Top Tips On Writing Your CV

Top Tips on Writing Your CV

It’s around this time we start telling ourselves that we’re going to get off our backsides and start looking for that new job. And as we know, this year will be as tough if not tougher than last year so it’s essential to market yourself, your skills and experience as effectively as possible.

Following a few simple steps can make the difference in your CV standing out from the crowd and putting you in pole position to be called for that all important interview.

I’ve read many a CV over the years and it still comes as a surprise at how careless people can be with their most valuable document, the ‘passport’ to that job.

Here are some key pointers in knocking that CV into shape:

  • Keep it to a maximum of 2 pages – with good editing you’ll surprised how much you can get in, even for seasoned veterans.
  • The font size should be 11 or 12 point in Arial or Calibri as these are easy to read.
  • No photos of yourself please – you may be gorgeous but if it’s a role behind the camera you want, then it’s simply not necessary.
  • Lay it out in chronological order with your credits listed in reverse order.
  • Be concise – write short sentences and avoid paragraphs.
  • Target your CV to the job you’re applying for – don’t take a scattergun approach.
  • List additional skills such as editing, driving licence, foreign language, scuba diving qualification – it could tip the balance in your favour over someone without these.
  • Bad spelling and grammar stands out a mile and will immediately go to the reject pile. Re-read it dozens of times and always use spell-check.
  • Don’t fib. It’s an incestuous place in telly land – lots of people know lots of people and in turn know lots of people…so you’ll be found out.

The Only Way is (Succ)Essex

The Only Way is (Succ)Essex

The phenomenal success of TOWIE shows no signs of abating, turning some of the cast into overnight celebrities, introducing us to the vajazzle and phrases such as ‘reem and ‘well jel’. It has spawned rival copycat scripted reality shows but TOWIE remains the firm favourite with viewers (and critics alike). Claire Faragher, Series Producer on Series 1 and Executive Producer on Series 2, discusses the reason for its success.

Why do you think TOWIE was such a big hit?

We had an incredible cast of colourful (orange) characters, a lot of laughs, relationship dramas, and a unique way of filming the show, which gives it a cartoonish, hyper-real style. And then there was the high-speed and high-quality editing and structuring. The production team got to know the characters inside out and they had enough trust in us to allow us to film some of their best and worst moments. And due to the speed of turnaround the show was more reactive than anything that has come before or since in this genre (it’s a 24/7 operation). The production team worked very hard and there were a lot of brilliant people who made it such a great series. Some of us worked double shifts or more throughout, came up with the structure pre and post pilot and basically pulled off what many thought was impossible, with between three and nine HD cameras filming every scene and with at most 3.5 days to film and cut each episode. Also, ITV Marketing & Publicity gave it a massive push and at our press launch night I’ll never forget the immediacy with which the tabloids embraced our show. Oh, and not forgetting the hard work and talent of the production team I employed…have I already mentioned that??!!!

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Have You Used Your Media Allowance?

Have you used your 3 minute media upload allowance?

All PB members with Pro or Premium membership have the option to add video, audio and images to their profile pages. Uploading media to your profile allows employers to instantly view your work without having to navigate away from the site.

Utilise this by uploading a showreel and/or some images. Here are few pointers!

  • Upload media which supports your current work ambitions and strengths.
  • You don’t have to be the director to upload the clip.
  • Title and Tag your media in the most appropriate way.
  • Use the Playlist creator to put together collections of work.
  • Expose your media by sharing it with others.

If you’re a Standard Member, you can upgrade to a Pro or Premium membership at any time to add media to your profile page, and increase your exposure. To learn more about uploading media to your profile click here.

A TX Experience With Accompanying Tweets

A TX Experience With Accompanying Tweets

This week, award winning documentary film maker, Elizabeth Stopford, discusses how her latest C4 documentary ‘We Need to Talk About Dad’ was received on Twitter, and what a “real time” response means from a filmmaker’s perspective.

Watching my latest documentary ‘We Need to Talk About Dad’ go out on Channel 4 was a novel experience because its transmission was punctuated by an ongoing commentary – courtesy of twitter.

The ‘water cooler effect’ of people talking about your show afterwards has now been superseded by the immediacy of being able to ‘listen in’ on what people make of it in real time.

I’d spent over 6 months producing the documentary ‘We Need to Talk About Dad’ through Rare Day for Channel 4. The Johnsons had twenty years of happy marriage, professional success, a lovely home, blond-haired children. They were nicknamed the ‘Sunday Supplement family’ by locals, and appeared to have it all. Then one day, Nick Johnson, told his wife he had a surprise for her, led her blindfolded into the garden, and committed an awful act of violence.

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Want To Remove The Accountancy Pain From Your Life?

Want to Remove the Accountancy Pain From Your Life?

ProductionBase is extremely pleased to recommend Crunch – a company that has transformed the previously grey and stuffy world of expensive accounting into a quick and cost-effective process.

How it works:

  • Unlike a traditional accountancy firm, Crunch is geared to your needs, not the accountant.
  • They remove every single task so you’ll be able to focus on what you’re good at – making programmes.
  • You’ll get your very own account manager – that is with you every step of the way.
  • From the quick setup process or simple transfer from your old accountant, to looking after all that boring paperwork from HMRC and Companies House.
  • You’ll have an expert accountant to talk to, precisely when you need them – especially when you know you are not being charged by the minute.
  • They are there to answer all your accountancy and tax questions as well as checking everything you do is correct before it’s submitted.
  • Designed for the non-accounting mind, its one of the easiest accounting systems available.
  • You’ll be sending invoices in minutes, dropping in expenses and seeing the health of your business instantly.

To find out more, visit Crunch – Online Accounting.

Nominate That Unsung Hero

Nominate That Unsung Hero

The summer is drawing to a close (boo…), the days are starting to feel a tad colder (double boo…) so it can only mean one thing; it’s the start of the awards season.

Here at PB towers, we are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for this year’s Freelancer of the Year Awards. As in previous years, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the talent of some of the unsung heroes in television and film production – we all know who they are; they do lots (and lots) of hard work, make things happen, always have a smile on their face and still have time for everyone else while their social life takes a back seat (well, more like the spare seat… in the boot).

There are four categories that cover the first jobber to the seasoned veteran so there’s no excuse for anyone to miss out…

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Get People Caught In Your Own Web(site)

Get people caught in your own web(site)

Since we launched the fantastic new upgrades to your membership, we have had a great response, in particular, to the inclusion of your own website.

It’s a fantastic way to showcase your profile and as its part of your PB package, saves you lots of dosh on running and maintaining your own site.

But are you utilising it to its full potential? Here are a few key reminders of getting the best out of it:

Make sure you add the URL to your email signature and business card – it increases the potential of production companies contacting you.

  • Your website can be accessed by anyone at anytime.
  • Employers and colleagues do not need to be logged into PB or be active members to see your site.
  • Your website can be searched via the various search engines in the usual way.
  • The content displayed replicates your internal PB profile so there is no need to write duplicate information.
  • You’re in control! If for any reason you want to go incognito, you can use your Privacy Settings to restrict the information people see about you.

As always, the PB team are on hand to take you through any questions you may have on this great new facility, so give us a bell if you need profile and set up advice. Give us a call on 0845 496 1418 or email info@productionbase.co.uk.

Be A Show Off…Or Not

Be a Show Off…or Not

Since the recent media hosting upgrade, all members now have an external webpage, as well as their ProductionBase profile.

By default, these external profile pages are set to appear in internet searches, such as Google, Yahoo and Bing etc. This is great for people who want to show their profiles to people who are not members of PB, as you can give the link to anyone, or add it to your email signature for example.

However, if for any reason you would like your external profile NOT to appear in searches conducted via search engines, then please follow these simple steps to remove it from public domain.

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Reality TV In Spain

As part of our ‘Working Abroad’ series, Post Production Assistant, Tom Strachan shares his experience working in Spain on reality TV series, ‘Geordie Shore: Summer Special’.

Geordie Shore: Summer Special
Geordie Shore: Summer Special

After a successful first series two hour long episodes were commissioned. The plan was to take the stars of the Newcastle based reality show to Magaluf. The show centred around eight young people who party hard, dress to impress and don’t look for relationships. Working in the reality TV genre you never can predict how things will go so you always have to be ready for it to go crazy.

The set was a luxurious villa complete with swimming pool, many large bedrooms and on the edge of the sea surrounded by expensive yachts. In Newcastle we’d worked out of a luxurious house but nothing compared to this. The heat was in the 30’s everyday and we all know how much easier it is to be happy in the sun.

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You’re Now The Media Host With The Most

You’re Now The Media Host With The Most

Last week saw ProductionBase launch an array of fantastic new upgrades to your membership. If you missed some of the marketing emails and other missives (well done you), we have PB’s Joe Mahoney to take you through what is now on offer:

I hope you will forgive me for taking over this spot to espouse the fantastic new media hosting service that was launched last week.

Here at PB Towers, we have been feverishly working away to create some fantastic new features that we hope will go down a storm with you. Or, failing that, will at least make you feel that we haven’t just been swaning around the office of late, fiddling with our keyboards, idly looking at exotic holiday destinations with shimmering views of palm trees, white sandy beaches and trying to decipher the ingredients of elaborately made cocktails (we usually would but it’s the school holidays and prices are sky high).

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