Nobody wants to start in an adult film theater like Quentin Tarantino. Get on the fast track to the film industry with this film resume template.
Writing an effective film resume is not easy, jobs in filmmaking are besieged by legions of those who want to see their dreams on the big screen. Most candidates will end up on the editing room floor.
You’re about to learn how to breeze past them. But before that happens, you need to take—Action!
In this guide you'll find:
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If you’re looking for other resume examples for creative fields, check our guides:
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Based on an analysis of over 500,000 resumes created in our builder, we found out that*:
- Median creation time for film resumes is 23.4 minutes.
- Story pitching, Post production expertise, Script review, and Staff development were some of the most frequently added skills to film resumes.
- Cascade, Primo, and Diamond resume templates were chosen most often for film resumes.
* The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).
John Matthews
Film Production Assistant
Personal Info
1 Hollywood Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 541-321-9876
E-mail: john@matthews.com
linkedin.com/in/johnmatthews
Summary
Efficient, creative and hardworking Production Assistant with 5+ years of experience seeking to join VividProductions to maintain world-class production value. At Production House, managed to cut spending on a TV series by 8%, and the shooting schedule for a short film by 16%. Competent in all areas of film production, from grip and set tasks, through office and organizational tasks, to directing my own short films.
Experience
Film Production Assistant
Production House
2014–2019
Key Projects:
Education
Pace University, BA Film/Video Production
2008–2012
Private Projects
“Lifeless”(2013)–Short Film (Director)
“Breathe” (2013) – Short Film (Director)
“21 Seconds” (2012) – Student Film (Camera Operator)
Skills
A film production specialist is responsible for managing and coordinating various aspects of the film production process. They ensure that the project stays on schedule and within budget. They also assist the producer, secure locations, and manage the crew and cast during filming.
Now here’s how to write a film resume like this:
Film sets are chaos. Artists, visions, and egos clash. It is up to production staff to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Keep your film production resume in order, too, to show you are organized and pay attention to detail. Format your resume the right way:
Once you have formatted your film production resume to catch the attention, it’s time to write a captivating script.
Expert Hint: As someone in the film industry, you might be asked for more than a written resume. See how to create a video resume worthy of being featured in Cannes.
You don’t have long to convince them. In fact, you only have 7 seconds. Your film production resume must convey the most important facts about you rapidly and effectively. The best way to do this is by using a resume profile.
This short paragraph explains your key competencies to save the recruiter having to skim through the whole resume for relevant information. Most resumes will have one.
How to make sure the hiring manager zooms in on your film resume, instead of panning to another one? Describe your achievements, not just your responsibilities and tasks.
Here’s a great resume summary example:
While it can be hard to make or quantify your impact in lesser production or crew roles, the bad example makes no attempt. The list of tasks and responsibilities is generic, and piques zero interest in the candidate.
The good film resume example, on the other hand, shines bright like a Hollywood star!
If you do not possess relevant experience or are a film student, opt for a film resume objective.
Write a paragraph that outlines the skills you’ve mastered so far and shows exactly what the employer will get if they hire you. Display enthusiasm and passion for film by describing your projects on the film resume. Here’s an example:
The bad example is ridiculous. Or is it? It could be the same person.
For most people, if we verbalized our deepest dreams, they would sound equally wild. The key is to refer to what the employer can realistically gain from employing you, and showing some kind of track record that proves your passion. Learn more here: Student Resume Sample and Writing Tips
Expert Hint: The film industry is notoriously hard to break into, but don’t fret, there’s still plenty of room! Statista (summarising Bureau of Labour Statistics data) reports that total employment in the US film industry has been oscillating at around 256 000 jobs in 2021, down from 441 000 in 2020. To maximise your chances in this kind of environment, it may be best to take some time and personalise your resume.
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If you can’t make your work experience sound exciting, that script of yours is probably not getting made. Most of film resume examples will describe what they did. “Planning, organizing, managing…”— you could have copied that from Google.
Instead, ask yourself: what did you achieve? How well did you do what you did? and list your proudest moments in your film resume job description. Use resume action words such as improved, directed, developed. Take a look at these examples:
It’s obvious who’s getting an invitation to the premiere.
Credits are king. This, in many eyes, is the most important component of your film resume. Especially if you are a freelancer, or don’t have formal employment experience in the film industry.
Involvement in large-scale productions shows you can handle a multitude of complex tasks and work in that environment. Private projects show passion and are very important when you are just starting out so don't shy away from including them on your film resume.
Here’s how to list film credits on a resume:
If you are a freelancer, or just starting out, you could write a couple bullet points under each credit to outline your, and the production’s achievements.
Private Projects
“Lifeless”(2013)–Short Film (Director) — Awarded the Golden Elephant
“Breathe” (2013) – Short Film (Director)
“21 Seconds” (2012) – Student Film (Camera Operator)
Of course, your job description and achievements will mention many skills already, but if you have skills that extend outside the responsibilities of your current position, you could do very well with a separate list of skills for a resume.
Listing your skills can be especially helpful if you are applying for a position which you haven’t held before—Just keep it relevant.
Here are some ideas of soft and hard skills that will come handy on your film production resume:
Expert Hint: Don’t underestimate the power of networking. You should keep your colleagues and friends in the industry close, but don't forget to connect with decision makers. Attend events that you know directors, writers and other personalities will attend. Keep your network diverse.
While Quentin Tarantino didn’t need a degree to break into the film industry—You might. And since you’re here, I’m assuming you’re not Quentin… yet. Not to say you aren’t going to outshine him, but you probably don’t want to work as an usher at an adult movie theater like he did.
If you have formal education in a film-related subject, it will show you have the basics down, at least, and you’ll be able to tell a dolly from a trolley. Having a good level of education in other fields can be used to display that you have other transferable skills that can be utilized in film production operations.
Education
Pace University, BA Film/Video Production
2008–2012
Clubs & Activities:
Education
Pace University, BA Film/Video Production
2008-2012
The good example here shows achievements and an active student. The bad example is not necessarily bad—as long as you have several years of experience and many film credits under your belt. If you do—save the space and write more about your job experience and projects. Learn more in our dedicated guide to putting education on a resume.
Expert Hint: It is a good time to get into the film industry. Statista data shows that hourly wages in the US film industry are on the rise, with an average of $35.63, up almost $10 in a decade. Excited? See how to write a career change resume.
You’re almost ready to hit the theatres. Just a few final edits. To help your chances, consider adding one of the following additional sections to your resume:
Remember, keep it relevant. If you’re not sure whether to list something, put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes and ask yourself “What does this do for me?”.
Expert Hint: A cover letter is the place where you get a chance to become more than just a list of parameters. So learn how to write a cover letter and use that opportunity if it’s there.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
To make sure your film resume makes the cut, keep this in mind:
Do you have any specific questions? Did we help you write a film resume? Leave a comment! We want to hear from you.
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Dave is a career expert delivering a wide range of well-researched advice regarding the job hunting and application process. At ResumeLab, his data-driven resume and cover letter guides help readers capitalize on their potential.
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