Simian's 'Reel Insights 2025' Reveals Reel Building Tips

Simian, the showreel-building, review & approval, and production asset management platform used globally by creative leaders, recently conducted a study to determine what makes job-winning reels succeed. The data used in this study was derived anonymously from over 200,000 sent reels, and explains viewing habits and trends most common to prospects when screening showreels.

While all of the tips below are informed by this data, they are not fully representative of it. To see the complete study, download Reel Insights 2025 for free here.

A Thumbnail Is Worth 1,000 Words

"If I have a character spot that I need a director for, I’ll be more interested in watching the reel if I see characters in the work."
~Jen Passaniti, Highdive

First impressions matter, and it’s not your work that prospects see first – it’s a snapshot of that work.

It cannot be stressed enough how important thumbnails are. Not everyone acknowledges their significance, but those little images can influence a viewer's engagement whether they realize it or not. If you really want to reel your prospects in, be sure to curate captivating thumbnails for all of your spots.

And remember: pick a great shot, but also be sure to choose the right shot – one that fits the mood of the board.

Short & Sweet Works Best

It’s hard to fight the urge to show off everything you’re most proud of, but it makes all the difference! Focus on presenting only what is most pertinent to the job; if a prospect wants to see more, they’ll ask. 

Reels get the most traction when they’re kept between 5-7 spots, and see a significant dropoff in viewership when they include 9 or more spots.

Reels Live Forever

“We’ve had directors booked off the back of a reel that wasn’t even on our radar anymore.” ~Sophie Gold, ELEANOR

Reels get the most interaction in the first 3 days after being sent, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re finished afterward! 

If a prospect likes your work, they may return to it for another job. 20% of reel views come 2+ weeks after the initial send. These seemingly reanimated presentations are Zombie Reels, and keeping track of them can open the door to jobs you may not have even known about! 

Get Reel Insights 2025 for FREE

Reel Insights 2025 is available now as a FREE download to Simian users and non-users alike, and contains data-backed strategies that are essential to anyone who crafts showreels.

For more information on Simian, visit https://www.gosimian.com/