Philosophy and World Religions Marketing Internship

Spring Semester 2025

Executive Summary of Project

As part of my internship/independent study, I am developing video marketing materials for the Philosophy and World Religions Department at the University of Northern Iowa. This project merges my two majors—Communications: Digital Media Production and Religious Studies—allowing me to apply the skills I have developed over the past four years.

I am producing a comprehensive introduction video featuring student and faculty interviews, along with dynamic b-roll footage, to highlight the department's mission and offerings. Additionally, I am creating short-form videos for the department’s Instagram to enhance its digital presence. Throughout this project, I am overseeing every stage of production, from concept development to final edits. I am acting as the director, cinematographer, interviewer, and editor, ensuring a cohesive and engaging final product. This project is entirely self-directed, with Dr. Hill serving as my advisor, providing guidance and feedback throughout the process.

The Pitch!

I developed a pitch presentation for the Philosophy and World Religions Department to outline the project’s goals, generate interest in participation, and gather feedback on key elements to include in the video. The presentation helped establish a clear vision for the project and encouraged faculty to take part in interviews. I designed the slides using Canva, incorporating visual concepts, branding ideas, and an overview of the video structure.

The department responded positively, providing valuable insights that helped refine my approach. Based on their feedback, I adjusted certain aspects of the video to better align with their vision. You can check out a few of the slides here!

My Writing Process and Scheduling

For this process, I began by brainstorming questions to ask during the interviews and sought feedback on my original questions from Dr. Hill to refine them further. After confirming the interest of both students and professors in participating, I created a tailored Google Document for each interview subject, ensuring the questions were specific to them.

To maintain a high level of professionalism, I stayed organized throughout the process, keeping my calendar up to date and sending each interview subject a Google Calendar invite to confirm their interview times. This attention to detail helped ensure smooth scheduling and clear communication.

In addition, I made it a priority to create a welcoming environment for each interview. I approached each subject with warmth and respect, which helped foster open and relaxed conversations. My organizational skills and professional demeanor were key to making the interview process smooth and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Creating the Set and Capturing Interviews

I designed and set up various interview locations around campus, adapting to each space to create visually appealing and professional-looking shots. Using a two-camera setup, I captured both close-ups of the interview subjects and a wide shot for safety. To ensure high-quality sound, both cameras recorded audio as a backup fail-safe.

Lighting was a key factor in creating a polished look for each interview. I utilized a three-point lighting setup when possible, adjusting key, fill, and backlighting to achieve a natural and well-balanced image. In less controlled environments, I worked with available light, modifying it with additional lights.

To enhance the visual composition, I carefully staged each setting by incorporating elements like books for set dressing and strategically blocking interview subjects within the space to create depth and balance in the frame. I also paid close attention to framing, ensuring a clean background, and adjusting camera angles to maintain an engaging and professional aesthetic.

Interviews! With Students and Professors!

I personally conducted each interview with both faculty and students, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience. As the director, I managed all aspects of the interview process, from setting up cameras and checking audio levels to guiding interviewees through the conversation. To help them feel prepared and confident, I provided questions in advance, allowing for more natural and thoughtful responses.

Creating a relaxed and comfortable environment was a priority. I took time to ease any on-camera nerves by offering breaks, adjusting lighting and seating for their comfort, and maintaining a conversational tone. Throughout each session, I carefully monitored both audio and video to ensure high-quality recordings while keeping the interviews engaging and dynamic.

Not only were these interviews insightful, but they were also incredibly enjoyable to conduct. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with my professors and peers in a unique way, deepening my understanding of their perspectives while refining my skills as a director, interviewer, and technical problem-solver.

My Editing Process

Organization and Labeling footage (Left)

Within Premier Pro and on my hard drive, I have created and labeled footage as well additional folders to house my editing elements. Footage is labled with dates and interview subjects.

Multi-Camera Editing (Below)

Here is a look at my multi-cam setup in Premier Pro, which means I can switch between Camera A (the close-up) and Camera B (the wide shot), all while I edit footage.