Built this showreel for Flare. Here's what went into every decision: 00:00 — Cold open, no logo. Emotion first. 00:04 — First cut lands on the beat. If the music and edit don't breathe together, the whole thing collapses. 00:12 — Pacing shift. Slow down before the big moment — contrast is what makes the payoff hit. 00:22 — Brand identity lands. By this point they've felt something. Now the name means something. A showreel isn't a highlight reel. It's a story with a beginning, middle, and end. What's the first 5 seconds of your brand video doing?