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 faculty in 1993, Lance Clark, PhD has helped to grow the Digital Media Arts Department at Huntington University into one of the truly outstanding programs within the 100+ member CCCU Colleges and Universities. He has Executive Produced over 140 student films many of which have gone on to screen in festivals and win top awards.
Clark’s production credits include directing The Gift of Hope (2016) winning Best in Show at the BEA’s King Foundation Festival of Media Arts. He also produced the award-winning film A Carpenter’s Prayer (2023), Tea on the Beach (2024), and Seniors.Clark serves as the Dean of the Arts for both the Huntington and Arizona campuses of Huntington University. He holds a Ph.D. in communication from Regent University (Virginia), an 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 one beautiful granddaughter who has 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, producer, and film professor who directs the Capstone Film program at Huntington University. Webb’s film credits include the award-winning films Weathered (2009), Not That Funny (2012), Praying the Hours (2021), Changemakers of Generation Z (2022), A Carpenter’s Prayer (2023), Patterns (2024), and Seniors (2026).
Prior to filmmaking, Webb directed and produced more than 20 plays and touring shows in the US and Haiti, where he met his wife, Eva. Webb received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Huntington University, a Master of Arts in Theology and Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a Master of Fine Arts in TV and Film Production from Asbury University. When he isn’t teaching, writing or filming, Webb enjoys hiking, watching movies, and perfecting his homemade ice cream recipes with his family.
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
Seniors
Lance Clark
(Producer/Director)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
Shannen Callow
(Art Director/Production Designer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
TJ Clounie
(Gaffer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tara DiPetrillo
(Head Make-Up Artist)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Nate Doane
(Gaffer)
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
Patrick O’Neil Duff
(Editor/Post-Production Supervisor)
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
Brian Farrell
(Key Grip)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
Phillip Jackson
(Sound Mixer)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Thomas A. Johnson
(Sound Mixer)
Tea on the Beach
Seniors
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
Seniors
Lyle Wilson
(Key Hair Stylist)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Phil Wilson
(Camera Operator)
A Carpenter’s Prayer
Richeler Aladin
(1st AD)
Seniors
Jen Haire
(Line Producer)
Seniors
Jim Orr
(Director of Photography)
Seniors
Segan Friend
(Props Master)
Seniors
Rebekah Cook
(Script Supervisor)
Seniors
Lisa Smedley-Calderon
(Costume Designer)
Seniors
Nancy Vela
(Hair Department Head)
Seniors
Tanya Gasser
(Makeup Department Head)
Seniors
Ericka Whitman
(Behind-the-Scenes Director)
Seniors