Film CV—Template and 25+ Writing Tips

In the film industry, opportunity is rife.

Not everyone will make the final cut.

Writing an effective film CV 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:

• A film CV template to land your dream job.
• The best structuring and formatting tips for your film production CV.
• Good and bad examples of filmmaker templates to help you get it right.

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If you’re looking for other CV examples for creative fields, check our guides:

• Acting CV
• Theatre CV
• Production Assistant CV
• Artist CV
• Dance CV
• Photographer CV
• Graphic Design CV
• Video Editor CV
• Videographer CV
• Hairdresser CV
• Musician CV
• Journalist CV

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our professional CV examples.

Film CV Template You Can Copy and Use

Now here’s how to write a film CV like this:

1. Choose the Correct Format for a Film CV

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 CV in order, too, tot show you are organised and pay attention to detail. Format your CV the right way:

Film CV Format

• Choose an inoffensive, classic CV font—such as Calibri, Cambria, or Noto. Don’t go smaller than size 10.
• The reverse-chronological format will bring the most recent and relevant things to the top—this is the format people are used to reading.
• Use at least 1-inch margins for your CV.
• Limit your CV length to one page.
• Structure your CV the following way: Contact Information, Summary, Experience, Education, and Additional.
• Save your CV as a PDF—this will keep the formatting intact.

Once you have formatted your film production CV to catch the attention, it’s time to write a captivating script. 

2. Write a Convincing Film CV Objective Or Summary

You don’t have long to convince them.

In fact, you only have 7 seconds. 

Your film production CV must convey the most important facts about you rapidly and effectively.

The best way to do this is by using a CV summary or objective. 

This short paragraph explains your key competencies to save the recruiter having to skim through the whole CV for relevant information.

Most CVs will have one. 

How to make sure the hiring manager zooms in on your film CV, instead of panning to another one?

Describe your achievements, not just your responsibilities and tasks.

Here’s an example:

Film Producer CV—Summary Examples

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 example, on the other hand,...

How to get a job in the film industry with no experience?

If you do not possess relevant experience or are a film student, opt for a film CV 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.

Here’s an example:

Film Student CV—Objective Sample

The bad example is ridiculous. Or is it? 

It could be the same person.

For most people, if we verbalised 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 CV 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 430 000 jobs since 2017, up from 406 000 in 2016. To maximise your chances in this kind of environment, it may be best to take some time and personalise your CV.

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3. Write a Captivating Film Production Job Description

If you can’t make your work experience sound exciting, that script of yours is probably not getting made.

Most of film CV examples will describe what they did. 

“Planning, organising, 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 CV job description. Use CV action words such as improved, directed, developed. Take a look at these examples:

Film CV Examples—Film Crew Job Descriptions 

It’s obvious who’s getting an invitation to the premiere. 

How to list film credits on a CV?

Credits are king. 

This, in many eyes, is the most important component of your film CV.

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.

Here’s how to list film credits on a CV:

• Prioritise the largest, most serious productions.
• If you have worked in a range of functions, display that to show your multitude of talents and experiences.
• List the title and year, then film type (short, advert, full-feature, etc.), and your position. List awards if any.

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.

Film Credits on a CV

4. Add Film Production CV Skills

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 skills section.

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 CV:

Film CV Skills

Hard Skills:

• Copyright Acquisition
• Budgeting and Cost Estimation
• Planning & Scheduling
• Technical Equipment (list types and models relevant to your position) 
• Software: Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid, other editing software

Soft Skills:

• Written and Visual Storytelling
• Decisive Leadership
• Time Management
• Organisation and Management
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Creativity & Problem-Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Attention to Detail

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.

5. List Your Education On Your Film CV

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 theatre 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 utilised in film production operations.

Film CV Example—Education

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 CV.

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 CV.

6. Make the Final Cut—Embolden Your Film CV With Other Sections

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 CV:

Film CV—Additional Sections

• Private / Additional Projects
• Awards 
• Certifications
• Industry Events and Conferences

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: Depending on where you’re applying, you may have to supply a cover letter. A cover letter is the place where you get a chance to become more than just a list of parameters, so use that opportunity if it’s there.

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Key Points

To make sure your film CV makes the cut, keep this in mind:

• Start with the film CV template to help you keep the right structure and order. 
• Try your best to describe your achievements, not your responsibilities in your film CV summary and job description. 
• List your film credits. Remember—film name, date, type, and your position.
• Highlight your skills. See the job offering for what they expect, and present yourself as a worthy candidate. 
• Compose a film cover letter. It’s a chance to exercise your convincing storytelling.

Do you have any specific questions? Did we help you write a film CV? Leave a comment! We want to hear from you. 

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