Cass Productions: Beyond the screen

How Strategic Planning and Mixed Media Crafted DMU's Impactful Graduation Video

Creating a memorable video isn’t just about capturing moments on film; it’s about strategic planning, thoughtful storytelling, and in some cases, using a blend of media to tell a powerful story. For De Montfort University’s (DMU) 2024 graduation video, our careful planning, creative transitions, and innovative mixed media approach helped us craft a film that resonated deeply with students, faculty, and families. We brought DMU’s vision to life by merging creativity with precise execution.

THE PROJECT

DMU is known as “the empowering university,” a dynamic and diverse institution with 26,000 students from all backgrounds. Every year, their graduation ceremonies celebrate not only academic success but also the personal journeys of their graduates.

DMU approached us with a clear vision: to create a graduation film that captured this spirit of empowerment and showcased how the university played a vital role in shaping each student’s path.

CREATIVE PROPOSAL

Our goal was to celebrate DMU students by highlighting their journeys, growth, and the connections they built. We used a mixed-media approach, combining graphic highlights, rapid cuts, lively transitions, and an upbeat soundtrack to create a sleek, modern aesthetic.

The film centred around three core themes:

  • Journey: From students starting at DMU to graduation, we used a creative rewind effect to show “where it all started.”
  • Community: Featuring the friendships and connections formed, we incorporated students’ own footage in a scrapbook format, adding a personal touch.
  • Success: Showcasing achievements and passions, we filmed students engaging in their hobbies and interests, reflecting their truest selves.

One of the strengths of this approach was its flexibility. Mixed media allowed us to convey messages quickly, set the mood effectively, and transition smoothly between scenes, making the viewing experience fluid and captivating.

PRE-PRODUCTION

Pre-production and planning were essential. We collaborated closely with DMU to understand their goals and gather insights into the stories they wanted to tell. Receiving bios of each featured student, we developed a detailed storyboard, script, and shot list, ensuring that every element aligned to create a cohesive narrative.

Through careful coordination, we finalised locations, props, and clothing, ensuring everything would seamlessly fit the video’s visual style and themes. This attention to detail during planning allowed us to streamline the filming process and anticipate the creative transitions that would define the final product.

Our camera operators and editors are always scrolling on social-media to keep up to date with the latest video editing trends and follow creative content creators and influencers. We wanted in-camera and digital effect transitions that were not only relevant to each DMU student featured in the production but also would lead to a more engaging and captivating final product.

PRODUCTION

Filming took place over two days on DMU’s main campus, where we followed five students, capturing their daily routines, interactions, and experiences inside and outside the classroom. Each student shared their unique perspective on what DMU meant to them, offering personal insights that added depth to the video.

Our pre-production planning enabled us to implement creative techniques like match cuts and action transitions to seamlessly connect different scenes. These weren’t just stylish effects; they emphasized the connection between the students’ academic pursuits and personal growth, showing how DMU supported them every step of the way.

We used 2x Sony FX6 cameras because of their exceptional image quality (4k) and high-resolution options so that we could easily adapt it for different platforms and aspect ratios. Each shot was supported by a camera on a tripod and another camera on a gimbal, to allow for different types of angles and creativity – and for effective time management!
  • graduation film, university video production, video production

Our editors use the Adobe Creative Suite, including Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Photoshop, which were the main programs used to edit this project.

Aside from utilising transitions and techniques that come standard with Premiere Pro, we leverage paid plugins to further enhance the creative possibilities and experiment with unique effects to refine the final edit—giving it something extra. The plugins and presets range from motion blurs, zooms, and changes to the overall look and color.

For example, we make use of Motion Array’s plugins, which offer over 50 professional plugins for video editing, compatible with industry-leading software like Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. You can explore these plugins at https://motionarray.com/plugins/.

However, there are also other plugins and presets available from a host of content creators and online communities as well—some of which are absolutely free to use!

The editing process for DMU took about one month, including building the graphics, incorporating client amendments, and repurposing the content for different outputs.

The final product was a vibrant, professional film that captured the pride, joy, and spirit of DMU’s 2024 graduating class.

Through close collaboration with DMU and meticulous planning, we ensured that every element—from the upbeat soundtrack to the heartfelt interviews—resonated deeply with graduates, staff, and families alike. Despite a tight schedule and budget, we delivered a polished product that not only met but exceeded expectations.

DMU praised our innovative approach, the quality of the final edits, and our ability to deliver on time and within budget. Hearing their enthusiastic feedback was the perfect end to this rewarding project.

“I worked with Cass on a project in Leicester and at every stage of the process, the team was a dream to work with. Their pitch was well considered, and when it came time to film, they were creative in their approach and receptive to any amends we asked. A big shout-out to the producer on our project who coordinated everything seamlessly!”

James Bavin, Communications Officer, De Montfort University

Are you looking to create a captivating video that tells your story? Contact us today to learn how we can bring your vision to life. Check out our portfolio for more examples of our work.