Film Resume Examples and Writing Tips for 2024

Film Resume Template (Text Format)

Start by choosing the best resume format for you.

Copy-and-Paste Film Resume Template

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

RESUME SUMMARY

Dedicated filmmaker with [number] years of experience. Seeking to leverage my experience in [relevant abilities] to fill the [Job Title] position. Hold a [degree/diploma/certification] in [Degree/Diploma/Certification Title]. Skilled at [2–3 relevant skills]. A [adjective #1] and [adjective #2] worker aiming to contribute to the success of [Company Name].

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Current Job Title (e.g., Filmmaker)Company/Organization Name, City, State | Month 20XX–Present

• Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a filmmaker
• Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “develop” or “manage”) to grab attention
• Use the present tense for your current film industry role, unless describing a completed project, film, or production
• Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a filmmaker
• Mention how you’ve used some of the filmmaking skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate your mastery of these abilities

Previous Job Title (e.g., Freelance Filmmaker)Company/Organization Name, City, State | Month 20XX–Month 20XX

• List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a filmmaker
• Assuming you’re no longer working in this role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
• Include 3–6 bullet points for each film industry role, both your current one and previous ones
• Skip the pronoun “I” and begin directly with a verb
• Although you’ll usually list work experience, feel free to include filmmaking-related internships as well as any volunteer work and extracurricular activities if you lack formal work experience

EDUCATION

Degree Name / Major
University, City, State | Graduation Month, Year
GPA: 3.X/4.0 (optional)
Latin honors (if applicable)

SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS

• List skills and certifications relevant to the film job you’re applying for
• Look at the job description for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common in the film industry
• Emphasize filmmaking-specific hard skills and technical skills in this section
• Be as specific as possible by including names of tools, equipment, and software you’ve mastered that are used in the film industry

OPTIONAL RESUME SECTIONS

• Add any other relevant information about your background here
• For example, a separate section could be used to highlight any of the following information: filmmaking-related awards, publications, or coursework, as well as languages and volunteer experience

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The following sample film resumes are sure to be the inspiration you need to write your own resume.

Entry-level film resume

If you’re an entry-level filmmaker looking to get your first job in the film industry, use the following example resume as a guide as you make your own:

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Example highlights

• Film projects: This entry-level filmmaker has listed some of their past film projects on their resume under the professional experience section of their resume. This can not only help fill out a page when you lack formal employment experience, but also entices potential employers to view the rest of their portfolio online.
• Includes website: In the personal information section near the top of the resume, the applicant has included a link to their website where they post their film work. Showing your employers examples of your work is a great way to tell them more about yourself as a filmmaker, after their interest has been piqued by your professional resume.

Film student resume

As a film student, you should create a resume that highlights the projects you’ve completed as part of your film school coursework, like the example below:

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Example highlights

• Education moved to the top: As a current film student, this applicant has written their resume with the education information at the top. This is a great way to emphasize their education, as it draws the reader’s attention to their school and degree details.
• Diverse filmmaking projects: To show that they have a wide range of filmmaking experiences, they have presented three of their major film projects with bullet points that look like job experience bullet points, complete with quantified resume accomplishments.

Producer resume

A producer resume should include enough information about the films you’ve produced, and the teams you’ve worked with. Here’s an example of what that looks like:

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Example highlights

• Impressive summary: The resume summary at the top of this film producer’s resume expertly summarizes their more than six years of experience in the job. In it, they’ve listed their key skills as well as what they hope to accomplish in the role they’re applying for.
• Emphasis on management: As a producer, this applicant will be expected to manage teams of people and work with large budgets. By emphasizing their experience managing cast, directors, and team members, as well as working with a $20M+ budget, they signal to employers that they’ve got the experience and know-how to succeed in a producer role.

Production assistant resume

A good production assistant resume should focus on how you contributed to film productions and the tools that you used to do so. This example shows you how it’s done:

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Example highlights

• Wide-ranging skills: This production assistant has included a long list of production tools that they know how to use in the skills section of their resume. This is a good way to show employers the breadth of their skills, and is especially effective with the two-column resume design they’ve used.
• Certification: The applicant has also included a Production Assistant Bootcamp certification, which lets hiring managers see how they’ve remained dedicated to their industry after graduating from college.

Average film producer salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states in the USA.

How to write a film resume

Whether you’re new to the film industry, or a seasoned professional, you need a resume that showcases your technical skills, artistic vision, and practical experience.
Follow these tips to create an effective film resume:

1. Highlight your filmmaking skills

Film professionals need more than creative skills to be successful. Employers for jobs in film seek proficiency in various technical skills, from video composition to sound design.

In the skills section of your resume, include any experience with technical equipment or industry software. Also, include some relevant soft skills — soft skills like collaboration, communication, and adaptability are desirable for film professionals and help employers see how you’ll fit into the team.

Here are some common film skills to include in your resume:

• Script analysis
• Film and sound editing
• Cast and crew management
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Final Cut Pro
• Preproduction software (StudioBinder)
• Editing (photo, video, sound)
• ProTools
• Storytelling
• DaVinci Resolve
• Budgeting
• Collaboration
• Casting
• Set design
• Location scouting
• Communication skills
• Captioning

2. Customize your film resume to the job post

Every film job has different requirements, and employers are looking for someone with skills that are specific to the job opening. So, to improve your chances of being hired, avoid writing a “one-size-fits-all” resume.

You should only showcase the skills relevant to the job you want. Do this by taking note of the skills listed in the job description and make a point to list the ones you have on your resume.

For example, a student film you edited may be relevant for a job in video editing, but if you’re looking to be a location scout, then it may not be worth including.

Adjusting your resume to the job post shows the employer you’re qualified. This is particularly important for entry-level jobs, because hiring managers may think you don’t know what the job entails if you include irrelevant information.

3. Include film projects

Film industry roles are usually project-based, and it’s important to include your projects on your film resume. You can list them in the professional experience section of your resume, or in a separate section named “Selected Projects.”

When listing your selected film projects, be sure to include the following information:

• The type of project you’ve worked on, including genre and format
• The year it was completed, or the starting month and year and ending month and year
• Your role in the production
• Duties and responsibilities you had during the project, including any accomplishments and specific tools you used or skills you exhibited
• Where the film was released (if applicable)

Arrange this section by role if you’ve been involved in more than a few projects. Otherwise, list them chronologically according to the project completion date.

4. Achieve the ideal film resume length

Your film resume should follow standard length guidelines. Most importantly, keep your resume to a single page.

Film production crews and staff work to tight project deadlines, so hiring managers don’t have time to read a long or unorganized resume.

Unless you have more than 10 years of experience in the field, use a one-page resume. Use your resume’s space effectively and cut irrelevant experience and skills to achieve this length.

5. Include strong action verbs

Start most bullet points in your work experience section with an action verb. Strong action verbs make your film resume compelling. Using action verbs shows you’re a proactive employee.

Action verbs also illustrate your past responsibilities and the skills you’ve learned by using specific language.

Here’s a list of relevant film action verbs to include in your resume:

• Direct
• Plan
• Operate
• Set up
• Coproduce
• Scout
• Cast
• Shoot
• Manage
• Evaluate
• Assist
• Develop
• Coordinate
• Disassemble
• Edit
• Organize

Resume examples for different industries

Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.

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