Montage

Term from Screenwriting industry explained for recruiters

Montage is a storytelling technique used in films, TV shows, and videos where multiple shots or scenes are combined to show a passage of time, tell a story, or convey a theme. Think of it like a visual summary - for example, showing a character's journey from beginner to expert through quick, connected scenes, or displaying different locations to establish a city's atmosphere. When someone mentions montage skills on their resume, they're indicating they know how to plan, create, and edit these sequences to effectively tell a story in a condensed way.

Examples in Resumes

Created compelling Montage sequences for character development in short films

Wrote detailed Montage scenes showing the main character's career progression

Developed training Montage sequences for sports documentary series

Typical job title: "Screenwriters"

Also try searching for:

Script Writer Film Writer TV Writer Content Writer Story Developer Creative Writer Video Script Writer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you approach writing a montage sequence for character development?

Expected Answer: A senior writer should discuss how they choose key moments, maintain emotional continuity, and ensure each scene builds toward the story's goal while keeping the audience engaged.

Q: How do you balance exposition and visual storytelling in a montage?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process for combining visual elements with minimal dialogue, showing understanding of how to convey information efficiently without relying on heavy exposition.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What elements make an effective training or skill-building montage?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain how to structure progress scenes, show failure and success, and maintain audience interest through varying scenes and emotional beats.

Q: How do you write montage scenes that avoid common clichés?

Expected Answer: Should discuss ways to create fresh approaches to standard montage scenarios, demonstrating knowledge of genre conventions while showing creativity.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the basic structure of a montage sequence in a screenplay?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the basic formatting of montage scenes in a script, including how to indicate scene transitions and maintain clear action descriptions.

Q: How do you ensure a montage serves the story rather than just filling time?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how montages should advance plot or character development, not just create visual interest.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic montage scene writing
  • Understanding screenplay formatting
  • Simple character development
  • Basic story structure

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Complex character arcs
  • Genre-specific montage writing
  • Visual storytelling techniques
  • Time compression methods

Senior (5+ years)

  • Advanced narrative techniques
  • Innovative montage approaches
  • Script supervision
  • Mentoring junior writers

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of basic screenplay formatting
  • Unable to explain how montages advance story
  • Lack of visual storytelling awareness
  • No knowledge of industry standard script writing software