RESUME TIPS
getting the job
After you are certified and in the Utah Film Commission directory, it is time to get that first job! What do film industry professionals look for in a resume? The answer is pretty basic. As with most professions, people don't have a lot of time so they want to be able to look at a resume and find the information about you quickly so they can make a decision.
Even if you don't have a lot of film experience, you can still put together a resume that is professional and easy to read.
See below to learn about the relevant parts of the resume, do's and don'ts and a few examples including a resume template.
The Utah Film Commission is committed to helping you find your way, no matter where you are in your career path. We want to foster the development of our local talent and crew whether you are a student at a local university, interested in training programs or are just looking to be an extra so you can experience for yourself what life is like on set. Please visit the Local Resources for more information.
SECTIONS OF THE RESUME
objective/summary
Use an objective so that you can describe, in a few sentences, the job for which you are applying. Be realistic. If this is your first job, do not say that you want to be the Director of Photography but rather that you are looking for a position in the camera department or that you are looking for on set experience. Unless you are blindly sending your resume to production companies, usually you are applying for a specific job and your objective should be specific to that position.
Alternatively or in addition to, you can also include a summary which gives a high level description of the experience you have to date.
TV/Film Production experience
The organization of your film/TV production experience should be listed. Include the following information: name of show, dates of show, production name, production company name and producer or production manager that hired you. If your list is long, cut out old projects.
If you are a student applying for your first job, it is ok to list student projects but after you start working and have experience, you should delete those projects.
other experience
If you are new to the industry and have other experience that is relevant, you can list it in this section. This includes everything from working in a restaurant to delivering food. After you have sufficient experience, you can delete this section.
education
List your education including degree, major and school. You do not need to list dates unless you are still in school and can list your expected graduation date.
Additional Skills
In this section, list any software programs or skills/certifications relevant to the industry. If the list is long, you can separate certifications into their own section. Be sure to include software programs like MS Office, Final Draft, MM Scheduling or Budgeting, Adobe products; any other skills like second languages; and of course the PA Certification or Grip & Electric Certification Workshops!