ABOUT
Forester Film is the film production arm of Huntington University. We make professional, independent feature films where industry pros work alongside and mentor our top film school students.
Through HU’s Film Production Capstone program, we create real world, professional opportunities for HU students to participate in an immersive mentor-led production of professional, feature-length films. Students spend more than a year working on a movie from pre-production and filming to post-production and distribution.
It’s not only what we make, but how we make films that sets us apart. Following the core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the craft as outlined in our Kinema Manifesto, we focus on the process just as much as the product. As a result, we create projects and environments that both entertain and make people better.
OUR STAFF
Dr. Lance Clark
Director/Producer
Matt Webb
Director/Producer
Dr. Lance Clark
Director/Producer
Lance Clark is a producer, director and educator from Huntington, Indiana. Since joining the Huntington University faculty in 1993, Clark has helped to grow the Digital Media Arts Department into one of the truly outstanding programs in the country. He has Executive Produced over 140 student films many of which have gone on to screen in festivals and win top awards.
His production credits include directing “The Gift of Hope” (2016) taking national honors as a Best in Show Faculty film at the BEA’s King Foundation Festival of Media Arts. He also produced the award-winning film “A Carpenter’s Prayer” (2023) and “Patterns” (2024). Clark serves as the Dean of the Arts helping to give academic oversight to the various programs in our School of the Arts both in Huntington and our Arizona Center for the Arts.
He earned his M.A. in Radio, TV & Film from Regent University and his B.A. from Huntington College. Lance and his wife, Mary, have two daughters and sons-in-law and two amazing grandchildren who have completely captured their hearts. They attend and serve at Life Church in Huntington, Indiana.
Matt Webb
Writer/Director/Producer
Matt Webb is a writer, director, and producer based in Huntington, Indiana where he teaches film production at Huntington University and manages the Film Capstone Program.
Webb’s producing credits include the award-winning feature film Praying the Hours (2021), directed by Lauralee Farrer, his feature documentary Gen Z (2022), Patterns (2024), and Wayfaring Stranger (2023) featuring Steven Baldwin and Bethany Anne Lind, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Other credits include 1st Assistant Director on Not That Funny (2012) starring Tony Hale and Brigid Brannagh, and the award-winning short, Weathered (2010) starring Nicole Parker and Tony Hale, which he wrote, produced and co-directed.
Webb received his BA in Theater at Huntington University, his Master of Arts in Theology and Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California where he developed the Kinema Manifesto, and a Master of Fine Arts in TV and Film Production from Asbury University. When he isn’t screenwriting or mentoring students, Webb enjoys hiking and perfecting his homemade ice cream recipes.
Film Capstone
WATCH OUR CAPSTONE VIDEO
Mentor-based Independent
Filmmaking
HU’s Film Capstone program works in tandem with Forester Film by providing a semester of immersive, mentor-based training culminating in a professionalfilm or television project as seniors transition from the classroom to the film industry. Students receive one-on-one mentoring from industry professionals while working side-by-side on a professional film set, as well as a semester of working with their own underclass film mentee to practice leadership and share the craft they have been honing.
A Core of Mentoring
Mentoring is at the heart of Forester Film. After three and a half years of guidance from professors who are working professionals, the students spend the 15 weeks prior to filming being mentored weekly by the same department heads they will work with on set.
This mentoring expands to the cast as we film with actors dedicated to engaging the students as both professional artists and mentors working in the industry.
When possible, we hire Huntington University alumni to return and give back to the program that shaped them. Wayfaring Stranger boasts 7 alumni department heads and 3 alumni cast. Even our poster was designed by an HU alum now working in the industry.
To learn more watch our Behind the Scenes Featurette!
Professional Mentors
Cassie Ballschmidt
(1st AD)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
JJ Bukowski
(Director of Photography)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor Short Film
Lance Clark
(Producer/Director)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Shannen Callow
(Art Director/Production Designer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
TJ Clounie
(Gaffer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tara DiPetrillo
(Head Make-Up Artist)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Nate Doane
(Gaffer)
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Patrick O’Neil Duff
(Editor/Post-Production Supervisor)
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Brian Farrell
(Key Grip)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Phillip Jackson
(Sound Mixer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Thomas A. Johnson
(Sound Mixer)
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Ryan Long
(Casting Director)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Martina Nagel
(Creative Producer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Sarah Owens
(Production Designer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Kandra Tenuto
(Costume Designer / Key Make-Up Artist)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Noelle Cruse Thomas
(Editor)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Matt Webb
(Writer/Director/Producer/1st AD)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Overhill Manor
Lyle Wilson
(Key Hair Stylist)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Phil Wilson
(Camera Operator)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Richeler Aladin
(1st AD)
Overhill Manor
Jen Haire
(Line Producer)
Overhill Manor
Jim Orr
(Director of Photography)
Overhill Manor
Segan Friend
(Props Master)
Overhill Manor
Rebekah Cook
(Script Supervisor)
Overhill Manor
Lisa Smedley-Calderon
(Costume Designer)
Overhill Manor
Nancy Vela
(Hair Department Head)
Overhill Manor
Tanya Gasser
(Makeup Department Head)
Overhill Manor
Ericka Whitman
(Behind-the-Scenes Director)
Overhill Manor