About the Project

The Storytelling & Film: Senior Experience course is designed with career readiness at its core. Each element of the course, the professional film project, the Making Of mini documentary, and the communal course ePortfolio, directly aligns with the NACE Career Readiness Competencies valued by employers across industries.​

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1. Hands-On Filmmaking with Next Generation Storytellers

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Students take on crew roles, learning to communicate, problem-solve, and work effectively under production pressures.

• Leadership: Directors, producers, and department heads step into leadership positions, guiding peers through the creative process.

• Professionalism: Students adapt to real-world expectations and deadlines, mirroring industry practice.
   

2. Behind-the-Scenes “Making Of” Mini Documentary

• Communication: Students practice articulating their process, challenges, and achievements through interviews and reflection on camera.

• Technology: Students engage with digital media tools, from filming to editing, while exploring visual storytelling techniques.

• Critical Thinking: By documenting the filmmaking journey, students analyze decisions and evaluate how collaboration impacts the final product.
   

3. Communal Course ePortfolio

• Career & Self-Development: Students curate digital artifacts, highlight transferable skills, and connect academic experiences to future goals.

• Equity & Inclusion: The communal ePortfolio emphasizes collective reflection, amplifying diverse student voices and perspectives.

• Digital Literacy: Students learn to present professional, shareable evidence of their work in ways that resonate with employers and audiences.
   

Together, these three components create a signature ODU learning experience that blends creativity with career readiness in the Department of Communication & Theatre Arts. Students leave the course not only with a completed film credit but also with the professional skills, reflective practices, and digital materials that position them for success in the creative economy and beyond.