Absolutely spent way too much time this past week trying to put together a working resume. I've not had a full-time job since January 2011 but obviously I've been working since then.
I should probably have a resume together and update it regularly, but I could count the number of requests I've had for one on a single hand since leaving a full-time position. Still, especially this past year in a new market, I'm having more and more potential clients reach out asking for something I don't have.
The past few years on average I've had 60+ jobs each year ranging from simple half-day shoots and small edits to Director/DP jobs on commercial campaigns stretching weeks to months at a time. I have buddies that seem to be working non-stop on different projects and others who only need four to five jobs the whole year to make more than they need. That's pretty much the freelancer's world.
Typically I'll point inquires of my qualifications and past work experience to my website; there's a demo reel on the Home page plus additional About and Work pages. There's also a Stills page for photos and frames I've shot to give examples of my approach to compositions and lighting. I've also got a Blog section if potential clients and collaborators are interested in the way I think, what I'm working on when I'm not behind a camera, and have time to dig around for actual examples of my written communication skills. Even with all that in mind, it'd be in my best interest to make it as easy as possible for those considering me for a potential job or project.
Still, I don't have a current resume together – I'm getting close though.
Hey-O! Here's the's Resume (includes a PDF version as well as a responsive HTML table that took me WAY too long to figure out).
An additional thing that kinda blows my mind is the whole thing of potential clients wanting an actual PDF of your resume. Yes, it's 2019 and for the most part it's not hard to have a website, but still... Yes, I'll make it possible to download the PDF so it can printed out as needed. The problem of just having a PDF of your resume though is that PDF information doesn't show up in search results. Thanks for the heads up Squarespace.
Seems like the solution - or at least the way I'm approaching it – would be to keep a running spreadsheet of your past projects, your role, who you worked for, and when. I do keep a very detailed account of all that plus more, but the spreadsheet formatting isn't what I'd consider "resume friendly." Also, my Squarespace website is for all intents and purposes is exactly what I need professionally, but unfortunately doesn't have a good solution when it comes to embeddable tables, especially responsive ones that will stay properly formatted on mobile devices as the user switches between vertical and horizontal orientations.
Seriously, if I could spend all my time as a cinematographer, DP, and get to direct projects now and then, I would, but reality doesn't have me in that world. So here I am, hustling to do tons of other things in order to get behind a camera to continue making stuff as much as possible. Thankfully I'm insanely curious and get to learn all kinds of other things I'd not given different circumstances.
Then there's the hot mess of a demo reels and keeping them updated. My current one is about a year old so it's by far due for some attention. There's no shortage of online advice about how to put together a reel, but one of the more helpful ones I've come across lately comes from the guy behind The Wandering DP. Absolutely dig and agree with the ideas about Cold and Warm Reels.
The Cold Reel is there for those you've not worked with before and to give them a sense of the work you've done and want to be doing. The Warm Reel is for those you've worked with before and who are trying to sell you on a project.
I've never had warm reels geared to specific types of work, but that's absolutely something to consider. In times past when potential clients, producers, and production companies have reached out looking to see specific examples I'll normally build out a webpage with embedded videos and examples of work appropriate to what they're wanting to see. When I'm going for directing gigs, I'll also include any other specific information along with links to download treatments and lookbooks I've done in the past.
I'd honestly not considered how the production value of what's on your reel shows off the types of budgets you've been on but now realize what an obvious statement that is. Still, I could point to an incredible number of bigger budget projects I've been on where unfortunately the product was no where near some what I've put out on smaller budgets and sometimes zero budget personal work plus the soft skills I've gained and sharpened in the process.