INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Film Production positions are at a 24% growth rate, which is much faster than average. With that said, there are currently 131,000 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 31,600 to 162,600 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Film Production jobs was $76,400 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $36,070, and the highest 10% more than $184,660.
Our conclusion? The Film Production job market is wide open for candidates.
Top film production sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write the perfect film production resume experience section
Film Production Experience Section: Checklist
- List your positions in chronological or reverse-chronological order;
- Go for 4-6 bullet points;
- Add only relevant work experience;
- Include information about the challenges you’ve faced, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve achieved;
- Use action verbs instead of filler words.
We’ve selected some of the top Film Production resumes made using the Enhancv platform to illustrate what a great experience section looks like. Use them as inspiration when building your own resume:
- Record dialog on-set
- Edit and mix dialog, SFX, foley, BGs and music
- Record and perform foley
- Produced +20 original TV series
- Produced +5 documentary films released in national theaters
- Made +10 partnerships with national & regional channels
- Director & Co-Producer: “The Far East Side: Coffee Joints” Web series (shot and edited 02/2014, Bangkok).
- Director & Producer: “Strength and Beauty” corporate commercial (shot with SFX in HD on Phantom Flex). Client: Intergems Claes Group (completed 08/2012, Belgium).
- Director & Producer: VDC TVC Laos national television commercial. Client: Vientiane Diamond Cutting Ltd. (completed 01/2012, Bangkok & Vientiane).
- Director: “DIFTAR Kalmthout” recycling awareness campaign with Belgian TV personality Martine Prenen; a viral and local Television project with company Starplanet (completed 03/2011, Antwerp).
- Director & Co-Producer: “Building your future in the capital of Europe” commercial (35mm). Client: Vesalius College (completed 05/2010, Belgium).
- Director: “Don’t Spoil the Party” commercial, viral awareness campaign (camera: Lou Berghmans). Agency: Duval Guillaume; Supported by Unicef; *Nominated at Benelux Event Awards (completed 05/2009, Belgium).
- Freelance Production Assistant for television promotions department at Belgian National Broadcasting Company (VRT). Productions included: Top Gear, National Sports Awards... (2010, Brussels).
- Freelance Production Assistant for film production co. Latcho Drom. Roles included: Casting Director, Production Assistant and Coordinator, 2nd Directors Assistant. Productions included: Cote D’or, European Commission, BNP Paribas... (2010 & 2008, Brussels).
- Created and voted on motions directly affecting the course structure.
- Catered for student coplaints.
- Exposed the student' views to couse leaders and student union staff, creating solutions for said problems.
- Managed all elements of studio episodic and independent feature film live action Production Accounting including: budgeting, cashflows, accounts payable, and payroll.
- Partnered with producers to manage day to day on set financial demands while reporting and delivering studio requirements.
- Deep collaboration with all departments to deliver long term financial goals and solve for ad hoc urgencies.
PRO TIP
Check the Film Production job description for inspiration. Look for similarities between your employer’s values and your experience.
Action verbs for your film production resume
Recommended Reads:
Film production resume: How to write a strong skills section
The ultimate film production skills section checklist:
- Balance between all kinds of hard skills – technical, analytical, etc.
- When it comes to technical skills, match them to the job description;
- Add keywords present in the job advert to pass ATS;
- Don’t forget to list transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, work ethic, and presentation skills.
Top skills for your film production resume
Pro Tools
Logic Pro Studio
EdiCue
EdiPrompt
EUCON
Self confidence
Creativity
Humor
Innovation
Storytelling
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads.
Film production resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your film production resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Film Production resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Film production resume summary: things to include and things to avoid
Job-winning film production resume summary checklist:
- Mention your total years of experience in the field;
- Highlight one or two of your top achievements;
- Avoid getting into too much detail – you’ll do that in the experience section;
- Focus on short sentences that are easy to read and add value to your application.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Include a link to your portfolio in your resume header. Most companies will require that you include one in your resume, and even if they don’t, it’s an excellent opportunity to directly show them your proudest projects.
Recommended reads:
Highlighting Education, Courses, and Certifications in Your Film Production Resume
Education section checklist:
- What? Where? What’s the result? Answer these questions when mentioning education and courses on your resume;
- Give preference to courses and degrees that are relevant to the job position;
- Be honest! Some recruiters love checking with colleges and universities to see if you’ve really been enrolled in them;
- Share more about certifications that have helped you turn into a professional, and mention the bodies that have issued them.
Top certifications for your film production resume
14 Day Video Production Challenge: Plan, Film & Edit Videos
Learn the entire videography process: storyboarding, video lighting, sound recording, cinematography, video editing+
Hollywood Film School: Filmmaking & TV Directing Masterclass
Learn How to Be a Working Hollywood Director, Take Your Filmmaking, Film School & Video Production to the Next Level.
Secrets to Successful Documentary Film Production
Go behind-the-scenes with 24-EXCLUSIVE, VIDEO-BASED lessons covering everything from the PLANNING, to the SHOOTING, and
Complete Filmmaker Guide: Become an Incredible Video Creator
Get 7 Years of Filmmaking Experience - Everything from Pre-Production to Editing - in 5 Hours
Learn Film Production - Introduction to Producing.
Motion picture basic screenplay acquisition, scheduling and budgeting (Bonus: Pitch decks and music acquisition)
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Film production resume format 101
If a couple of years ago Film Production resumes could be text files with no graphic elements, today’s recruiters need a bit more to remember you.
And yet, you can still choose between three basic resume formats:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
But when it comes to choosing the right format for your Film Production resume, there are two factors to keep in mind: your experience and whether you’re looking for an industry change.
The reverse-chronological format is the most common one. That being said, it gives recruiters exactly what they’re used to in terms of order and information. However, it’s not suitable for applicants with employment gaps or not enough experience.
We at Enhancv suggest the functional skills-based resume format for people with limited work experience who find reverse-chronological resumes irrelevant. This format showcases the applicant’s most significant accomplishments, skills, and strengths.
Don’t miss our resume format checklist:
- Go for a traditional easy-to-read resume font sized 10-12p;
- Don’t risk it: choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Make sure your Film Production resume fits in one to two pages;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid having it edited by someone else.
Looking for more tips? Check out our job-winning guide for crafting a resume that gets you remembered!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Film Production resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections for your film production resume
If the position you’re applying for allows for that, you can include some non-traditional sections in your resume. This will add a bit more depth to your application and will also give the hiring manager a better idea of who you are as a person.
Some ideas include:
A film production resume recruiters would love
You’ve drafted an amazing Film Production resume, but are still not sure whether it will make a strong first impression? After all, recruiters go over tens of resumes each day, right?
Right! And the recipe for getting their attention includes a dash of creativity.
What’s more, a creative resume is perfect for adding your personality to the mix. For example, you could mention your favorite books, quotes, movies, or even what your day usually looks like.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure your levels of creativity match the industry, the company, and the position. Otherwise, your resume might look silly and inapt.
What makes a great film production resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
