An insider guide to those who are considering studying Video Production or Film Studies
Pop Quiz - yes and no answers only.
Have you ever left the theater in a daze, stunned about what you just watched and unable to come back to reality? Have you ever made your friends and family sit through all of the credits to read through the hundreds of names and job positions that worked on that piece of art? Have you ever wondered how that scene was shot that way? Have you ever pretended to be that protagonist, acting like them and copying their mannerisms? Have you and your friends ever tried to make your own home movies, chasing each other around with your shaky camera and editing in iMovie? If you have said “yes” to any or all of these questions, you have passed the quiz, video production is the right major for you. If you failed to answer “yes” to any of them, who cares! Anyone can still major in video production or just appreciate the art as an audience member. Without the audience’s participation, art would mean nothing. If you have answered “yes” and are considering the major, here is the perfect guide from a graduating video production student. First, I must explain why I am credible.
Why You Should Listen to Me
Hi, I am Sofia Pfaffl, and I am graduating from Belmont University in two months with a BA in Creative & Entertainment Industries and Video Production. Now, besides my majors, why am I credible? I have used my majors and time at Belmont to the best of my ability, even with certain pitfalls such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Trust me when I say I am going to be 100% honest with you and share my own experiences: the good, the bad, and the ugly, or should I say, dirty, from all the dusty, old equipment you will work with. I will not lie to you and tell you everything is “rainbows and unicorns,” but I will tell you how I benefited from the major, and I will also tell you how I have learned from my mistakes and failures. You can learn from me on what to do but also what not to do. I want to help you make the most of your major but also stop you from doing the same things I did. While I am credible in many ways, everyone has different experiences and opinions, so I will link other resources for you down the road in this guide. As for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey - my journey.
Where Do We Begin?
Well, to even consider majoring in video production, you must determine if it is right for you. You passed the pop quiz above, but now what? You cannot just like TV and movies and that is it. You cannot think that you will be working on Hollywood sets instantly. Yet, it may happen one day with perseverance and determination, and do not ever think that you cannot do it and that you are not good enough (one lesson I learned along the way). Yet, there is not a set stereotypical person that is “right” for the major. Video Production majors come in all shapes and sizes. We are not all supposed to be alike. What makes us different is what sets us apart and gets us noticed. We cannot all be making the same art in the same way, otherwise, it would be a boring, narrow-minded world. So, dive into your differences and your uniqueness. We all have our own strengths. In the major, you have the chance to let your strengths shine but also to improve your weaknesses.
I must pause here and add that my kryptonite during my time at Belmont was comparing myself to everyone. Do not get me wrong, everyone compares themselves, especially at Belmont where everyone seems to be Paramore’s BFF or Taylor Swift’s Manager. However, we all come from different places with different backgrounds to one place to learn. You do not need to come into this major already knowing everything. In fact, if you already knew everything about the major, you would not be in school. Yet, I was still intimidated by my classmates’ skill levels, and now, I have learned that there was no reason to be scared. For example, I have had a really hard time with my Video Production major at Belmont. The major keeps getting “workshopped,” so everything is constantly changing. When I was choosing classes for my last semester, I found out that they canceled my final two classes and did not intend to replace them anytime soon. The head of my department just advised me to ‘take any class I wanted to that is related to my major so that we can substitute the credits.’ He encouraged me to take an advanced Journalism course called Entertainment/Culture Reporting. Not only did the class require two prerequisite courses that I had not taken, but every student in that class (except me) was a Journalism major working for the student newspaper or for professional publications. Against my wishes, I was overridden into the class and thrown into the deep end. After the first couple of days, I went to speak to my wonderful, three-time Emmy award-winning professor, to express my concerns. I did not fit in. I have never taken a journalism class let alone learn AP-style writing. I was no match for all my experienced classmates, or so I thought. My Adobe Spark page that included my written article, video podcast, and data was selected to be highlighted on Belmont’s news page. I had learned not to doubt myself. I also learned to take away my anger from my “lost” Video Production courses and turn them into a positive gift. I had the chance to take a different type of course (although still in the media department) that ended up benefiting me, and through it all, I learned from my classmates. Instead of comparing myself to them, I looked up to them and sought to be like them. And despite my concerns, it worked out for me. When I started my last semester’s advanced Video Production courses, I took my experience from the Journalism class and applied it to my new courses. Instead of shying away, I learned from my classmates. We ended up working as a team, helping each other in areas we are weak while allowing our strengths to flourish. Instead of being perfect in every area, we became one organism, working together as different parts of the body to be one perfect whole. To make it simple, try to not compare yourself to others. Use your differences to your advantage. Work together to help one another become the best versions of yourself in the major.
Finally Facing Your Fears and Just Doing It
While I seem to have gone off on a tangent above, I believe it was an important pause to take. Before deciding to major in Video Production, you need to prepare yourself mentally. You need to tell yourself to stop when you start to compare yourself to others. You must know that you are not meant to be perfect yet. That is why you are here, studying the art so that you can be your perfect self. You can still be scared while you are in the major. Heck, I am every day, but I do not let that stop me.
As I am writing this now, I have to go and film all day tomorrow for our school’s showcase. The Belmont Showcase series consists of 6 concert productions with 4 Belmont artists run by Belmont students. For class credit in my Event Video Production class, I have to be on the video crew for the showcase. I will be a live camera operator, and I am scared as it is not my skill set. Yet, I am not going to let that stop me. I am going to use this as a learning experience and be grateful for the opportunity. My advice: take any experience you can get in Video Production, even if it does not fit you. From experience, I have realized it is better to try and fail than never know and possibly miss an opportunity. Even if the experience did not suit you, you can still put it on your resume which makes you seem like a flexible worker who has done many different things in the industry.
So, you are doing it, you are going to major in Video Production. The very first step, or I should say second after overcoming your fears and mental blocks, is to pick the right school for you. Here comes the fun part, research. Now not everyone loves to research as much as I do, so I have done some of the work for you and have listed some sources down below:
As you are searching for colleges, you may hit a roadblock: Motion Pictures vs. Video Production. Which do you study? Every single college is different. Some colleges offer both majors, some offer a major that combines the two. At Belmont, there is an MOT department and a Media Studies department that includes Video Production, both in the same college, but you must choose one. Here is a simple way of distinguishing the two: MOT, Motion Pictures, is film-centered for working on Hollywood sets. You are provided with opportunities to learn about many of the departments in the film industry, and you also get to work on many short films with your classmates. You can pick an emphasis such as screenwriting and have a huge portfolio of your films. Video Production is everything but the kitchen sink. While you might not be making “films,” you will be learning how to produce, direct, and create a wide variety of programming content. MOT is for you if you want to devote your whole life to making films and spend a lot of your college weekends working on student sets. Video Production is for you if you want to learn about working on live events, music videos, corporate events, live sporting events, broadcasting news and more. You can learn the world of making other types of videos besides Hollywood blockbusters.
The best way to know which is for you is to go to the school’s website and look at the description for the specific majors. Many of them include a list of courses you will take which allows you to read about what you will be learning. Reach out to the heads of the department, the contacts provided, or fellow students to hear their opinions and experiences. If you pick the wrong one, you can always switch early in the game. I chose Video Production instead of MOT. Do I regret it? Only time will tell. But do not worry. You do not have to sell your soul to Video Production. You can minor or double major and expand your horizons. My end goal is producing, so I chose Creative & Entertainment Industries as my second major so I could learn the business side of the industry. Others choose to minor in Music Business, Journalism, or Audio Engineering. The options are endless, and everyone can find the right one for them. Once you have chosen your school and majors/minors, make sure to tour it. See the facilities and what they offer. Make sure the school is your fit.
Goodbye Mom and Dad
You have committed to your school, graduated high school, and spent all summer adding to your massive pile of things-to-take-to-college that dominates your living room floor. Now what? What can you do to prepare? While I discussed that you must mentally prepare yourself, you also can physically prepare yourself too. Your school will provide loads of equipment and supplies for you to check out and use, but it cannot hurt to have some of your own things. You can start practicing and creating your own videos. As time goes on, it is good to invest in your own stuff to start your professional career. Here are some simple things I recommend:
A DSLR camera - All DSLRs have different uses and purposes - some are better for photography and others for video - find one that fits your needs
A Tripod - Make sure it fits your camera - or A Stabilizer
An External Hard Drive - Trust me your laptop is going to be using a lot of storage
And a laptop if you do not have one
Editing softwares - Your school may provide you with student trials or prefer you to use a certain software, but it cannot hurt to get some experience with popular softwares. You can download free ones or invest in some professional ones. Before school, I mastered iMovie and Filmora. At Belmont, I learned Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
Yet, if you are not sure about your major, your future career path, or investing in a lot of equipment, do not worry, as I said, your school will provide the necessities or tell you what to buy. You will soon learn what you need and do not need.
Tips from someone who failed a lot
Failure is subjective. I did a lot of amazing things at Belmont. I am grateful for my time, but there are things I would do differently if I had a second chance, and there are things that happened out of my control. Yet, this major and this industry teach you that a lot will happen that you cannot control. You need to learn to adapt and go with the flow. Take the bad things and make them good. So here is a simple list of tips from me, for things I did and things I wish I did during my time at Belmont.
Talk to your classmates! - The professors are not wrong when they tell you this. These will be the people you are hiring or the ones that are hiring you. Network with them. See what you guys can learn from each other. Help each other out. I struggled with cinematography but was skilled in producing. I paired up with classmates that knew everything about the camera and they paired up with me because I would have everything planned and organized.
Talk to your professors! - If you work hard in class and go up and talk to them, they will like you. No, they do not need to be your best friend, but they will see that you care and form a connection with you. I finally started talking to my professors after class, sharing my out-of-class experiences and struggles. Your professors are chosen because they are experts in the industry who have extensive experience and awards. You can learn from them and they can help you. Because I formed a connection, I was provided with many networking connections and opportunities.
Talk to your guest speakers! - If your professor or school brings in a guest speaker, it means they are important and experienced. It also means that they were willing to help you. Many will provide their contact information at the end. If they do not, many are happy to talk to you if you reach out to them. Connect with them on LinkedIn and send a message. I was the only person who did this in one class, and because of that, I worked with many of the guests on music videos and live events at famous buildings such as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Learn outside of class - A lot of your coursework is going to be out-of-school work. Use that to your advantage and take the time to really dive into your creations. Outside of school projects and homework, try to make your own art. Team up with your classmates and use their skills and creativity to your advantage. Build your portfolio and resume!
Work outside of class - Interning is 100% necessary. School can only teach you so much. You must do the work to learn the work. Every internship is different but do not shy away from the ones that do not fit you. I did an internship I was hesitant about, yet it was the best experience I could have had. My second internship was not for me, but at least I learned that I did not want to do that in my life.
Learn through your school - This does not mean class. This means to learn from all of the opportunities your school provides. Your school will have Internship and Career Fairs. There will also be events you can work (ex. Belmont’s Showcase Series) and organizations and clubs you can join (ex. Belmont’s Film Society).
Do not ignore the things you do not like - If you are not good at something, do not avoid it. Learn how to be better. Or learn that at least you tried it, and it is in your resume, but it is not for you. I had to take Sports Video Production for class credit, filming Belmont’s live sporting events through ESPN+. While it looks great on my resume, I was not good at it. At least now I know what it means to “film the shortstop,” and I can have a critical eye of camera angles and shots when watching live sporting events. While I am filming live again for the showcase tomorrow, I am going to put a smile on my face while doing it.
Making the Most Out of It
In the end, you truly will get out what you put in. So, while it will never be the perfect major, make it perfectly yours. Yes, as cheesy as that sounds, it is true. You can be as involved or laid back as you want. It is your education. While not everyone thinks you need one when you are going into the entertainment industry, this will give you some experience and skill sets that others will not acquire. Use your education wisely, do not just try to blow through it. If I could do it again, I would cherish every moment and take every opportunity. Make the most out of it, the good, the bad, and the dirty.
Good luck to you and enjoy the journey. It is a long one, and at times you may feel like giving up. But even those moments show you who you truly are. If you can get through this, you can get through anything. Do it with a smile and have “no regrets,” or at least as few regrets as possible. Are you up for the challenge? The choice is yours.
Where am I going after I graduate? “That’s a secret I’ll never tell.”
XOXO,
Sofia Pfaffl
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