The First Snowreels

It might surprise you to learn that Snowreels was never part of some grand plan. What’s now a growing company helping actors build cinematic showreels together started out as a bit of a personal project. Anna needed a new reel, something current, affordable, and true to who they were as an actor, and that led to our very first session back in 2023.

The Athena (Sky)

Anna Fordham - Scene 6

That summer, I hit my first acting dry spell in a while. I’d been lucky enough to work at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, and Southwark Playhouse over the previous year, so updating my reel had taken a back seat. When I finally watched it again, it was obvious: I needed new footage. My reel featured scenes from The Athena (Sky) from six years earlier. But a lot had changed. I was older. I’d chopped off all my hair. I felt more grounded in my instincts as a performer. Most importantly, I’d come out as Non Binary, and watching that reel felt like watching a completely different person. As proud as I am of that project, it didn’t reflect who I am now.

Like so many actors, I was working with a tight budget. A lot of the companies I found that offered professional acting showreels were completely out of reach. Some offered monologue packages, but I’ve always found it important to be in a scene with another actor, to listen, respond, and find truth in that connection.

I knew I wasn’t alone. Connor, Nalân and Jonny also needed new footage. So I called James to ask if he might be up for shooting some scenes with us. He was game. We started planning.

Connor Going - Scene 2

To make the most of our time, we worked out a simple system: six scenes in total, pairing each of us with everyone else.

• Anna and Connor

• Anna and Nalân

• Anna and Jonny

• Connor and Nalân

• Connor and Jonny

• Jonny and Nalân

Six short scenes meant each of us could walk away with actor reels that felt spotlight ready, with three minutes of screen time and a variety of scene partners.

I wanted a mix: something bolshy and youthful, something tender, and something more conflicted. Connor needed something that brought out his Glaswegian roots. Nalân wanted to include Turkish. Jonny wanted to balance intelligence with warmth. With a bit of time, a lot of pasta, and a screenwriting course freshly under my belt, I got to work.

Here’s what we came up with:

1. A woman’s mother is in hospital. Her partner comes home to find her on the phone to her family (in Turkish). They share a quiet, supportive moment.

2. A social worker visits a resistant client (Connor). There’s tension, but they find common ground.

3. A new couple awkwardly navigate whether he’s staying the night, in a funny but gentle scene.

4. Two siblings debate how to deal with their mum’s rude boyfriend. Anna’s character has some choice words for Tim.

5. Two friends panic over a pub quiz. Neither has revised the Sports round. Chaos ensues.

6. One friend comforts the other before taking a pregnancy test. They disagree about kids, but stay deeply supportive.

Johnny Charles - Scene 5

We shot it all in a day. I cooked a giant vat of pasta, we ate lunch together, and hit the pub afterwards buzzing from what we’d pulled off. The next day, James sent stills, and I couldn’t believe the quality we’d captured. I sent them to a friend who immediately asked: “Can we do this too?” So we tried it again. Same format. If actors were willing to chip in a bit to cover costs, we could make it work. Then something changed: people we didn’t even know started reaching out. It was clear we weren’t the only ones looking for affordable actor showreels in the UK, showreels that focused on real scene work, not just monologues. Showreels that felt cinematic, collaborative, and accessible.

Nalân Burgess - Scene 1

Two years later, we’re still going. And that first shoot shaped everything that followed.

Whether we’re filming actor showreels in London flats that double as hospital waiting rooms or writing scenes tailored to your casting, the goal has always been the same: to make high, quality, personal showreels that actors can actually afford.

We’re proud of what we’ve built and we love every shoot we get to do.

Thinking about updating your reel? Take a look at how Snowreels works

Explore more:

• Our Process

• See Our Work

• Our Pricing