INdy Eleven Hype Videos
For my senior project, I created four hype videos for Indy Eleven, a professional soccer team in the USL. I chose this project because I felt their content didn’t have the same level of energy or visual impact as bigger clubs. A lot of their videos felt more simple, and I wanted to challenge myself by creating something more cinematic and engaging that could better connect with fans. This project gave me the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in video production while also pushing myself to improve in areas like motion graphics and sound design.
Before filming and editing, I spent time planning the overall direction of the videos. One of the most important decisions I made was choosing the music first, since the music controls the entire pace and energy of a hype video. Once I had the songs, I started thinking about how certain moments in the music could match specific visuals, like big plays, crowd reactions, or player entrances. I didn’t create a full storyboard on paper, but I had a clear idea in my head of how I wanted each video to feel and flow. I also looked at references from professional sports teams and other creators to get inspiration for camera angles, pacing, and visual effects that I could try to recreate in my own way.
During production, I used a Sony A7 IV to capture high-quality 4K footage, including gameplay, player entrances, and fan reactions. I also used a DJI gimbal to get smooth tracking shots and make the footage feel more dynamic. I made sure to shoot from different angles so the videos wouldn’t feel repetitive and would keep the viewer engaged. Since I already had experience filming sports, I was more intentional with my shots this time because I knew how I wanted everything to come together in the edit.
The most challenging and time-consuming part of the project was post-production. I used Adobe Premiere Pro to edit all the footage, focusing on cutting clips to match the beat of the music. This was really important because the pacing is what gives a hype video its energy. Most clips were kept short so the video would feel fast and intense. I also used Adobe After Effects to create motion graphics and visual effects, including animated player names, logo animations, and transitions. For the final video, I experimented with more advanced effects like a stadium build-up effect, a logo animation that hits the grass, a clone effect, and zoom effects. These took a lot of time because I had to watch tutorials and figure out how to make everything look right, but it helped me improve my skills a lot.
Another big part of the editing process was sound design. Instead of just relying on the music, I added sound effects like crowd noise, hits, swooshes, risers, and camera flashes. These details helped give the videos more texture and made them feel more immersive and powerful. I also used DaVinci Resolve for color grading to adjust contrast, saturation, and tones so everything looked consistent, especially since the footage was shot in different lighting conditions. I made sure the colors matched Indy Eleven’s branding, which helped give the videos a more professional look.
After several weeks of filming, editing, and experimenting with different techniques, I was able to complete all four hype videos. Each video had a slightly different focus, including gameplay and fan energy, but they all followed the same high-energy style. One of the biggest challenges was learning how to create more advanced visual effects, but that ended up being one of the most valuable parts of the project.
Overall, this project helped me grow a lot both creatively and technically. I improved my editing, motion graphics, and sound design skills, and I became more confident in my ability to create content that feels closer to what professional sports teams produce. This experience also showed me how important pacing, audio, and visual details are when it comes to creating engaging videos. I’m really proud of the final result, and I know this project will be a strong addition to my portfolio as I continue pursuing a career in video production.