Why Don’t More Art Schools Teach Video Production?

I went to film school at Savannah College of Art and Design dreaming of making feature films. Like many young filmmakers, I chased the idea of creative storytelling in narrative cinema. I still love film, but my career took a different path. These days I work in marketing and corporate video production. It’s a field I’ve built and grown into, and one I’m proud of.

Looking back, I wish my curriculum had covered more than narrative filmmaking. Most art schools focus almost entirely on features and shorts, with little or no training in branded content, marketing videos, commercials, corporate videos, or client testimonials. Those types of videos keep a huge part of the industry employed.

I’m convinced there are at least as many jobs in video production as there are in traditional film. Yet when I was in school, that side of the business wasn’t even presented as an option. Would college-aged me have signed up for “Marketing Video 101”? Probably not. It doesn’t have the same romantic appeal as directing a movie. But it would have given me a more realistic view of the job market, hands-on experience, and a stronger portfolio to show potential clients or employers.

Video production is still a creative career. It uses the same tools: storytelling, visual design, editing, and cinematography. It’s too bad most programs ignore it, because for many of us, this is where the real work and real opportunities are.