Each year, the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees requests videos from the 23 universities in the CSU system, including San Francisco State University (SF State). The videos are supposed to capture the essence of the school in a few minutes. In 2023, San Francisco State’s Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC) department was tasked with creating the video. (In the past, the Academic Technology department had produced the video.) At the time, SMC's staff videographer, Juan Montes, was new to his position, and he was still largely unfamiliar with the university and its resources, students, and alumni. SMC Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy Barbara Stein formed a team of staff members to help Juan identify an approach to the video and tackle the logistical challenges of producing it. The resulting video, “The Culture of Possibility,” captures the spirit of SF State through the stories of four very different students. The CSU board praised the video, which has also been screened at the university's annual Hall of Fame dinner and other SF State events. Now available on SF State’s YouTube channel, the video has been viewed nearly 700 times.
From the Judges
Beautiful visuals, exceptional sound design, and a unique editing style, all contributing to a modern and innovative approach. The video expertly transitioned from quick cuts to slower segments. The story was moving and inspiring and aligned with the university's pillars.
