Open House Films: Make The Case for Your School

If the invitation films we showed you last week are what bring families through the door at a school's Open House, the Open House film is what makes them stay—and want to apply.

Once families show up, the job shifts. You’re no longer chasing attention. Now you’re building connection, trust, and belonging. And the Open House film? That’s your ace.

This is where you go deeper. You slow down. You show who you are—not with marketing jargon, but with real stories, real faces, real values.

Here are some Open House films by Shmuel Hoffman

1. YSZ Schools Open House Film - The Journey

   In this film we follow two students from K-12 and tell the story of overcoming struggles and flourishing in school and looking forward to a bright future.

   
   

2. YULA Girls High School Open House Film

With this film we wanted to offer a dynamic glimpse into the vibrant life at YULA Girls High School, emphasizing academic rigor, spiritual growth, and a close-knit community.

3. Yeshiva of Flatbush - Open House Film Featuring Alumni

To give families a vision of where their children might end up with a Flatbush education, we included some of their alumni, outlining their experience at Flatbush, and their trajectory in life and in careers post-high school.

3. Yeshiva Ohavei Torah Open House Film

For Ohavei, we wanted to show the efforts and the outcome of the school's unwavering dedication to nurturing students as whole people, through Torah, academics, and in every facet of life.

4. SAR High School Open House Film

SAR is an engaging, creative, unafraid school and wanted to convey their personality to prospective families. As a followup to our animojis Open House film, we created an update reflective of the latest animoji trends, to present the school's offerings in a relatable manner.

5. Magen David Yeshivah Open House Film

Our latest Open House film for MDY needed to reflect the changes in the school, and the sweeping opportunities that it provides students. Throughout the school year, we filmed key events and programs to showcase the diversity of MDY's offerings, and the resulting film gave a comprehensive overview and feeling of the strengths of the school.

What makes an open house film truly effective?

• Emotional Storytelling: Families want to feel something. The right film stirs hearts and makes parents imagine their child in that environment.

• Longer Format: You’ve got a captive audience—use it. Take the time to unfold your message with intention and depth.

• Authenticity Over Perfection: Real students. Real teachers. Real moments. These are what make a school feel alive and trustworthy.

• Clarity: A strong film distills your mission, values, and differentiators into something clear and memorable.

• Polish Matters: High production quality isn’t about being flashy. It’s about reflecting your school’s standards and seriousness.

A great Open House film doesn’t feel like a pitch—it feels like an invitation into something meaningful. It’s not about impressing. It’s about connecting.

Open House films aren’t just videos—they’re visceral experiences. They take what’s intangible about your school—its values, spirit, and culture—and bring it to life in a way that moves people. When done right, they don’t just inform; they stir emotion, build trust, and turn curiosity into commitment.

Through a blend of authenticity, clarity of purpose, and high-end cinematography, our films do more than showcase a school—they reveal its soul. And in a crowded landscape of options, that’s what makes families choose you.

Next up in the series, we’ll show you how to use topical films to drill down into the nitty gritty of what sets your school apart.