Building Your DIY Acting Reel (With a Little Help)
Captured by: Eve Gagne
Hey friend, welcome back to The Glow Up Year! I’m Meg—actress, model, and your behind-the-scenes bestie for chasing dreams, surviving plot twists, and building something big. Around here, I keep it real: the auditions, the photo shoots, the wins, and yes—even the messy in-betweens.
Today, I want to pull back the curtain on something that’s been on my heart lately: building my own acting reel from scratch!
Celebrating Wins Along the Way
First, a little celebration—I booked my first job of the year! 🎉 It’s a Maine tourism commercial through my new agent, and it feels like such a perfect start. Booking work close to home is a rare gift in this industry, and it reminded me how important it is to pause and celebrate those little (and big) milestones along the way.
So if you’re in the middle of your own glow up, take a second to celebrate where you’re at right now—you’ve earned it.
Collaboration Makes the Work Feel Lighter
Before Coco Rocha Model Camp, I had the chance to collaborate with the insanely talented Eve Gagné on a test shoot. What started as a simple idea turned into one of the most fun, inspiring days. We played with props, pushed creative boundaries, and laughed the whole time. And here’s the best part: Eve delivered the photos back so quickly because she already knew what she wanted while we were shooting. That’s the magic of working with someone who has vision. For me, it was also a reminder that building your portfolio—or your reel—doesn’t have to feel heavy. When you collaborate with people who lift you up, it feels more like play than work.
Why I’m DIY-ing My Acting Reel
BTS on the film “Ride the Wave”
Now, onto the big project: updating my acting reel. My old clips felt outdated and didn’t reflect the roles I actually want to play. Instead of waiting around for the “perfect” role to land in my lap, I decided to write and produce my own. The plan? Three micro-short scripts, each under five pages, designed to give me powerful 20-second clips that showcase range, character arcs, and emotional depth.
The process hasn’t been solo—I leaned on my community for feedback, and I’ll rely on collaborators to bring the scripts to life. And that’s the lesson here: you don’t need a massive budget, the fanciest equipment, or permission from Hollywood to create work you’re proud of. You just need resourcefulness, community, and a willingness to start small. My “micro, micro, micro” budget means most of the spend goes toward gear rentals and feeding the crew, but the value is in the creativity we bring to the table.
The Takeaway (for You)
If you’re an actor reading this, here’s what I want you to know:
Don’t wait for someone else to hand you the role you’ve been dreaming of. Write it. Shoot it. Create it.
Collaboration is everything—find people like Eve who make the process fun, inspiring, and fast-moving.
Start small. Even a 20-second clip can showcase your talent in a way that opens big doors.
Your glow up doesn’t happen overnight—it happens one bold move, one creative risk, and one collaboration at a time. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone.
Want to learn more about creating a DIY reel? Join my monthly newsletter and we can glow up our reels together!
Until next time, keep showing up and keep dreaming bigger. Your glow up is unfolding—one bold move at a time
If you want more, I’ve got a full podcast episode on this exact topic! Check it out below.
See you in the next post, homie.
