Client: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is recognized as a global leader in higher education, integrating a liberal arts and science college with a strong emphasis on research. It’s a dynamic community where students from over 115 countries converge to create a vibrant, research-oriented environment. NYUAD is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive community that is engaged in addressing the complexities of the world through education and research.

Brief: For the 2023 commencement video, NYUAD decided to feature 11 students, chosen from auditions for their ability to speak well on camera. Though the number of interviews was fewer than in previous years, the video was designed to show the broader experiences of the entire graduating class. The goal was to make sure every student could connect with at least one of the stories, making the video feel relevant and inclusive for all graduates, not just a spotlight on those featured.

Challenges: Coordinating interviews and b-roll sessions during the students’ busy senior year was logistically challenging. Condensing approximately 8 hours of interview footage into a coherent 5-minute video required careful selection and editing to ensure a cohesive narrative that represented diverse student perspectives.

Solutions: Worked closely with the video production manager at NYUAD who handled all pre-production aspects, including planning and site recces to arrange different locations for each interview. We used AI technology to transcribe interviews, helping us quickly find and piece together the best soundbites

Direction: This project was a collaborative effort with the NYUAD video production manager. The interviews were conducted on campus but most of the B-rolls were filmred in various public spaces around Abu Dhabi, bringing a fresh look to the video. The narrative was constructed around the 11 selected students sharing their experiences at NYUAD, including academics, extracurricular activities, special opportunities, and their future plans post-graduation. The editing was key to bringing the individual stories into a single narrative that reflected both the shared and unique aspects of the student experience at NYUAD.