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Getting Started
Step 5 of 6

Setting Up Your Profile

15 min read
All Users
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Why Your Profile Matters

Your profile is your digital identity on Short Film Universe. A complete, well-crafted profile significantly increases your visibility and helps you connect with the right opportunities in the film industry.

  • • Increases your discoverability by filmmakers, cast, and crew members
  • • Builds trust and credibility with potential collaborators
  • • Enables better project matching based on your skills and preferences
  • • Unlocks premium features like Spotlight+ promotions
  • • Demonstrates professionalism and commitment to your craft

Profile Setup Guide

Basic Information

Essential Personal Details

These core fields form the foundation of your profile. All user types share the same basic information requirements, though some fields may be displayed differently based on your role.

Required Fields:
  • • First Name & Last Name
  • • Email Address (verified)
  • • Phone Number
  • • Professional Bio
  • • Location (City & State)
Optional but Recommended:
  • • Country Information
  • • Professional Website
  • • Social Media Links
  • • Detailed Bio Section
  • • Portfolio Links
Profile Photo

Professional Profile Picture

Your profile picture is the first impression others will have of you. For cast members, this is especially important as it's often the deciding factor in casting decisions. All user types benefit from a professional, high-quality photo.

Photo Guidelines:
  • • Use high-resolution images (minimum 800x800 pixels)
  • • Ensure good lighting with clear facial features
  • • Keep file size under 5MB (JPEG, PNG formats accepted)
  • • Use recent photos that accurately represent your appearance
  • • Avoid heavy filters or excessive photo editing
  • • Professional headshots work best for all user types
Cast Members: Portfolio Photos

Cast members have additional portfolio photo requirements: Left Profile, Right Profile, Face Close-Up, and Full Shot. These are essential for casting decisions and should be uploaded through your dashboard after completing basic profile setup.

Contact Information

Contact & Communication

Your contact information helps others reach you for collaboration opportunities. Short Film Universe protects your privacy by only sharing contact details with confirmed connections and project collaborators.

Privacy Protection:

Your phone number and email are only shared when you accept project invitations or agree to collaborate. Filmmakers can only see your general location (city/state) until you join their project team.

Public Information:
  • • First name only
  • • City and state
  • • Profile picture
  • • Professional bio
Protected Information:
  • • Full name (last name hidden)
  • • Phone number
  • • Email address
  • • Exact address
Location

Location Information

Your location helps connect you with local film projects and collaborators. This is crucial for the film industry where many projects require in-person participation during production.

Why Location Matters:
  • • Connects you with nearby filming opportunities
  • • Reduces travel costs and logistics for projects
  • • Enables filmmakers to plan location-based casting and crew recruitment
  • • Helps you find local industry networking events and meetups
  • • Allows for easier coordination during production schedules
Location Requirements:
Required:
  • • City
  • • State/Province
Optional:
  • • Country (auto-detected)
  • • Willing to travel radius
Bio & Description

Professional Bio & Description

Your bio is your chance to tell your story and showcase your personality. This section appears prominently on your profile and in search results, so make it compelling and professional while staying authentic to who you are.

✓ Include in Your Bio:
  • • Your experience level and background
  • • Specific skills and specializations
  • • Notable projects or achievements
  • • What makes you unique as a collaborator
  • • Your passion for filmmaking
✗ Avoid in Your Bio:
  • • Overly personal information
  • • Negative comments about past projects
  • • Unrealistic claims or exaggerations
  • • Contact information (use dedicated fields)
  • • Generic, copy-paste descriptions
Bio Writing Tips:

Length: Keep it between 100-300 words for optimal readability

Tone: Professional but personable - let your personality shine through

Keywords: Include relevant industry terms for better searchability

Updates: Refresh your bio regularly as you gain experience

Role-Specific Profile Tips

For Filmmakers

  • • Include company information and website
  • • Highlight specialization (e.g., horror, documentary)
  • • List notable projects and achievements
  • • Add portfolio links to showcase your work
  • • Specify your experience level and years in industry

For Cast

  • • Complete physical characteristics (height, weight, eye color)
  • • Upload all required portfolio photos (4 types)
  • • Add work links to showreels and portfolio sites
  • • Specify preferred genres and languages spoken
  • • List achievements and training background

For Crew

  • • Select your crew roles (Director, Cinematographer, etc.)
  • • Add your professional experience level
  • • Include portfolio links to showcase your technical work
  • • List your achievements and certifications
  • • Specify your equipment and technical skills

Profile Completion Checklist

Upload professional profile picture
Complete basic information fields
Write compelling professional bio
Add location and contact information
Complete role-specific sections
Add portfolio links and work samples