Shawn Brooks

Educate and mentor aspiring filmmakers, content creators, and media professionals by combining hands-on production training with real-world business and marketing strategies. Prepare students for successful careers in today's competitive media industry through technical instruction, creative development, and entrepreneurial guidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach professional cinematography, lighting, camera operation, composition, audio recording, editing, and post-production workflows using industry-standard equipment and software.
• Instruct students in storytelling techniques, interview production, documentary filmmaking, commercial production, and visual communication.
• Develop curriculum that bridges creative production with practical, real-world application.
• Mentor students on personal branding, portfolio development, and professional networking to prepare them for careers as freelancers, agency creatives, and in-house media professionals.
• Teach marketing strategies, business development, pricing, client acquisition, proposal writing, and entrepreneurship for creative professionals.
• Coach students on building sustainable freelance businesses, developing client relationships, and positioning themselves in competitive markets.
• Evaluate student projects and provide technical, creative, and professional feedback to support continued growth.
• Foster a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes creativity, professionalism, and industry best practices.

Lead all creative, production, and business operations for a full-service video production company specializing in nonprofit storytelling, corporate communications, documentaries, fundraising campaigns, and branded content.

Key Achievements

• Founded and grew Brookssmedia into a trusted production company serving nonprofits, corporations, healthcare organizations, and public institutions.
• Produced and directed more than 250 professional video projects from concept through post-production.
• Helped nonprofit fundraising campaigns generate over $4 million through strategic storytelling and cinematic fundraising films.
• Directed productions for Google, Obama Foundation, Northwestern Medicine, Uber, DuSable Museum, Double Good, Snipes, Jack & Jill Foundation, Friends of the Children Chicago, and numerous mission-driven organizations.
• Lead all aspects of production including creative development, scripting, directing interviews, cinematography, lighting, drone operations, editing, sound design, and color grading.
• Manage client relationships, budgets, scheduling, freelance production crews, and project delivery while maintaining exceptional client satisfaction.
• Produce documentaries, promotional campaigns, executive interviews, fundraising films, social media campaigns, and multi-camera live event coverage.

• Developed digital marketing strategies that increased brand awareness and customer engagement.
• Managed company marketing calendar and coordinated campaigns across multiple digital platforms.
• Produced marketing content including promotional videos, blogs, advertisements, and social media campaigns.
• Improved SEO performance through keyword optimization and strategic content development.
• Managed relationships with high-profile clients while aligning marketing initiatives with business objectives.
• Measured campaign performance and ROI to improve marketing effectiveness.

• Analyzed recovery data to identify trends and patterns for operational improvement.
• Developed strategic reports to guide decision-making and enhance recovery processes.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement process optimizations for efficiency.
• Mentored junior analysts on best practices in data analysis and reporting methodologies.