Brian Plow

Brian Plow is an Associate Professor in the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication, where he actively contributes to media education and digital innovation. His work bridges filmmaking, emerging technologies, and community engagement.

Research and Creative Interests: Brian specializes in documentary and narrative filmmaking with a strong emphasis on storytelling, cinematography, and the integration of advanced production technologies. His creative research explores how immersive tools such as Unreal Engine and motion capture are transforming media production paradigms. He is deeply committed to community-based storytelling, particularly through projects that highlight veterans' experiences and global educational challenges.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Partner for Public Safety Award, Ohio State Highway Patrol (2023)
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Ohio University Center for International Studies (2024)
• NETA/PBS Educational Resources for the Classroom Award (WOUB Our Ohio program) (2024)
• Best Long-Form Documentary, Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts (The Veterans’ Project, 2017)
• Best Feature Documentary, Angeles Documentary Festival, Los Angeles (The Veterans’ Project, 2017)
• Best Documentary, DC South Asian Film Festival (Aftershock of a Trauma, 2024)

Grants and Leadership: Brian co-founded the Digital Cinema Initiative in 2020 and has secured nearly one million dollars in funding to develop state-of-the-art digital and virtual production facilities within the Scripps College of Communication. He has led the development of professional workflows, industry partnerships, and curriculum integration for virtual production technologies.

Labs and Teams: As a co-founder of the Digital Cinema Initiative, Brian plays a central role in advancing Ohio University’s capabilities in next-generation media production. The initiative supports interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation in virtual filmmaking, and student training in cutting-edge tools such as real-time rendering and motion capture.