Filmmaker Resume Example, Template & Guide

Lights, camera, and nothing…?! Wait, where's your filmmaker resume? No blockbuster career starts without one. If you're dreaming of red carpets and standing ovations, it's time to direct your job search like a pro.

Let's create a filmmaker resume that makes hiring managers eager to cast you in the leading role of their next big production.

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Interested in other behind-the-screen jobs? See these resume guides:

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Sample Filmmaker Resume Template

Here’s how to write your own Oscar-winning filmmaker resume:

1. Select the Right Format for Your 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:

• Use the reverse-chronological order format so that your recent work is seen first.
• Include proper resume contact information at the top.
• For a neat resume layout, use a good resume font like Calibri and a resume margin size of 1 inch on all sides.
• Save your filmmaker resume as a PDF so that your beautiful resume design doesn’t get destroyed by some computer application. 

Read more: Best Resume Outline

2. Pitch Your Pants Off in Your Resume Profile

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:

• If you have years of filmmaking experience, write a resume summary to explain who you are and what you can do. Give proof of your experience, whether that is in hours of footage produced, viewership numbers, or by mentioning achievements and awards.
• If you’re a recent film studies grad or transitioning from a different role in the film industry, write a resume objective to explain what kind of role you’re looking for and why you’d excel in it thanks to your filmmaking skills and qualifications.

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.

3. Write the Best Filmmaker Resume Job Descriptions

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:

• Include a job title, company name, dates of employment for every position.
• Use up to 5-6 bullet points per position and start each bullet with actions words.
• Reduce the number of bullet points as you get further back in your previous jobs. For old positions, just list your biggest achievements. 
• Spend more time describing how your actions led to success, rather than listing duties and responsibilities. 

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.

4. Capture the Spotlight with your Filmmaker Resume Education Section 

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:

• If you’ve been out of school for more than 5 years, only just the college name, location, attendance years, degree, major, and minors.
• If school was something more recent, use the education resume section to show some interesting accomplishments or involvements like film clubs, student competitions, and campus organizations.

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. 

5. Put Your Filmmaking Skills on Display

Wondering what skills to put on your resume as a filmmaker? Follow these guidelines:

• Make a complete list of the relevant job skills you have. Then you can select which skills are necessary for the job listing you’re applying for and incorporate them throughout the resume.
• Add technical skills for a resume such as your experience with various types of camera equipment, video editing software, sound editing software, lighting equipment, etc.
• Include both soft skills and hard skills, because the reality is no one will want to work with you if you’re as difficult on set as James Cameron.
• Highlight your creativity skills. You can’t be a filmmaker without creativity, so you need to demonstrate you have a vision.

Use the list below for reference.

Filmmaker Resume Skills

• Media production
• Narrative storytelling
• Documentaries
• Writing skills
• Leadership skills
• Creative thinking skills
• Decision-making skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Time management skills
• Project management skills
• Cinematic lighting techniques
• Final Cut Pro X
• Adobe Premiere
• Adobe After Effects
• Avid Media Composer
• Adobe Audition

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.

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6. Add Extra Sections on Your Filmmaking Resume

Use this part of your resume to highlight what you’ll add to the set that others can’t:

• Depending on the location or crew, language skills can be a huge plus.
• Add an award section to give yourself a place to brag.
• Include any hobbies or volunteer work that might give you a unique perspective.

Pro Tip: List your biggest awards higher on your resume profile to give them more visibility.

7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Filmmaking Resume

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:

• Choose a professional and creative cover letter format.
• Follow a cover letter outline that won’t let you down: introduce yourself, list your qualifications, and then ask for an interview.
• Start your cover letter strong by piquing the HR manager’s interest with your biggest achievement.
• Prove you have the skills and experience for the job at hand in your second paragraph.
• Sign off the cover letter with a call to action by asking for an interview.
• Not sure how long should a cover letter be? Make sure it fits on one page.

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:

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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.

See other resume samples related to film industry:

• Performing Arts Resume Example

• Photographer Resume Example
• Writer Resume Example
• Copywriter Resume Example
• Freelance Writer Resume Example
• Editor Resume Example
• Production Coordinator Resume Example
• Graphic Design Resume Example
• Music Resume Example
• DJ Resume
• Dance Resume Example

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!

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.statista.com/statistics/184412/employment-in-us-motion-picture-and-recording-industries-since-2001/
• https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2012.02