For Schools: The Invitation Film

Why Your Private School Needs a Teaser Film for Its Open House.

Let’s be honest: most schools run their open houses like it’s 2003. A couple of flyers, an email blast, maybe a post on Facebook or Instagram to people who already like them, with five likes from board members. Meanwhile, you’re trying to compete for the same families, in the same neighborhoods, with the same "Hebrew immersion" and “warm community” talking points.

So how do you stand out?

You tease. You invite. You entice.

We’re not talking about your 10-minute cinematic school promo. This is a 30-to-90 second adrenaline shot. Fast. Emotional. Compelling. A taste. A spark. The teaser film is your golden ticket to pack the room for your Open House.

Why does it matter?

Because the number of students you enroll is directly proportional to the number of families that show up.

That’s it. No mystery. More feet in the building equals more kids in the classrooms.

And here’s the kicker: your competition isn’t doing it. They think they don’t need it. They’re wrong.

The truth? The teaser film might be the most important video you make all year—second only to the actual open house film itself.

In a good teaser film, you excite, you promise. You don’t explain. You create FOMO. You get people to say, “We need to check this place out.”

It’s the first domino in your enrollment strategy. And if you do it right, it won’t just get people to your open house. It’ll make them show up to the Open House ready to fall in love with your school.

1. SAR Academy – “Open House Invitation”

This teaser film we created for SAR is set entirely to music. With no narration, we let the vibrant moments speak for themselves—giving enough of a taste to make parents and kids eager to get to the Open House.

2. Shulamith School for Girls – “Why Shulamith?”

A voiceover-led teaser that shows how much the students love going to school, and makes the audience want to know why. They can only find out if they then go to the Open House.

3. Ohavei Open House Invitation Film

   One of the hallmarks of our work is that we can take subjects that may be visually or conceptually similar, and bring out their uniqueness. With Ohavei, while on the surface it looks like a typical beis medrosh populated by people dressed like each other... our goal was to bring out the unique energy and excitement of learning at Ohavei to get prospective students and parents pumped about coming to the Open House. It's essentially the pre-sale.

   This film also hints at some of the other highlights of the Ohavei experience - strong general studies, and spectacular trips. All without saying a word.

   
   

4. Tamim Academy – “Teaching Our Kids Character”

This mission-driven film invites parents to imagine a school where academic rigor and moral courage go hand-in-hand. Big message, short runtime, lasting impression.

5. Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls While most Open House films are explanatory and take you on a linear journey, with this invitation film for Ma'ayanot, we wanted to create a vibe. We wrote and developed a poem less about features, but more about the time of life that the 4 years of high school encompass, and brought it back to Ma'ayanot as the place where girls are supported and guided on their journey to adulthood.

6. Why These Teasers Work

   They speak emotionally to what prospective students and parents hope school can be

   They invite—they don't explain

   They convert intrigue into attendance

A strong teaser film isn’t about showing off—it’s about drawing in. With the right tone and focus, these short videos serve as one of your most effective tools to boost Open House turnout and pre-qualify the right families.

Next up: what happens once they show up? We’ll look at Open House presentation films—designed to make a lasting impression on a live audience.