Cinematographers have an interesting work life. But, let’s face it: being a cinematographer isn’t easy. It requires skills, experience, and tons of creativity.
A Cinematographer is responsible for capturing all the visuals you see on TV, on film, or on any other video production. Succeeding as a cinematographer would require creative and robust visual innovation. Students go to far-off places to learn how to handle the camera equipment and understand the shot composition.
If you are a cinematographer looking for the right project to work on, you would also need a resume. Big production houses are perhaps waiting for talented professionals like you, but you can’t catch their attention without a compelling resume.
Here’s a quick post about how you can write a compelling cinematographer resume. Keep reading to find out!
Why Invest Time Building an Excellent Resume for Cinematographers?
There are many production houses, but they also skim through thousands of applications daily. What makes YOU exclusive? Why should they hire you for the project?
It’s a competitive world, so you can’t be ordinary. When you make a compelling resume as a cinematographer, the clients can take a look at your experience and education, and some even share their previous works.
You have to be better than the rest! Although we are believers in actions and not words, you should still create a stellar resume for employers to look at.
The Four Characteristics Every Cinematographer Resume Should Possess
Your resume should be crispy – no beating around the bush. As a cinematographer, you must convince the employer that you are qualified, skilled, and highly talented.
So, there are about four characteristics that a cinematographer resume should possess.
#1 Sum up your skills and experience
Use crisp and concise sentences to describe your work experience and skills. Even if you have done an internship in the past, it will count in your resume.
Mention the specialised abilities so that the employer knows your ‘superpowers.’
#2 Highlight your Skills
Take a good look at the job description, and then start writing the skills you possess. But, first, you must ask yourself, ‘Do I have all those skills listed in the job description?’ If yes, you have a high chance of getting the job. But the employer does not know about your skills, so make sure you list them in the resume.
Mention both technical and interpersonal skills. Possessing technical skills is great, but the employer wants to know whether you can lead a team or work smoothly under pressure.
#3 Showcase your Work History
Highlight the achievements in previous roles. Was your employer or the production house pleased with your work? There is always a way to get a testimonial from your previous employer.
You could write something like, ‘Shot an award-winning film using 4K video.’ You must highlight the roles you have played and the equipment you have handled in the past.
#4 Listing Your Educational Qualification
Cinematographers do their graduation and postgraduation from different universities.
It would be best if you listed your educational qualifications in the resume. This is a non-negotiable form of data. Employers will know that you are from a reputable university and have a formal cinematography education. It’s a cherry on the cake for them!
Finding the Right Template for Your Resume
Although it is a personal preference, employers are not exactly looking for a fancy resume.
You want to keep the resume as neat and crisp as you can. It should be a quick overview of what you studied, what you did in the past, and whether you have the skills to do the job.
Being a cinematographer is all about skills, creativity, and knowledge. Suppose you possess these three things – your chances of getting into the industry increase by several notches. A fancy template won’t help you much! Also, ensure the resume is concise and not too long because employers lose interest.
List all the Collaborations, Internships, and Related Jobs
Internships are relevant. Most successful people start their journey with an internship. It’s an opportunity to learn. And if you were doing an internship at a reputable organisation or production house, you would get extra brownie points.
List all the collaborations, internships, and related jobs in the resume. Golden rule: do not make it too long.
Concluding Thoughts
All the pointers mentioned above are relevant, and you must follow them carefully.
Getting a job as a cinematographer should not be a tough task for someone as talented as you. However, you need to forward your resume to get the project of your dreams!
So, ensure your resume is compelling and has everything the employer needs to know about you.