HOLLYWOOD RESUME WRITING

There are a number of ways to format an industry resume.  Below is my advice based on my experiences, and those of fellow industry assistants.
 

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT RESUMES

For the purpose of creating a resume, I have divided industry assistants into two categories: production assistants (PAs) and executive assistants.

PAs are entry-level assistants with little or no prior industry experience.  PA resumes include the following categories:

Industry (or Field) Experience, Professional Experience, Honors and Awards, Education, and References. 

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE includes any experience directly related to the industry; i.e.; internships, student film productions, work on local film sets, etc.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE includes all other professional, non-industry jobs.

PA resumes must provide your former job title, company name, and dates of employment.  A description of your responsibilities is not necessary.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

DEVELOPMENT INTERN           

Beacon Pictures     

                                              
PRODUCER                              
Staged Play Reading - The Guiding Light Actors’ Workshop     

            
WRITERS’ INTERN/PUBLIC RELATIONS’ INTERN                    
As The World Turns/Televest/Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc.    
 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT     
Webster University Career Services                    

TELLER                                       
Town & Country Bank                                       

DIRECTOR’S ASSISTANT             
Webster Groves Chamber of Commerce    

        
HONORS AND AWARDS

Study Abroad Program - Regent’s College - London
Winner of the Webster University Media Excellence Award
Dean’s List - Webster University

The National Dean’s List                                                                         

Event Coordinator - “It’s Up to Us” Safe-Driving Campaign Fundraiser     

EDUCATION

B.A. in Media Communications with Emphasis in Scriptwriting
Webster University, St. Louis, MO, May 2004

If you attended but did not graduate college, simply list the name of the college and your last year of attendance.

REFERENCES

Provide three references.  DO NOT LIST SOMEONE AS A REFERENCE WITHOUT HIS OR HER KNOWLEDGE.  Ask your reference for a phone number and/or email they would like for you to list.  Do not assume it is okay for you to list the contact information you have for them.

Click here to view my PA resume.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT RESUMES 

Executive Assistants are experienced, upper-level assistants, such as assistants to executive producers, network and studio executives, agents, etc.  Executive assistant resumes include the same categories as PA resumes but also list specific skills and experience.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
ABC Studios                                                                                                                 

             
• Maintain calendars for three executives
• Compile and organize accounting and contractual documents for series and pilots
• Distribute show budgets to network and studio executives for approval
• Coordinate travel arrangements
• Submit expense reports
• Schedule, initiate, and roll conference calls
• Train incoming finance assistants

LINE PRODUCER'S ASSISTANT
According to Jim

                • Served as liaison to network and studio executives
• Provided producers with script breakdowns for each episode
• Facilitated publicity between Touchstone Television and According to Jim cast
• Coordinated show night audience
• Placed weekly orders to vendors
• Managed charitable donations made on behalf of According to Jim

Click here to view my executive assistant resume.

GENERAL RESUME WRITING TIPS

• Your resume should be one page, and one page only.  You can attach a second page with references, if necessary.
  

• If you have been out of high school for over a year, do not include any high school activities, honors, or awards on your resume. If you are a recent high school graduate, you may include the items ONLY IF THEY ARE RELEVENT TO THE INDUSTRY.

          Theatre Scholarship Recipient

          Coffeyville Community College

          Honor Thespian Member

          Blue Valley High

          Techie of the Year

          Blue Valley High

          Thespian Senior of the Year

          Blue Valley High

• Always use an LA address.  If you don’t have one, borrow one from your friend.  Or use the street address of the Days Inn where you’re crashing.

• Make sure you voicemail greeting is not obnoxious.  You’re potential boss may call and leave you a message, and it helps to at least pretend you’re a professional.

WRITER’S RESUMES

Once you are represented by an agent, your agent’s office will update and distribute your resume.  For young writers with only a few credits, the agency will often attach a professional bio, written by the writer.

Relocation Guide: LOS ANGELES

Approach relocation one step at a time.

Step 1: Establish Credit

Get a credit card.  And use it.  AND PAY OFF YOUR BALANCE, IN FULL, EVERY MONTH.  Your goal is to establish good history, not debt.  Landlords run a credit check on all potential tenants and often refuse to rent to those with bad or no credit.  If you are a first time card holder, I recommend a Visa or MasterCard student card, which offers lower interest rates and often no annual fee; some universities also offer similar cards to alumni.  I also recommend gas cards and department store cards, which offer lower credit limits, therefore preventing massive debt.   For major credit cards, I recommended the Discover More Card and Blue from American Express.

Credit cards also provide available funds in the case of an emergency.  If you are blessed enough to have a family member or friend who is able to loan you money should your car break down, I recommend keeping a low credit limit on your card to prevent debt.  However, if you do not have a "back up" plan, you will need at least $1000-$2000 of available credit to cover unexpected expenses such as a last minute plane ticket to visit a sick relative, etc.

Step 2: Save Money

Or find someone to borrow money from.  At the very least you will need enough cash to afford your first month’s rent, plus a deposit – a minimum of $1500-$2000 total.  I moved to LA with very little cash; I borrowed the money for my deposit from my beloved grandmother, charged my groceries and gas, and slept on a borrowed mattress on the floor until I could afford a bed.  I was hired as an production assistant just four days after relocating, but it took me over four weeks to receive my first paycheck.  Your payroll paperwork will be submitted on your first day, but it may take weeks for the accounting department to process it and cut you a check.  Be prepared for a two to six week delay. 

Step 3: Find A Place To Live And Someone To Pay Half The Rent

Expect to pay at a MINIMUM $700 per month, per person for rent and utilities.

Popular roommate and apartment finders include Craigslist, Rommmates.com, and Westside Rentals.   Please note: there is a fee to sign up for Westside Rentals, but I highly recommend it.

There is no way to ensure yourself a short commute because studios are located all over town.  You can pick a more or less central location like Hollywood but the fact is, some jobs are always going to seem geographically undesirable.  Palms, for instance, is an affordable neighborhood near Venice and Santa Monica, and convenient unless you work at Universal.  Marina Del Rey is paradise, unless you work at Warner Brothers.  You will inevitably be forced to commute.  Live in a neighborhood you love, and download audio books from iTunes, or use the time in your car to call your beloved grandmother and thank her for the loan.

Below is list of neighborhoods I recommend:

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Burbank

Encino

North Hollywood

Northridge

Sherman Oaks

Studio City

Tarzana

Toluca Lake

Universal City

Valley Village

Van Nuys

Woodland Hills

WESTSIDE

Beverlywood

Culver City

Mar Vista

Marina Del Rey

Palms

Rancho Park

Santa Monica

Topanga

Venice

West LA

Westwood

HOLLYWOOD

Beverly Hills Adj

Beachwood Canyon

Fairfax

Hollywood

Hollywood Hills

Larchmont

Los Feliz

Melrose

Mid-City

Mid-Wilshire

Miracle Mile

Silver Lake

Step 3:  Apply For A California Driver's License 

According to the California DMV:

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

Translation: The first time an officer pulls you over, you can lie and say you just moved here 9 days ago, at which time the officer will file a report with the DMV listing your license as out of state so that the second time you’re pulled over, the officer can nail you for living here without a valid California license.

YOU MUST HAVE CAR INSURANCE TO DRIVE IN CALIFORNIA.  Once you apply for a California license, you will need to register your car with the state as well as purchase California car insurance, which will likely cost more (a lot more) than your previous plan, depending on your driving record and the kind of car you own.

Step 5: Outfit Your Cell Phone

Recent California laws prohibit drivers from holding cell phones while driving.  A hands-free device is a necessity.  Please note: Holding your phone in your hand while speaking via speakerphone does not qualify as hands free.  You cannot hold your phone in your hand.  Period.  If you do, you will get a ticket. 

It is also illegal to text while driving, as it requires you to hold your phone in your hand.
And it's suicidal. 

Step 6: Purchase a GPS Navigator

Navigating LA can be overwhelming and will be a major part of your job as an assistant.  I recommend purchasing a GPS navigator.  The cheaper alternative is to purchase a Thomas Guide, available at bookstores and most gas stations throughout Los Angeles.

Thinking of using your cell as your GPS?  See Step 5: IT IS ILLEGAL TO HOLD YOUR CELL PHONE IN YOUR HAND WHILE DRIVING.

Step 7: Purchase Roadside Assistance Coverage

Many new cars provide roadside assistance coverage.  If yours does not, I recommend joining AAA, which provides roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and covers you in any car you are in.

Step 8: Purchase Health Insurance (It makes your mother feel better)

Many jobs in Hollywood do not offer health benefits.  For health insurance, I recommend Blue Cross Tonik, which provides medical, dental and vision benefits, as well generic prescription drug coverage.  Click here for more information about Tonik Heath Insurance.

Step 9: Stock Your Trunk

With a sweater, an umbrella and if you're a PA, rain boots.
You're ignoring my advice about the rain boots, but wait until the first time you deliver scripts in the rain, when you're literally in water up to your ankles.  When it rains in Southern California, it pours.

For more Insider Tips and Advice, visit LA4beginners.com. 

If you have online resources such as roommate finders or apartment listings to recommend or additional advice to contribute, please email:

HollywoodUniversityBlog@gmail.com

Subject: Relocation

WHEN TO RELOCATE

Is it possible to get a job in the industry before relocating to LA or NYC?

In most cases, the answer is, no.   Many employers do not consider out of town hires for a number of reasons.  For instance, shows often staff at the list minute, days (or sometimes hours) prior to production, leaving new hires no time to relocate.  When I was hired as an executive producer’s assistant, I interviewed on a Thursday, trained on Friday, and started the following Monday. 

Of course, there are always exceptions.

If you have a connection, it's possible to be hired before you move.  At In Plain Sight, the EP’s assistant left half-way through the season to accept a writer’s assistant position on Mad Men; the EP needed to fill the position immediately and asked if I could recommend someone.  I recommended my sister, who was still living in Kansas, working to save money to move to LA. 

He called my sister and asked, “If I convince Jessica to let you sleep on her couch, will you come help me out?”

“How soon do you need me?”

“Can you be here tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

My sister hung up the phone and bought a ticket for the next flight to LAX.  She lived on my couch and out of her suitcase for the next two weeks until my extremely generous parents packed the rest of her belongings into her car and drove it halfway across the country for her. 

I had no such connection when I was looking to break in, but I did manage to get one interview a few months before I relocated.

My best friend, Gina, moved to LA six months before me to work as an assistant on a sitcom.  A friend of hers, who was an assistant on The West Wing, mentioned to her that the show was  looking for a producer’s assistant, so I sent in my resume, using Gina’s LA address as my own; she submitted it on my behalf.   I got a call on a Wednesday asking if I could interview the next day.  I lied, saying I was out of town visiting family, but that I would be back in LA on Friday.  Would it possible for me to interview then?  My interview was set for Friday, and I booked the next available flight.

It came down to me and one other girl.  She got the job.  My first Hollywood interview -- thrilling, albeit expensive; as you can imagine, this method can prove to be costly, and it requires you to have a contact in LA whose address your can “borrow.”

    What time of year should I move to LA?

Shows (along with networks, studios, agencies, etc.) staff year-round.  The best time to move to LA is when you are ready to work, and when you've saved enough money for a down payment on an apartment. Most of my acquaintances pay a minimum of $700 - $800 per month for rent; deposits are generally two months rent. 

    Do I need to have a car in order to work in the industry?

 YES.  You must have a car in order to work as an assistant on a television show.  Even if you live within walking distance of your office, you will inevitably need to run errands. 

The only possible exception I know of is a network or studio assistant.  These jobs are often 9am- 6pm desk jobs that do not require you to leave your office.  However, if you do not have a car, YOU MUST disclose this information during you interview.

INTERVIEW with Writers' Assistant Joelle Garfinkel

Joelle Garfinkel is a rare native (for the industry) of sunny southern California, where she earned her B.A. in screenwriting from Cal State University, Northridge. Before becoming the writers’ assistant on In Plain Sight, she worked on several television shows as a post-production assistant. When not clamoring on a keyboard or working on her own specs, she’s trying to master the perfect cupcake recipe.

How did you progress from post-production assistant to writers’ assistant?

Post-production was not my passion, but I was still committed to being the best assistant I could be. My efforts caught the eyes of the executive producers of In Plain Sight. As a post PA, you have a lot of interaction with the EP’s and a can-do attitude will make them remember you. I began asking [executive producer] David Maples how he got his start as a writer, along with other questions that subtly let him know I was interested in pursuing writing. After months of getting to know each other, I asked him if he would be willing to read my spec. Fortunately, he agreed and when IPS returned for its second season, he approached me regarding the writers’ assistant position.

The moral of the story is, don’t be afraid to let people know what you really want, and be willing to work extra hard at the job you have, even if it’s not your desired position. If I hadn’t been upfront with David, he would never have known I wanted to be a writer.

The job of a writers’ assistant is essentially to write down everything the writer’s say as they “break” or create an episode. How do you format your notes, and how did you learn to do so?

I really wish there were a writers’ assistant handbook but the truth is, each show has different wants and/or needs. My first couple of days at IPS, I had no idea what I should be writing, so I literally wrote down EVERYTHING - like a court stenographer. Seriously, notes from those first couple of days were 30 pages long. There are some rooms that prefer that method, but fortunately for my fingers, IPS was not one of those.

I’ve learned that the story will dictate the type of notes. For example, more complex storylines require more detailed notes. Also, the start of a story break tends to have more notes than the last couple of days of breaking because it’s much more streamlined. Those notes tend to look more like a beat sheet*, with just a page of general notes thrown in. Your style also depends on the specific writer of the episode, and it doesn’t hurt to ask them directly what type of notes they would prefer.

*Beat sheet: A list of the main plot points in each act of the episode; the most condensed version of an outline.

Below is an example of Joelle's notes from a story break session:

ACT 1

Top of Act 1, Witsec scene: Stan: I don’t mean to bring you down, but depending on what was on those tapes your ass may be on the line. Just keeping Brandi in the house could jeopardize her career.

Jinx / Brandi scene: Jinx could be blaming James for Lauren showing up.

When O’Connor articulates his agenda to Nick, he “seduces” him and feeding him the idea that in order to save himself, he needs to give up Brandi.

What is your advice to aspiring writers’ assistants?

No matter what job you have, make sure you do it well. When I was an intern at The Mark Gordon Company, our intern coordinator told me that every job was important, even something as menial as binding scripts. I really took that to heart, and anytime I would bind a script I would make sure it was the best bound script it could be. Sure enough, Mark Gordon himself came up to me and told me how he always loved getting the scripts I bound because they were so straight. Bottom line, people will remember you and be much more willing to help you get the job you want when you go the extra mile.

In addition, don’t be afraid to get creative. In the IPS writers’ room, I used to take pictures of the white boards so my writers could have .jpg images of that day’s work by the time they got home. They appreciated the extra effort, and I appreciated the break for my fingers.

Below is a picture of the board from episode 209 of In Plain Sight.

WANTED: Relocation Resources

Hollywood University is currently compiling a list of resources for students relocating to Los Angeles and New York City.  If you have online resources such as roommate finders or apartment listings to recommend or additional advice to contribute, please email:

HollywoodUniversityBlog@gmail.com
Subject: Relocation

RECOMMENDED READING by David Slack

David Slack began his career in animation, writing for cartoon favorites such as Teen Titans, Jackie Chan Adventures, and Totally Spies. From Saturday morning cartoons, he somehow made the leap to Law & Order. He's still trying to figure out exactly how he pulled that off. Working in prime-time since 2005, David is currently writing for the ABC series The Forgotten, starring Christian Slater.

Lajos Egri's Art of Dramatic Writing, which explains that when we experience a story, we are always comparing the main character to ourselves. Thus, the main character must always do the most logical thing in any situation as it's the only way to ensure that the audience doesn't say, "Well *I* wouldn't have done that..."

Aristotle's Poetics are kinda important, too.

COPYRIGHTING YOUR SCRIPT

Both the U.S. Copyrighting Office and the WGA provide copyrighting services for a fee. However, in the United States, the creation of an original work confers an automatic copyright. No further registration is necessary.

I don't know any writer (and I know a lot of writers) who has ever witnessed theft. If your idea is worth stealing, Hollywood is going to want to work with you! That said, it's easy to provide your own proof of creation; just mail a copy of the script to yourself. As long as the envelope remains sealed, the postmark proves your date, should litigation arise.

Why Screenwriter Josh Olson Will Not Read Your Fucking Script

Not everyone you ask will agree to read your work.  For example, Josh Olson, who recently explained to The Village Voice why He Will Not Read Your Fucking Script.

RECOMMENDED READING by Warren Bell

Warren Bell is a 20-year veteran of television who served as writer and executive producer of sitcoms including Ellen, The PJs, and According to Jim. He is currently developing projects for both television and film.

Adventures in the Screen Trade
by William Goldman

Goldman wrote Butch Cassidy, The Princess Bride, Marathon Man, a ton of others.  He has several books on writing, this is the one I read when I started out.

Save the Cat!  The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
By Blake Snyder

I would probably not recommend this for someone who has never written.  It's geared a bit more towards someone who is already pretty competent at the general dramatic concepts (conflict, character, dialogue) and is looking for a systematic way to understand the structure of a movie.

True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor
by David Mamet

Though written mainly for actors, David Mamet's "True and False" is the best attack on much of the bullshit that surrounds acting, writing, and filmed entertainment in general.  Hollywood executives love backstory, Mamet tells them it's pointless.  Actors like to research roles and "stay in character" on set, Mamet says, "great -- in this scene you run up that hill."  I found this book enormously helpful in developing my ability to talk to actors on set.

SCRIPTWRITING SOFTWARE

Final Draft is the industry standard.  Includes templates for film, television, and stage.

Scripts submitted to industry professionals are expected to be in this format.

Student discounts available.

Do I need to purchase Final Draft prior to getting a job?

No.  But you will need to either purchase or download free software that will correctly format your scripts.  Scripped, ScriptBuddy, and Zhura are free online programs available for download.  Please note, I have not used these programs and cannot offer an endorsement.  If you have used any of the above software or if can recommend alternative free software, please leave a comment on this post.

Once you are hired as a writer, the studio will provide you with Final Draft on your office computer but not your personal computer.

Please note: Final Draft requires registration, allowing you and only you to use the software you purchased.  In other words, you and six of your classmates cannot purchase one copy of Final Draft with the intention of sharing the CD.  For more information on the software's registration rules, click here.