From behind the camera

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Ann Marie Bottita camera operating at the Happiness Festival at OSU in 2021

By Jessica Florescu, CLA Student Writer - March 19, 2025

From learning the ins-and-outs of a video camera as a child to finishing a video production internship with KPTV FOX 12, Ann Marie Bottita, ‘24, is following her creative passions. She was introduced to visual media at a young age by her parents, which initially sparked her love for creating video content. 

“My dad used to take home videos of my brother and I doing random things as kids, and those are memories I might not have remembered without those videos,” said Bottita. “It’s really cool to think of these captured moments as a timestamp for someone.” 

Bottita grew up as YouTube was becoming increasingly popular, which she loved from the moment she logged on. During her middle and high school years, she was always shooting footage with friends on her hand-me-down camcorder from her Dad.  Although she had a strong interest in video production, Bottita wasn’t sure how she could  pursue video production as a career, until she came across the digital communication arts (DCA) major at OSU’s College of Liberal Arts. 

“My dad and I were looking over the course catalog while attending a campus tour,” explained Bottita. “He was the one who suggested giving it a try based on my hobbies and interest in video production. I’ve  always valued the continuous support and encouragement that my family has given me, regardless if my interests aren’t academically typical.” 

Bottita was able to focus on her interests in the field of visual media, while also exploring a wide variety of digital media-related topics, like graphic design, photography, and creative writing. Bottita’s ambitious passion to become involved in production started at OSU as soon as she walked on campus her sophomore year (after spending her freshman year entirely online, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic). 

“I moved into my dorm room in Tebeau Hall, then almost immediately walked over to the Orange Media Network, looking for an opportunity to get involved and gain experience.” 

Bottita’s first role at the Orange Media Network (OMN) was camera operator, but took on other roles and responsibilities as video editor, producer, and director, working live events, late night shows, and recorded broadcasts. Bottita was also a constant presence during KBVR-TV’s long running music program Locals Live. One of her favorite parts of working at OMN was the ways that she could express creativity through non-scripted footage and video promotions, but it wasn’t always easy at the beginning. 

“When I first started my position, my heart would race just by walking through the building doors because I didn’t know what to expect. Everything seemed new everyday and I had to branch out to grow my skill level, which took me way beyond my comfort zone. I kept returning to OMN not only because of the challenge, but also the overwhelmingly welcoming and supportive environment.”

Bottita became the first to lead Creative Video Team, an internal OMN team focusing on documentaries and featured video stories of OSU students. Productions led by Bottita took viewers behind the scenes of OMN productions, including Locals Live, DAMChic, The Daily Barometer, and more. Throughout her time at OMN as part of the Creative Video team and as a KBVR student-employee, Bottita won several awards for her video editing and photography from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Bottita also twice attended the National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas, one of a handful of students representing the School of Communication. During her final year at the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Communication awarded Bottita with an Outstanding Senior award.

“I want to give the biggest thank you ever to Steven Sandberg, advisor to OMN,” said Bottita. “He supported me and my good friend Kate Zaine, who is currently leading Creative Video, to make the team into what it is today. I was so lucky to have Marigold "Gigi" Baldonado and K Crandal as such wonderful team members during the year that I led the Creative Video Team. Their enthusiasm and passion continues to impress me and inspire me every day. The Creative Video team today has leveled up their production so much and I am utterly over the moon and so proud of what they have created.”

For her senior thesis project, Bottita worked with Herd U Needed a Home (HUNAH), local dog rescue organization, to create a docuseries. HUNAH specializes in finding homes for herding dogs through a foster-based system, and Bottita spent over a year documenting their stories and releasing it on a YouTube channel called A Little Look. 

“This was such a passion project for me,” said Bottita. “I need to thank my Honors College mentor, Alina Padilla-Miller, who helped shape the docuseries into something much bigger than I could have ever imagined. She truly helped me believe in myself and my capabilities as a storyteller.”

Bottita advises current college students to take advantage of opportunities at OSU. She views college as an amazing time to step outside of your comfort zone, and mentioned that her biggest advice for college students is to give yourself time and space to learn about who you are. 

Bottita added, “OSU is filled with so many ways to spread your wings and learn about the things you are passionate about, and hopefully you can learn more about yourself along the way.” 

After graduating, Bottita interned with KPTV FOX 12 Oregon, which helped grow and expand her skill set even more. In comparison to her role at OMN, the KPTV internship was focused more on news production; however, she also worked with creative services and promotions departments. The most valuable lesson she learned through this opportunity was how to be flexible and adapt to a new environment, with many days where she needed to learn something completely new to her normal style of work assignments. 

“I tend to like more creative work, because of the style and timeline for everyday workflow,” Bottita expressed. “News production is very quick and new pieces have to be completed everyday. I like to craft my work over longer periods of time. Taking the time to develop my creative vision for a project is something that I really enjoy.” 

Bottita just started a new role for NexiGo, an electronics company that specializes in projectors, as a full-time video production specialist. As a change of routine, Bottita  will sometimes make an appearance on camera instead of behind the scenes, but the production process is her overall favorite part. One key piece of advice that she shared from her major and life in general is the importance of connections with your audience. 

Bottita reflected, “For digital communications from a marketing perspective, connecting people to the story behind a product is so important. It isn’t just about promotions, it is about telling a story that people can relate to. Throughout any career field, authenticity is a significant value to prioritize and value within each job you may have in the future.”