CV/Resume - how?

Jon Starr

Jon Starr

Veteran
Okay, so I've been looking for some jobs, either free or low pay over the summer for someone of my experience (which isn't much) on set of films. I've seen a few that are looking for students to be PAs on set of films, and they ask for a CV.

So I send them what I have, which gives a list of films that I've worked on including the positions that I've had on them (either my own, others, and the PA jobs), which comes out to a lot. Then at the bottom I have my competencies, languages, etc... the usual.

However I haven't been getting any response from them, and I've been sending it out to a few people alreay. I can't figure out why. I write them a nice short cover letter saying how I'm a good worker, always there, people person, I've worked on set of other films so I know how it works, etc.

Am I wrong and should I limit what I put on my CV? I have everything because I assume they want to see that their PA has lots of experience. It's not so much that it takes up two pages either. What do you put on your CV? How do you write a CV for a job in the film industry?

Any info would be helpful. I've gotten some jobs in the past, but I think those I never sent a CV, which has gotten me wondering. Of course some of those jobs have been through producers, but I got to know those producers through craigslist.
 
Send them your resume, a link to your IMdB and a link to your online reel.
You can list your credits on IMDB and it keeps you from doing it again, feels less templated and offers a little "clout" if you will, at least at the student level. They also have to download nothing and you can update it as you go. You can click on mine in my sig if it helps. It is not a resume... just a list of projects you have been a part of.
Your cover letter should NOT be a template. It has to be written for and to the person reading it or the linkage you offer will not be clicked on. Don't wind-bag it. Keep it short and to the point. It does not have to be more than a few sentences.
 
You may be not-getting-responses just because of the sheer volume of resumes, etc that most production companies receive.

I think that you have the right idea regarding resume content: experience, experience, experience. I don't even put educational background, etc on the resume any more: it's mostly just a list of credits with a short 'skills' section at the bottom, plus a second page of references...
 
Grinner, that's a great idea. I'll be sure to get that set up.

It's good to hear I'm at least doing it correctly. I mean I try to put myself in their shoes, so I try and set things up for them. I figure lots of experience would be to my benefit.

Perhaps should I take out some student productions? About half of them are student productions.

Sad-max, you're right, it may just be the sheer amount of volume. While yes there are a lot of people looking for work, sometimes I see a post the day of, and send away. Oh well, I guess some people beat me to the punch.

And yes, I always keep my cover letter short and written for the specific person I'm sending it to.
 
Listing student projects just agrivates the reader and lowers your marketability. It's understood we all did student projects, hence the yern to work in the field. Listing them is just saying you have not done any professional work in a long wind-bagging way.
Respect their time. Same with your reel. Less is more.
 
i've been feeling the same thing. after 15 or so resumes to production/post companies i just got my first response this morning from a trailer house. they received 300 resumes! i'm one of 12 they're considering, so fingers crossed. i say just keep sending em. also it seems most places do not want you to follow up. the place i heard back from even said if you call or email to follow up you will be crossed off the list.
 
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