
Modern Resume Templates (18 Examples for 2023)
Modern resume design for the modern day resume. See creative samples and follow our guide to make the best modern resume that will land you the job.
You don’t need an expensive budget or a massive crew to write an award-winning filmmaker resume. With our expert advice you’ll avoid those tricky continuity errors.
Ring, ring, ring. It’s your agent. He’s calling to ask if you’d like to make a film for A24. They know you’ve already committed to Amazon Studios next year, so they’re offering a juicy contract with additional royalties. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Hold up—Not a familiar situation yet?
If you’re early on in your film career and haven’t yet built up a portfolio that speaks for itself, you’ll need a bangin’ filmmaker resume to make the above scenario a possibility. Use this guide 'til you get your big break.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.
Interested in other behind-the-screen jobs? See these resume guides:
Nathaniel Bennett
nate.w.bennett@gmail.com
(834) 875-2996
vimeo.com/natebennett
Highly-motivated narrative filmmaker with 10+ years of visual storytelling experience directing, filming, editing, and producing video content. Eager to bring a fresh perspective to Turner Media. Produced and directed an award-winning mini documentary series for an independent film studio that has been viewed by 5M+. Have an extensive portfolio that demonstrates originality in everything from television series, short films, corporate videos, and commercials.
Filmmaker / Director
Tigersgate Media, Los Angeles, CA
August 2018–May 2020
Filmmaker / Editor
Urban Independent Media, New York, NY
September 2014–July 2018
2008–2012 BA, Film Studies
The Los Angeles Film School
Here’s how to write your own Oscar-winning filmmaker resume:
Filmmakers are involved in the making, filming, and production of films. Depending on the role, they could describe themselves as a producer, director, editor or cinematographer. The purpose of your filmmaker resume is to show you have both the technical film skills and the people skills to create compelling visual stories.
Employment in the film industry is the highest it’s ever been. But that doesn’t mean the industry is getting any less cutthroat, especially for up and coming filmmakers. To get off the ground, you’ll need your filmmaker resume to show you have skills worthy of an Academy.
Follow these tips like you would the classic three-act format to avoid writing a filmmaker resume that would confuse the hiring manager more than Primer:
Read more: Best Resume Outline
Regardless whether you make independent films on a shoe-string budget or work in a corporate office, your resume profile is where you sell yourself and potentially the only thing HR will read. It usually comes in two forms: a resume objective and resume summary.
Your resume summary or objective acts as an elevator pitch: a brief and concise description of your filmmaking experience/skills and why you’re the perfect film professional for the role.
Here are tips on when and how to write a resume profile:
Pro Tip: A great portfolio will speak for itself. Starting a resume the right way is important, but an online blog or website that can be easily sent to potential employers will show spunk and initiative.
Both Werner Herzog and a film student could call themselves a filmmaker. It’s broad enough to mean everything from filming to directing to producing to editing. Use your resume experience section to explain where your talents lie:
Pro Tip: The goal is to make your resume match the job description. If you’re applying to a corporate position, highlight your experience with commercials. And likewise if you’re applying at an independent studio, mention the quirky short film in your portfolio that won an award.
Film school won’t make or break your career. After all, only 50% of job openings for directors require a Bachelor’s degree. But if you have it, flaunt it. Here’s how to list your degree on your resume:
Pro Tip: If you’ve just graduated and are wondering how to write a resume with no work experience, put your education section first and follow it with your volunteer or freelance work experience.
Wondering what skills to put on your resume as a filmmaker? Follow these guidelines:
Use the list below for reference.
Pro Tip: If you are lacking certain technical equipment skills, try networking and finding a project you can contribute to in order to build contacts and gain experience in the industry. It’s all about getting experience and building contacts.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Use this part of your resume to highlight what you’ll add to the set that others can’t:
Pro Tip: List your biggest awards higher on your resume profile to give them more visibility.
Not sure whether or not to include a cover letter or not? Don’t give any excuses for your resume to be left unread, let the HR manager decide the importance of your cover letter.
Follow these filmmaker cover letter writing tips:
Pro Tip: Most importantly, you have to follow up on your job application. Show your enthusiasm and a get-things-done attitude by calling or emailing within a week of applying.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
That does it—
Now that you have a great resume for filmmaker jobs, you can get back to where you belong—behind the camera.
Do you have any advice for filmmakers resumes? What do you wish you had known when you started out making films and looking for gigs? Let us know below in the comment section. We’d love to hear from you!
Modern resume design for the modern day resume. See creative samples and follow our guide to make the best modern resume that will land you the job.
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