Film and Video
Learn to understand and harness the power of visual media to send messages, build communities, educate and advocate for change.
Why Study Film & Video at Randolph?
We live in a world that is saturated with visual imagery and messages. Knowing how to understand and evaluate these messages is crucial; knowing how to produce your own media is even more valuable.
Studying filmmaking helps cultivate a variety of skills:
Technical skills: Learn about the technical aspects of film and video production, such as script writing, shooting, lighting, editing, and sound design
Creative skills: Harness your imagination and see your ideas come to life; learn to appreciate the beauty of cinematic language
Analytical skills: Interpret visual texts and develop media literacy
Intellectual skills: Develop independent thought, intellectual initiative, and research skills; deepen your knowledge of different media, geographical contexts, and historical periods
Communication skills: Work with a team to come up with an idea and see it through to a final product; learn to listen to others and collaborate
Leadership skills: Take the lead on a project and cultivate empathy, integrity, and decisiveness; learn to mentor others and develop self-awareness
Problem-solving skills: Make decisions about how to use resources efficiently, build positive relationships with stakeholders and solve problems that arise
Degrees offered
Related Programs
An Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Filmmaking is an interdisciplinary pursuit: to be a good filmmaker, you must experience the world fully and know a little about a lot of different topics.
Studying film within a liberal arts setting is ideal for building a wide base of knowledge. Courses in film history and criticism help you understand why filmmakers make the choices they make.
Other courses enrich your understanding of people and societies.
- Want to make a romantic comedy? Study sociology to learn how people build relationships.
- Want to make a documentary about climate change in your community? Take an environmental studies or marine science course.
- Want to write an award-winning screenplay? Take a creative writing class.
- Want to explore how the Hollywood film industry really works? Take a media and culture class.
All of your classes at Randolph will be valuable to you as you develop your individual creative vision.
Hands-on Experience
All the film and video classes at Randolph are highly interactive and hands-on.
Our Media Lab features the latest video production cameras that are used by professionals, cutting edge digital LED lighting kits, industry standard audio equipment, and a 15-seat computer lab with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite and DaVinci Resolve, all running on Apple Mac Studio M2 computers.
Students start the major by practicing techniques in exposure, lighting, framing, set etiquette, and gain the technical skills needed to work in the film industry.
Film and Video majors complete a practicum, during which they work with professionals to develop their skills. Each student produces a senior project as a culmination of their learning in the major.
The work you make for your courses will comprise a portfolio that will introduce you to prospective employers.
Faculty Mentorship
You will work with faculty members to learn all aspects of film and video production, from the basics to advanced level projects.
Throughout their time at Randolph, students are guided by faculty mentors to gain practical experience in the industry.
As film or video projects present themselves in the community, faculty help students navigate their first steps in the professional field of media production.
Internships
Randolph College is located in Southwestern Virginia, within close proximity to several prominent film festivals, such as the Virginia Film Festival, Richmond International Film Festival and Richmond French Film Festival.
Students have the opportunity to engage with arts organizations in the surrounding community such as Riverviews Artspace, Amazement Square Children’s Museum, and Endstation Theater Company.
Unique Experiences Prepare You for Success
Outcomes
International Anchor
EI Thant Sin ’16, communication studies major
International broadcaster, Voice of America Burmese, Washington, D.C.
A native of Myanmar, Sin was a writer for the Sundial and handled public relations for the Panworld International Club. She also completed several internships, including one at the VOA Service Bureau in Yangon, Myanmar.
That experience led to a position as a TV anchor for the network, where she broadcasts international and Myanmar news in the Burmese language.
“My classes allowed me to view the world’s media more consciously and be aware of what we, as the public, consume daily.”
“I grew up under a dictatorship where curiosity is shut down and questions were discouraged, where obedience signifies politeness, and where being an outspoken woman could carry a negative connotation.”
“At Randolph, I learned about respect and appreciation of different strong suits everyone has. I learned that learning doesn’t stop in class, and GPA is not the only ruler that measures me. I learned to be a strong, independent, and outspoken young Burmese woman who fights for her rights.”
Opportunities and Resources
Top Ranked Professors
Randolph College’s faculty are consistently recognized as among the best in the nation. The Princeton Review ranked the College 23rd for most accessible professors in the 2024 edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 389 Colleges.
Randolph has been ranked in the top 25 for most accessible professors for 8 years.
Film & Video Faculty
Jennifer Gauthier
Charles A. Dana Professor of Media and Culture, Director of the Honors Program
Read More... Jennifer GauthierJulio Rodriguez
Associate Professor of American Culture, Director of the American Culture Program
Read More... Julio Rodriguez
