Showreel scene ideas

Use this handy generator to come up with ideas for your own showreel scenes or duologues. Some will be a bit weird, some will be funny. Some might actually be quite good.

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Your random showreel scene idea

misanthrope
kind soul
idiot
hardened army veteran
failed magician
slob
avuncular
jaunty
pedantic
cranky
enthusiastic
shy
super extrovert
prima donna
grumpy
heavy metal fan
pretentious snob
eccentric genius
salty sea dog
aging cartoonist
bohemian
charming sociopath
naïve and ambitious
heroic alpha
geeky
sad optimist
manic pixie
arrogant but deluded
captain sensible
calm natural leader
guru
dumb but attractive
ditzy
neurotically organised
insecure joker
bastard tyrant
just-wants-to-be-liked
cassandra
clumsy but eager
slippery bastard
needy tyrant
drama queen
loose cannon
super cool
livewire
mischievous
shameless social climber
angry crusader
sycophant
wounded puppy
mystical
bundle of nerves
floaty, indecisive
loud, brash, cheerful
world-weary
seen-it-all
childish
soft-hearted
smug
gruff and unfeeling
overgrown adolescent
pompous buffoon

parent and child*
married/co-habiting
flatmates
friends
colleagues
strangers
cousins*
siblings*
an unmarried couple
dating
friends with benefits
vague acquaintances
former colleagues
rivals
divorced
in-laws*

at a job interview*
researching family history
playing a late night game of cards
saying goodnight at the end of a date*
a local candidate doorstepping a constituent*
on a date*
a new recruit and their instructor*
a pest controller and customer*
in hospital, one visiting the other by their bed
celebrating committing the perfect murder
defusing a bomb
a PI and a suspicious spouse*
generals discussing military strategy*
a doctor and patient*
a nurse and an anxious relative*
reading a missing child poster
giving/getting IT advice
exchanging a bribe*
rehearsing a script
a prisoner and their parole officer*
having a quiet walk in the park
thinking of getting a pet
dealing with a baby found in a basket
an agent and potential tenant viewing a flat*
creating a disguise
waking up in bed together*
an employer and about-to-be-fired employee*
conducting a police interrogation*
at a work party
planning a surprise party
planning/executing a heist
having a driving lesson
playing Monopoly
saying thanks for your help
breaking/receiving bad news
removing a bullet from a wound
returning/receiving a defective item*
bartender and customer*
arriving at a hotel with the wrong luggage
warming up for a game
recording a podcast
looking for a closing time hookup*
reuniting after a long absence
planning a trip
waiter/waitress and customer ordering in a restaurant*
boss and an employee about to quit*
at an audition*
assembling furniture
talking privately teacher-to-pupil*
spending their first night in prison*
breaking up*
asking to borrow money
birth parent and adopted child meeting for the first time*
waiting for a bus
doing a pregnancy test
at a band rehearsal
waking up after a one-night-stand*
a traffic cop and driver they’ve pulled over*
getting ready for a night out
having a music lesson*
getting a tattoo done*
discussing a relationship
on a stakeout
a hitman/woman and their intended victim*
a celeb and fan getting a selfie*
trying to patch things up
trying to write poetry
hiding from an attacker
giving/receiving an inspiring speech
psychiatrist and patient*
cooking together
hostage and kidnapper*
watching news of an alien invasion
discussing the night before
new neighbours meeting for the first time*
buying/selling drugs
resolving childhood difficulties
discussing their sexual history
doing first aid
waiting for an ambulance
mugger and victim*
spying on their neighbours
witnesses to a crime
dealing with a bereavement
stuck in a lift
conducting a job performance review*
conducting a newspaper interview*
a cop arresting a suspect*
lost and asking directions*
exchanging a borrowed item
a burglar and homeowner*
calling/answering a helpline*
a fortune teller and customer*
investigating a crime scene*
recording a birthday video message
pitching a movie idea
a lawyer and their powerful client*
planning their wedding*
paying the bill after dinner

has forgotten they once slept together*
lacks self belief
keeps overcomplicating things
is certain that the game is up
is bad at the job/task
remembers when things were very different
wants to be alone
is frustrated by hipsters
doesn’t speak English
just needs a hug
has heard a rumour about the other one
is an undercover cop
is struggling to say how they really feel
has disappointingly low standards
wants revenge
is on the brink of a panic attack
has amnesia
is being very careful not to appear racist
is concerned by gender or sexuality
has a secret
has just woken up
sees a bad omen
is still pining for an old flame
is out of their depth
needs the toilet
is afraid of being found out
finds the other unrelatable because they don’t like e.g. garlic
can’t remember an important name
is sleeping with the other’s partner
is phoning it in
has had their clothes turned pink by a red sock
is really tired
is not feeling well
is drunk
has conflicting political views
comes in fancy dress
can’t stop coughing
keeps oversharing personal info
is sexually inappropriate*
has an impenetrable accent
is not interested
has too many other worries
doesn’t understand
is too young
mistakenly thinks they’re playing footsie/flirting*
is flirting*
is depressed
is offended by swearing
is stoned
is embarrassed by a clothing choice
is unfairly blaming the other
is high on coke
looks like Jesus
is very hard to please
is in a relationship that’s falling apart
is overqualified
fears they have been betrayed
has a nosebleed
is having traumatic flashbacks
is ashamed of what they are/what they’ve done
has an ingenious approach
is having second thoughts
is there against their will
is a fraud
hasn’t forgiven an old wound
thinks it’s immoral
can’t afford it
has a better idea
thinks the other is lying
is too scared to speak
refuses to accept what’s happening
hears a strange noise
blames themselves for everything
is jealous
was brought up in a cult
is being too selfish
sees it as a way to make (more) money
thinks their hair is falling out
is getting too old for this shit
wants to go home
feels disrespected
thinks it’s all a joke
is enjoying it far too much
is distracted by their phone
is a ghost
has just been poisoned
is being passive aggressive
needs to be somewhere else
blames the patriarchy
admits they may have made a mistake

Amelya Goldy

I had the most amazing experience getting my 2-scene showreel for my Spotlight. From start to finish, Dave listened to my needs, and wrote powerful varied scripts accordingly. The team was great (Dave, his DOP Jessie, and the other actors). We filmed in a great location that Dave had scouted. He is someone who really cares about the actors - everyone then get the best out of the scenes. He directs well too, and makes everyone feel comfortable on set. The editing and final videos were worth the wait, so I would highly recommend Showreels from Scratch.

Ben Crick

Fantastic experience with Dave. I shot a couple of scenes with him for my showreel, and the entire process was faultless. The scenes he wrote were perfect for my type & my style, and they felt really natural to perform while also being layered & complex. On the day, Dave was really collaborative to work with and made sure all actors felt comfortable. He seemed to know exactly how to bring out the best in each actor, and after each take would present notes & additional thoughts that helped us to go a step further. The quality of the footage is incredibly high, and the production value is really strong, from the framing to colour grading. I’m immensely grateful to Dave & the whole of the Showreels from Scratch team for everything, and am really exited to put my scenes onto my showreel.

Maria Poveda

Had a really great experience working with Dave and the team at Showreels from Scratch. The whole process felt very collaborative and professional, from developing the scenes to filming day itself. Dave really listens to the type of material you want and creates scenes that feel natural and tailored to you. Would definitely recommend to any actor looking for personalised showreel material.

Angelina Smyschlajew

I can wholeheartedly recommend working with Dave. I was so happy to find someone who truly listened to my ideas and brought them to life in such a strong and thoughtful way. He organized everything seamlessly, from casting great scene partners to keeping the whole process running smoothly, while also being very understanding of my own scheduling challenges. On set, the atmosphere was incredibly comfortable and collaborative, and I felt I could both learn and grow through the experience. In the end, my agency was genuinely impressed with the material we created, and I’m confident it will give my career a real boost.

Joe Walsh

After approaching Dave after watching some of his work on his website, Dave made the process of creating two scenes that I had in my head come to life.he was open to my ideas and threw some ideas of his own in there too, If this is your first showreel or just wanting a refresher I highly highly recommend using showreels from scratch. Thanks again Dave - Joe Walsh

Aram Esezobor

I really enjoyed working with Dave. He was very professional and allowed me to feel really relaxed during the whole filming process. He is patient, reliable and gives constructive guidance while you work with him. 100% recommend him.

Your random showreel scene idea

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