Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Photography / Post-Production Lead - The Heist
at Thinkingbox
🏢 About Thinkingbox
Thinkingbox is a Brief-to-Built agency that houses The Heist, a studio dedicated to motion design, live action, and post-production. They emphasize a collaborative culture where craft and curiosity thrive, making it an exciting place for creatives who value teamwork and high-quality work.
About This Role
This hybrid role combines hands-on cinematography with leading a post-production team. You'll shape the visual style from pre-production through final delivery, ensuring a seamless connection between shooting and editing. Your dual expertise will directly impact the quality and cohesion of the final content.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start the day reviewing edits with your post team, providing feedback on color and cuts. Later, you could be on set as the DP, setting up lighting and shots for a commercial. After wrap, you'd sync with editors to ensure the footage aligns with the creative vision, then plan for the next day's shoot.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Thinkingbox Is Looking For
- -
- A
- s
- e
- a
- s
- o
- n
- e
- d
- D
- P
- w
- i
- t
- h
- s
- t
- r
- o
- n
- g
- c
- a
- m
- e
- r
- a
- a
- n
- d
- l
- i
- g
- h
- t
- i
- n
- g
- s
- k
- i
- l
- l
- s
- ,
- c
- o
- m
- f
- o
- r
- t
- a
- b
- l
- e
- o
- p
- e
- r
- a
- t
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- m
- a
- k
- i
- n
- g
- q
- u
- i
- c
- k
- c
- r
- e
- a
- t
- i
- v
- e
- d
- e
- c
- i
- s
- i
- o
- n
- s
- o
- n
- s
- e
- t
- .
- -
- E
- x
- p
- e
- r
- i
- e
- n
- c
- e
- d
- i
- n
- l
- e
- a
- d
- i
- n
- g
- a
- p
- o
- s
- t
- -
- p
- r
- o
- d
- u
- c
- t
- i
- o
- n
- t
- e
- a
- m
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- a
- k
- e
- e
- n
- e
- y
- e
- f
- o
- r
- e
- d
- i
- t
- i
- n
- g
- ,
- c
- o
- l
- o
- r
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- m
- o
- t
- i
- o
- n
- g
- r
- a
- p
- h
- i
- c
- s
- .
- -
- A
- b
- l
- e
- t
- o
- t
- r
- a
- n
- s
- l
- a
- t
- e
- c
- r
- e
- a
- t
- i
- v
- e
- b
- r
- i
- e
- f
- s
- i
- n
- t
- o
- p
- r
- a
- c
- t
- i
- c
- a
- l
- p
- r
- o
- d
- u
- c
- t
- i
- o
- n
- a
- n
- d
- p
- o
- s
- t
- s
- t
- r
- a
- t
- e
- g
- i
- e
- s
- ,
- b
- a
- l
- a
- n
- c
- i
- n
- g
- a
- r
- t
- i
- s
- t
- i
- c
- v
- i
- s
- i
- o
- n
- w
- i
- t
- h
- b
- u
- d
- g
- e
- t
- a
- n
- d
- t
- i
- m
- e
- l
- i
- n
- e
- .
- -
- A
- c
- o
- l
- l
- a
- b
- o
- r
- a
- t
- i
- v
- e
- c
- o
- m
- m
- u
- n
- i
- c
- a
- t
- o
- r
- w
- h
- o
- c
- a
- n
- w
- o
- r
- k
- e
- f
- f
- e
- c
- t
- i
- v
- e
- l
- y
- w
- i
- t
- h
- d
- i
- r
- e
- c
- t
- o
- r
- s
- ,
- c
- r
- e
- a
- t
- i
- v
- e
- s
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- c
- l
- i
- e
- n
- t
- s
- ,
- f
- o
- s
- t
- e
- r
- i
- n
- g
- a
- p
- o
- s
- i
- t
- i
- v
- e
- t
- e
- a
- m
- c
- u
- l
- t
- u
- r
- e
- .
📝 Tips for Applying to Thinkingbox
Highlight your dual expertise: show both your cinematography reel and your post-production work (editing, color, etc.) to demonstrate your range. - Tailor your portfolio to include commercial, brand film, or social content projects, as The Heist works across these formats. - In your cover letter, mention specific projects from Thinkingbox or The Heist that you admire and explain how your skills could contribute to similar work. - Emphasize your leadership experience in post, not just your technical skills, to show you can manage a team. - If possible, include examples of how you've bridged production and post, such as creating shooting plans that streamline editing or color grading.
Highlight your dual expertise: show both your cinematography reel and your post-production work (editing, color, etc.) to demonstrate your range. - Tailor your portfolio to include commercial, brand film, or social content projects, as The Heist works across these formats. - In your cover letter, mention specific projects from Thinkingbox or The Heist that you admire and explain how your skills could contribute to similar work. - Emphasize your leadership experience in post, not just your technical skills, to show you can manage a team. - If possible, include examples of how you've bridged production and post, such as creating shooting plans that streamline editing or color grading.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
- Your ability to move seamlessly between set and edit suite, ensuring a unified visual narrative. - Your experience leading post teams and fostering a collaborative, feedback-driven environment. - Your strong visual point of view and how it aligns with The Heist's portfolio and culture. - Your adaptability across formats (brand films, broadcast, social) and your passion for craft.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore The Heist's portfolio on their website to understand their style and the types of projects they produce. - Look into Thinkingbox's overall services and how The Heist integrates with the broader agency. - Check out any recent work or case studies that showcase their motion design and live action capabilities. - Research the company culture through their social media or employee testimonials to get a feel for their values.
- → Explore The Heist's portfolio on their website to understand their style and the types of projects they produce. - Look into Thinkingbox's overall services and how The Heist integrates with the broader agency. - Check out any recent work or case studies that showcase their motion design and live action capabilities. - Research the company culture through their social media or employee testimonials to get a feel for their values.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid sending a generic resume that doesn't highlight both production and post-production experience. - Don't overlook the importance of leadership skills; emphasize your experience managing or mentoring editors. - Steer clear of a portfolio that only shows one side of the role (e.g., only cinematography or only editing) without demonstrating versatility. - Don't forget to show enthusiasm for the company's specific work and culture in your application.
- Avoid sending a generic resume that doesn't highlight both production and post-production experience. - Don't overlook the importance of leadership skills; emphasize your experience managing or mentoring editors. - Steer clear of a portfolio that only shows one side of the role (e.g., only cinematography or only editing) without demonstrating versatility. - Don't forget to show enthusiasm for the company's specific work and culture in your application.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!