Statler College Recruitment Video

Video editing, branding

The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University is home to hundreds of diverse, cutting-edge, and innovative individuals. The college needed a way to inform curious potential students about the education they would receive at Statler to could feature on their website landing page.
The solution was a short and energetic video; it needed to not only be concise to keep viewer attention, but cover a large variety of topics (majors, extracurriculars, research, etc.) while also making students feel like they had a home waiting for them at this new chapter of their life. Finally, it needed to adhere to WVU's most recent visual identity rebrand.
A floating laptop that reads "R1 Status: Highest Research Classification in the Country", surrounded by hex codes and swatches for WVU Blue, Gold, Safety Blue, Canary, Star City Blue, and Sunset. Fonts listed are Config Variable Light and Bold, Helvetical Neue LT Pro Black Condensed. Two color variations of the "Let's Go!" WVU logo under graphics of location markers, a magnifying glass, a home with a heart and a flying WV, the outline of WV state, and topography and slashed patterns.
I had to determine the key points to deliver to our potential students, mainly that being a part of Statler isn't JUST about being an engineer. The college is home to innovators, experts in research, and international champions. I began by writing a script for the video, then I started splicing photographs, video interviews with students, and B-roll I took from various photo shoots together. Later I also recorded the voice-over and paired it with audio.
I had to pace the video with the appropriate music; it was paramount that it was exciting, inviting, and modern without feeling disingenuous to younger audiences. This song I chose coincidentally contained someone yelling WVU's tagline, "Let's Go", which made it perfect to cut and remix.
Images of students, one boy looking under a robotic arm and another smiling while wearing Statler College merch outside. On a screencap of a student interview in front of a blue backdrop with a graphic that says "Welcome Home", a snippet of text reads: (This wall graphic is also in my portfolio!)
A blue microscope on a yellow background sliding up from the bottom of the page and then disappearing up into the top of the page.
A blue microscope on a yellow background sliding up from the bottom of the page and then disappearing up into the top of the page.
A white globe on a blue background, with a gold trophy popping into view.
A white globe on a blue background, with a gold trophy popping into view.
I paced the video so that it remained engaging visually throughout as all info an incoming freshman would need to know was explained, creating some motion graphics within Adobe Premiere and After Effects.
I also used still images in place of B-roll, rapidly stitching back-to-back photos I took at shoots to create the illusion of movement, sometimes layered with WVU brand elements, color overlays, or text.
Images spliced together to create a GIF of a student smiling as blue light covers his face while he works on a computer screen.
Images spliced together to create a GIF of a student smiling as blue light covers his face while he works on a computer screen.
Images spliced together of two students in welding masks and gear intently working on a project as sparks and smoke fly around their work space.
Images spliced together of two students in welding masks and gear intently working on a project as sparks and smoke fly around their work space.
The final result was a quick video just under a 1 minute 30 seconds, short and concise enough to provide any incoming student with tons of way to join the Statler College family from day one.
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