How we can improve Otterbein's film department

Otterbein’s film department could use an improvement.

Currently, Otterbein’s film program is an English concentration centered around film studies and film theory. In this concentration, students study the cultural climate that informs filmmaking along with genres, forms and specific directors. All of this work is good, but there’s so much more to film as an art form than just criticism and theory.

For example, scriptwriting. As of the 2024-2025 term, there is only one scriptwriting class within the English department: ENGL 2263. This class focuses on writing for the script and the screen. For other aspects of filmmaking, a student will have to look elsewhere to other departments. Otterbein’s communication department, for instance, is where students can get involved in courses relating to video and audio production.

Clearly, Otterbein’s “film” scene, so to speak, is spread across multiple departments. While this is not entirely unusual for other institutions, Otterbein is a school that places an emphasis on artistic expression and education.

Film as an art form, therefore, is no exception. What Otterbein has in terms of a film program isn’t necessarily bad, but it is something that could use some tweaking. Students interested in filmmaking might not get all that they want from the program or may find it difficult to drift between departments to get all of the skills they need to pursue the craft professionally.

Of course, one could question why a student would enroll at Otterbein in the first place if they were interested in film when their options include Ohio State’s Department of Theater, Film, and Media Arts and Ohio University’s School of Film. However, Otterbein is nestled right up against the central Columbus area, and Columbus is a great hub for film enthusiasts with organizations such as Ohio HD Studios and the Gateway Film Center. As an institution, it’d be a great idea to further integrate in Columbus’ film scene and develop our program further so that our students can get involved.

So, how can we improve?

Well, for one, we can take inspiration from our peers at Ohio State University and Ohio University and combine departments. Otterbein, artsy as many of its students are, could benefit greatly from having a department of theater, film, and media production. Not only would it collect all the aspects of filmmaking for students to dig into, it could also foster a meeting between students of various majors within theater, English and communication.

Students majoring in film studies, film production, scriptwriting, acting, video editing, etc., will get to be part of a diverse, growing community full of new ideas, burning passions and fun activities. This department could also keep close contact with those at the Gateway Film Center and Ohio HD Studios, providing internships, fellowships and scholarships to students wanting to grow their skills in these fields.

Granted, managing such a department and finding a location for it would be costly. Additionally, it might not attract the support required to bring the project to life. Otterbein has had such ambitions in the past that never came to fruition.

However, there is no doubt that it’d be worth it if enough people were interested. We just need to be better at stoking the fires of said interest and coming up with new ways to expand and grow our Otterbein community. That way, we can fully embrace the professional and creative passions of the students we welcome in every term.

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