Eastern Connecticut State University students in filmmaking professor Brian Day’s course “Producing for Clients” made professional films for Willimantic-based nonprofit organizations this semester. The course’s 11 students were divided into four production teams, which made 12 films for the Covenant Soup Kitchen, Access Agency, No Freeze Hospitality Center and NAFI Connecticut.

The films will be used professionally by the clients on their websites, social media and other communications to aid in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, training and public awareness initiatives. The nonprofits provide a range of services to the community including housing, food, vocational training, youth services and more.

“The course is truly an experiential learning course that provides professional quality films for real clients while also providing strong portfolio material for students,” said Day. “It is more hands on than an internship because the students are in charge of making the films and not just helping.”

Day spent this past summer researching organizations that would be good clients for the course. He focused his search on local organizations with diverse missions and with needs that his students could provide. Day facilitated the student-client relationships via virtual meetings and oversaw production of the films in accordance with client feedback.

“The collaboration is productive for all involved. The nonprofits get professional quality films they can use to educate, inform and motivate,” said Day. “Most of these nonprofits can’t afford to get such projects made on their own. In turn, the students get the real-life experience and professional projects that go in their portfolios and on their resumes.”

Fundraising film for No Freeze

Promotional film for NAFI

Intern recruitment film for ACCESS