Filmmaker Resume—Examples, Template & 25+ Writing Tips

Is your filmography something that film buffs rattle off to impress their dates? No?

Then you’ll be needing a filmmaker resume in the meantime—

One that shows a firm hand and steady vision.

Whether encoded in 8K HDR or lovingly etched in silver halide—

Your filmmaker resume is the opening shot on your career.

Here’s how to frame it for best effect.

In this guide:

• A filmmaker resume template better than most.
• How to create the perfect filmmaker job descriptions for your resume.
• How to edit together a resume for filmmaker jobs that stands out in high contrast.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a filmmaker job.

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Looking to get into graduate school? The theater? Teaching? We’ve got all the guides a career-jump-cut-loving filmmaker could want:

• Film Resume Example
• Video Editor Resume Example
• Production Assistant Resume Example
• Career Change Resume Example
• Acting Resume Template
• Art Director Resume Example
• Makeup Artist Resume Example
• Music Resume Example
• Independent Contractor Resume
• Videographer Resume Example
• Photographer Resume Example 
• Theater Resume Example
• Freelance Resume Example
• Resume Examples for All Jobs

Filmmaker Resume Template

Now here’s how to write a filmmaker resume that gets standing ovations:

1. Choose the Right Filmmaker Resume Format

You don’t just start filming without making hundreds of decisions first.

The biggest ones involve framing the narrative and—

Choosing a format.

It’s the same with your filmmaker resume:

Sketch out the overall structure first, order your sections, and move onto blocking out each act.

Here’s how to make your resume format clean and clear:

Filmmaker Resume Format

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format if you’ve been working either full or part-time, it’ll put your latest and greatest work front and center.
• Go with a functional resume format if you’ve been working freelance—this guide will push on with a reverse-chronological format, though.
• Choose a sleek resume font like a Noto or Arial in 11–12 pt.
• Leave the resume margins at one inch and space everything out as much as possible.
• Submit a one-page resume. You can go to a maximum of two pages if you have over 20 years of experience.
• Include these things on your resume: Header, Summary of Qualifications, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Plan ahead for extra sections to add to your resume.
• In your resume header add only your name and surname, telephone number, and email address. You can also mention your portfolio link.

Make writing your resume easier by using a resume builder. Choose a modern resume template that’s easy on the eye.

Expert Hint: When it comes to preserving your layout, PDF is like a Region 0 DVD whereas *.docx is like a cardboard box filled with analogue tapes, unlabeled HDDs, and clumps of Post-It notes. That said, always check the job ad and use whatever format they require.

2. Open With a Tantalizing Filmmaker Resume Objective or Summary

How to start a resume? Write a resume profile.

It works just like a movie trailer:

You need it to pick out the highlights of your resume and show what you’ve got to offer.

Got experience?

Start with a resume summary.

Use:

1. One adjective (efficient, reliable, proficient)
2. Job title (Director, Editor, Director of Photography)
3. Years of experience (3+, 5+)
4. What you bring to the table (creative vision, cost-effectiveness)
5. Two or three impressive achievements (hired 13 crew members, completed 11 projects under budget)

These resume summary examples show how:

Filmmaker Resume Example—Resume Summary

Efficient filmmaker with 5+ years’ experience working with mid-sized crews on projects for film and television. Seeking opportunity to bring unique vision into harmony with Silenced Arms Media’s catalog. At Skidstone Media, streamlined production schedules, saving two weeks and almost 10% of the budget, delivered 98% of projects on time and 87% of projects under budget.

Creative filmmaker with 5 years’ experience working on projects for film and television. Seeking opportunity to wow Silenced Arms Media. At Skidstone Media, organized production schedules and ensured projects were finished on time and within budget.

Neither example is bad, right?

They’re both pretty good—

But ‘pretty good’ is always trumped by ‘better’.

The first one is better because:

• It’s concrete.
• It contains quantified resume achievements.
• It’s focused on what you can do for them.
• It contains keywords from the job ad (like the name of the company) so that you have an ATS-friendly resume.

All well and good, but what if you don’t have any formal work experience?

Here’s what:

Write a career objective and zoom in on achievements from your studies, private projects, and any volunteer work you’ve done.

Filmmaker Resume Objective

Passionate filmmaker with experience in leading projects for online publication and social media. Seeking opportunity to bring up-to-date technical knowledge and fresh creative vision to bear on Silenced Arms Media’s projects. Wrote and edited the Hellmouth Horror Award-winning “Pavlov’s Dogs Bite Back”.

Ambitious filmmaker with no formal experience but many amateur projects, including two award-winning ones. Looking for forward-looking studio to spread creative wings.

Once again, the first one wins by including relevant achievements, being specific, and focusing on what you can do for the employer.

Expert Hint: Leave writing your resume profile until last. You don’t start putting together a trailer before the film is mostly finished, it’s the same here.

3. Create the Perfect Filmmaker Job Descriptions and Skills Section

There’s a common theme here:

Achievements are superstars—

Duties and responsibilities just unpaid extras.

Give your resume work history an all-star cast.

How to write job descriptions for filmmakers:

1. The job ad is your storyboard, re-read it carefully.
2. Lock focus on all the duties, skills, and attributes mentioned there.
3. Think of times you used those skills in bringing benefits to employers.
4. Write resume bullet points that tell those stories, briefly and concretely (with numbers!).

These filmmaker resume examples show how:

Filmmaker Job Description for a Resume

Director

Skidstone Media, Los Angeles, CA

2017–2020

• Streamlined the production schedules of two parallel crews, saving two weeks and almost 10% of the budget.
• Personally edited over 77 hours of footage using Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve.
• Delivered 98% of projects on time and 87% of projects under budget.
• Interviewed and hired 11 new crew members.

Director

Skidstone Media, Los Angeles, CA

2017–2020

• Managed production schedules.
• Edited footage using Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve.
• Delivered most projects on time and under budget.
• Interviewed and hired new crew members.

IMAX vs Super 8.

Struggling to capture short and sweet achievements and put numbers to them?

Use accomplishment statements to help frame your achievements.

Writing an entry-level filmmaker resume?

Put the selective focus on achievements from related, non-filmmaker jobs.

Achievements are about showing rather than telling—

But there’s a place here for telling, too:

A list of skills for a resume.

Just don’t make your skills section an anthology of skills lists you found online.

To give you a sense of direction, here’s a skills list—

That you found online.

Skills for a Filmmaker Resume

• Budgeting
• Cost estimation
• Planning
• Scheduling
• Editing
• Post-production
• Lighting
• Project management
• Open source software: Shotcut, DaVinci Resolve, Kdenlive, Blender
• Proprietary software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects
• Communication skills
• Collaboration
• Leadership
• Visual storytelling
• Written storytelling
• Oral storytelling
• Time management
• Organization
• Mentoring
• Motivation

Include only those skills that are relevant to the job ad. It’s called targeting a resume and makes it easier for the document to pass the ATS scan. Aim at a mix of 5-10 soft and technical skills.

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4. Capitalize on Your Formal Training and Schooling

Your portfolio counts above all else—

But it’d be a mistake to neglect your education.

A big mistake, and one that too many filmmakers make.

The basics are simple:

Degree, school, dates attended.

But then:

Add bullet points that speak to achievements and skills.

This is an example of what and how:

Filmmaker Resume Example—Education Section

BA in Film & Television Production, USC Sunnydale

2011–2015

• President of the Betamax club, 2012–2015
• Won People’s Choice Award at final project film showing, 2015

That’s all there is to it and yet—

It makes such a huge difference.

Low on filmmaker experience?

Expand your education section even more by including projects, coursework, and accomplishments that show both technical and soft filmmaker skills.

Expert Hint: Lying on a resume in never a good idea. Experienced recruiters and hiring managers will quickly see through it.

5. Splice Some Extra Sections into Your Filmmaker Resume

Look at your work experience and skills sections—

Doesn’t quite paint a full picture of your work? Worried you don’t stand out enough on paper?

Add one or two extra resume sections:

• Independent Projects
• Foreign Languages
• Classes Taken
• Awards and Accolades
• Hobbies, Activities, and Interests
• Volunteering
• Certifications
• Professional References

These two filmmaker resume examples show the mark:

Filmmaker Resume Sample—Extra Sections

Awards

• Giles’ Cerebral Film Award for “Downstream Monotone”, 2018
• Hellmouth Horror Award for “Pavlov’s Dogs Bite Back”, 2015

Independent Projects

• “Downstream Monotone” (2018) – Short Film (Writer, Director)
• “Cuddly Pharma” (2015) – Parody (Director)
• “Rapture Times” (2014) – Online Documentary (Director)
• “Pavlov’s Dogs Bite Back” (2014) – Short Film (Writer, Editor)

Awards

• Giles’ Cerebral Film Award
• Hellmouth Horror Award

Hobbies

• Hosting a YouTube channel on political issues
• Collecting matchbooks (by mail order)

Is there any doubt? Who would you hire?

Hobbies and interests are absolutely fine, but—

They have to be relevant—that’s the golden rule for anything you put in your filmmaker resume.

One last take—

You’ll need a filmmaker cover letter, unless you’ve been asked not to include one.

Writing a cover letter isn’t nearly as difficult as a Tarkovsky film. Failing to include one is a great way to end up in the wrong pile.

Expert Hint: A filmmaker might be asked for more than a written resume. See how to create a video resume worthy of being featured in Cannes.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

For a filmmaker resume that gets eyes on your portfolio:

Use the filmmaker resume template up above. It’s as clean and focused as Mouchette.

Put filmmaker achievementsin your summary/objective, work history, and education sections—you’ve got achievements even if you’re low on paid work experience.

Choose the right filmmaker skills. It’s about what the job ad requires, not what you feel looks best, at least not first and foremost.

Write a filmmaker cover letter. Make it stand out by making it into a highlights reel of achievements, curated with the same passion you bring to your filmmaking.

Need more information or clarification on something covered here? Anything to add? Let us know in the comments section below. We’ll be glad to get back to you.

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