I never managed to create a director's promo reel for myself. The reason I failed to do so is that I had (and still have) deep rooted objections with fast paced music driven montages which perfectly showcase the editor's work, the DoP's work, the production designer's work, even the actor's work. However, the director's work in order to be evaluated needs a story to be told and said montages do not tell any story, only showcase a beautiful succession of beautiful images.

So here is my first principles approach that led to my first ever director's showreel:

>>>What is this for?
To tell you an engaging, convincing, cliffhanger-y story and lead you somewhere.

>>>Where are you leading me?
You to my work and my work to your radar.

>>>How can you do that?
By telling you exactly what I want you to do as part of the story.

>>>And how can you do that? (again!)
By being cool and direct about it, and by trying to show you that it's fun to work with me even when you're watching a video of mine.

>>>Ok, seriously, how can you do that? (ok, last time, for real)
Since I am a film director, make it about films = unapologetically steal and mash up a succession of famous scenes from great films, wrap them up in my beloved MontyPuthonesque humour, stick it in a bottle and throw it on the Internets.