Creatures 3: The image's style is quite grand in its presentation, now what I mean by this is that the art if very colourful and is very detailed the images all a mythical style creature of some kind. each image is quite unique and the chaotic nature of the image leave a lasting impression as well the use of bold colours that contrast which makes each component of the image stand out.
Know that we were gone: The image's style reminds me a lot of graffiti art, which the rugged abstract style. The images from what I can gather feature images of historical paintings drawn over in red pen which gives the image a sort of rebellious tone to the images, Th use of a colour a bold as red in contrast to the frets and blacks that are in the rest of the image makes the spurts of colour stand out bold and the thing you first see upon looking at the images. the background drawings look as though someone has just grabbed a paintbrush and started to just swipe it across the page a number of times, this gives the image a unique aesthetic and identity that helps the work stand out.
Creatures 3: The image's style is quite grand in its presentation, now what I mean by this is that the art if very colourful and is very detailed the images all a mythical style creature of some kind. each image is quite unique and the chaotic nature of the image leave a lasting impression as well the use of bold colours that contrast which makes each component of the image stand out.
Know that we were gone: The image's style reminds me a lot of graffiti art, which the rugged abstract style. The images from what I can gather feature images of historical paintings drawn over in red pen which gives the image a sort of rebellious tone to the images, Th use of a colour a bold as red in contrast to the frets and blacks that are in the rest of the image makes the spurts of colour stand out bold and the thing you first see upon looking at the images. the background drawings look as though someone has just grabbed a paintbrush and started to just swipe it across the page a number of times, this gives the image a unique aesthetic and identity that helps the work stand out.
Content
Charlotte Vitra Magazine: The content within the collection of images mostly consist of people smiling and looking of into the distance, there isn't a whole lot to dive deep into the content of the images because they are just people seeming to enjoy life, Everything from a woman riding a bike to a couple walking the dog to a businessman looking on a city.
Creatures 3: The collection of images contain illustrations of mythical creatures, these include the Yellow earth dog, which was the Chinese new year symbol of 2018 as well as Wyvern which is a feathered legendary winged two footed dragon, an interpretation of the heraldic elements of Amsterdam, these are three "lion guardians" and three crosses of Saint Andrew and Poloz who is a giant feathered serpent that can fly.
Know that we were gone: The collection of images are illustrations of what I can only assume are old historical figures who have been drawn over with a red pen drawing skulls over each of their faces, each skull is drawn slightly differently as to give each image a unique identity that helps each image stand out on it's own compared to the rest of the collection. Each image is also accompanied by a cryptic phrase scribbled above the image, each message seems to be reference to some form of anarchy which goes in line with the use of skulls scribbled over the paintings.
Creatures 3: The collection of images contain illustrations of mythical creatures, these include the Yellow earth dog, which was the Chinese new year symbol of 2018 as well as Wyvern which is a feathered legendary winged two footed dragon, an interpretation of the heraldic elements of Amsterdam, these are three "lion guardians" and three crosses of Saint Andrew and Poloz who is a giant feathered serpent that can fly.
Know that we were gone: The collection of images are illustrations of what I can only assume are old historical figures who have been drawn over with a red pen drawing skulls over each of their faces, each skull is drawn slightly differently as to give each image a unique identity that helps each image stand out on it's own compared to the rest of the collection. Each image is also accompanied by a cryptic phrase scribbled above the image, each message seems to be reference to some form of anarchy which goes in line with the use of skulls scribbled over the paintings.
Accessibility
Charlotte Vitra Magazine: In terms of accessibility, this collection of images can be found on both in a magazine, online and on a billboard. These images are quite easy to get a hold of. The accessibility of the images means that it is quite easily accessible for people to see.
Creatures 3: In terms of accessibility, this set of images are less accessible to people then the first set of images with this collection only being available online, as far as I'm aware at least. This means that while it easily accessible in a way that it is available online for everyone to see but also it is only available in one format whereas the previous collection was available in 3 formats.
Know that we were gone: Similar to the previous collection this one is only available online via the artists social media and bechance.net. The other two were also available on behance.net. In terms of accessibility the third collection of images is about as accessible as the second if not slightly more by being on the artists social media as well.
Creatures 3: In terms of accessibility, this set of images are less accessible to people then the first set of images with this collection only being available online, as far as I'm aware at least. This means that while it easily accessible in a way that it is available online for everyone to see but also it is only available in one format whereas the previous collection was available in 3 formats.
Know that we were gone: Similar to the previous collection this one is only available online via the artists social media and bechance.net. The other two were also available on behance.net. In terms of accessibility the third collection of images is about as accessible as the second if not slightly more by being on the artists social media as well.
Design
Charlotte Vitra Magazine: When it comes to design the images in the Charlotte Vitra Magazine are designed in a realistic way with a similar artistic style to animated shorts like the Snowman from 1982. This artistic style is quite popular as visually it is quite interesting as well as looking like something you would want to hang up on the wall in your living room.
Creatures 3: When it comes to design the selection of images featured within creatures 3 are all drawn with bold and contrasting colours which makes everything pop so much more. The design of the images very much feel like the kind of artwork that you would see on
Know that we were gone: Finally for the design of the third portfolio, the design of this is very creative and unique and gives a welcomed sense of an slightly abstract approach. The design feels like it was put together quickly and looks all over the place but that is all intentional and the image has a very rebellious graffiti feel about it which gives it its own identity and makes it stand out as unique among the other two portfolios and the competition in general.
Creatures 3: When it comes to design the selection of images featured within creatures 3 are all drawn with bold and contrasting colours which makes everything pop so much more. The design of the images very much feel like the kind of artwork that you would see on
Know that we were gone: Finally for the design of the third portfolio, the design of this is very creative and unique and gives a welcomed sense of an slightly abstract approach. The design feels like it was put together quickly and looks all over the place but that is all intentional and the image has a very rebellious graffiti feel about it which gives it its own identity and makes it stand out as unique among the other two portfolios and the competition in general.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a Portfolio
When looking at the effectiveness of a portfolio is important to know that presentation is everything. Now what I mean by this is that a portfolio is only as good as the way you present it. When you are making a portfolio you could the most breathtaking photographs or Oscar worthy film roles but if it presenting in a basic and bland way, no one will care, you have to pull them in by making the presentation of your portfolio stand out from the rest. The aim should be to make any potential employer be unable to look away. An effective portfolio will display the best of your abilities and make you look like you are £1 million but a good presentation that reinforces the quality of your portfolio is a lethal combination that no own can withstand.
When looking at the effectiveness of a portfolio is important to know that presentation is everything. Now what I mean by this is that a portfolio is only as good as the way you present it. When you are making a portfolio you could the most breathtaking photographs or Oscar worthy film roles but if it presenting in a basic and bland way, no one will care, you have to pull them in by making the presentation of your portfolio stand out from the rest. The aim should be to make any potential employer be unable to look away. An effective portfolio will display the best of your abilities and make you look like you are £1 million but a good presentation that reinforces the quality of your portfolio is a lethal combination that no own can withstand.
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