Robyn L. Coburn

If you want to work in film production, but are sending out the same résumé and cover letter you would use for business, office or sales work, you are doing it wrong!

Those résumé “how to” books don’t show you how to write an industry specific résumé for crew members in film production companies or theater companies. But I will!

I started in professional theater since I was 16 years old, and that is over 35 years. I first worked on a motion picture in the Production Office in 1992, and then started working on set in 1993, in the Art Department. I am still a screenwriter and intimately connected to the business.

I’ve been a beginner, and I’ve been a department head. I have hired and fired people from film and theater jobs. I’ve written many iterations of my own résumé, and I’ve read a ton of résumés and cover letters.

Most of all I’ve made stupid mistakes - but you don’t have to make the same ones!

A theater or film résumé is not the same as one for any other kind of job including office or sales jobs (both industries I have also worked in). You can’t make up a “one size fits all” résumé. I’ve been in the production office talking over the résumés in the pile, and I’ve heard how the employers read them over and what they look for. Plus I know how to winkle out the keywords in those want ads that will send you to the top of interview pile.

I also help creatives organize their portfolios. More information and lots of free tips at:
- Robyn Coburn Résumé Review.