FIRST FEATURE FILM

Big dreams will hit the silver screen for HU film capstone students

Huntington University has long been in the business of taking on big, unheard-of dreams. For our film students, one big dream is gradually coming to fruition: Wayfaring Stranger, Huntington University and Forester Film LLC’s first feature film.

Principal photography for Wayfaring Stranger began in May 2022. Long before that, however, students in HU’s Film Production Capstone program were involved in the production.

“It is an absolutely incredible honor to be trusted with such an impactful story,” said Bek Karp (2022), wardrobe supervisor. “We have worked alongside our professors and have been trusted every step of the way, and that means the world to me. We truly have something special going on here, and it means the world to me to be a small part in this emerging capstone experience and project as a whole.”

HU's Film Production Capstone program creates a real-world, professional-grade opportunity for HU students to see and participate in an immersive mentor-led production of a featurelength film.

The capstone class began working on Wayfaring Stranger in the table read and casting stages and continued through preproduction and filming. They will be a part of the project’s postproduction and distribution as well.

Student names will appear in the credits, and the project will solidify students’ connections to industry professionals, including many HU alumni.

Reflecting on the filming process so far, second assistant director for Wayfaring Stranger Abdul Kamara (2022) said that “frankly, as a film student it means I’m on the right track. However, personally it means I am molding and following my passion of making sure the untold stories are told. All while being allowed to learn how to do it effectively.”

Wayfaring Stranger tells the true story of a 12-year-old pastor’s son in the 1970s who befriends a middle-aged broken-down country singer who helps the boy embrace his musical calling and the pastor build a new church. Former country singer Glenn Frank becomes a part of the Clark family by secretly teaching young Lance to play the guitar and working side-by-side with Pastor Doyle, all while wrestling his demons of alcohol abuse. His untimely death brings the community together to finish the building project and unite a new Church family.

“The story of Wayfaring Stranger has impacted my relationship with my peers,” said Kamara. “It has helped me fully trust and appreciate their specific talents and skills. The story is about the community coming together for a common goal, and that’s exactly what we are doing on this project. Looking at the determination and faith from the characters in the story and how they never give up really inspires my determination and faith about this project and my crew.”

“This story has brought so many new friends into my life and makes me remember that everyone is struggling with something. Why should they be any less deserving of love?” said Karp. “It also brings hope for me, that no matter my past sins, love still conquers all.”

The production crew has enlisted community support for the project, from casting area locals as extras to collecting 1960-1970s wardrobe pieces that neighbors had tucked away in their closets.

“We have taken on a larger-than-life project for our first film since it is a period piece film set in the early ’70s,” said Dr. Lance Clark (1989), dean of the arts, professor of digital media arts and producer for Wayfaring Stranger

With the community and a network of HU alumni and industry professionals behind them, students are making the first Forester feature film a reality, one step at a time.

“We are all young adults, trying to use our passion for something good and meaningful,” said Karp, “and I cannot think of a better way to use our gifts to spread a powerful message both on screen and behind the scenes.”

For more information about Wayfaring Stranger, including how you can be a part of the project, visit huntington.edu/Wayfaring-Stranger.