Narrative Arts at HCU - Cinema, Digital Media, Writing

Hats off to all of our 2026 graduates! 🙌🏻✨🎓

Our Video Game Design and Animation students ✨showed out✨ for our Digital Media Showcase tonight. As we head into the final stretch of the spring semester, the showcase was a timely reminder of the incredible opportunity we have to study and create art alongside our peers and a testament to the immense creativity of our students.

Shout out to Professors Cokenour & Robbins for organizing this event!& to all of our students for their amazing submissions.

We were thrilled to host Emily Thomas on campus today. Emily is known for her work as a First Assistant Director on box office features such as No Time to Die, Wonder Woman 1984, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

First ADs play a crucial role in the success of any film production. Emily shared several stories about her personal experience managing the stress of this high pressure role, from navigating hundreds of last minute questions and schedule changes to ensuring the production moves forward on time and stays (reasonably) within budget.

Emily’s presentation was a great testament to the grit and determination required to be successful in such an essential role. We are thankful for the time and experience she shared with us today.

What an incredible weekend we had connecting with fellow artists & storytellers at our . From poet, screenwriters, and fiction writers to songwriters and video game executives — we had a fantastic time reflecting on art & faith.

If you missed us this year, block your calendars for February 2027. ✌🏻

Big shoutouts to our keynotes for an incredibly moving event:

There's still time to reserve your seat for this *Free!* Sandra McCracken concert happening on HCU's campus next Friday, February 6.

Sandra McCracken will perform a solo concert in HCU's beautiful Belin Chapel. Her music will be coupled with stories about her artistic process and the influences and inspiration behind her music. You don't want to miss it!

Reserve your seat online: HC.edu/Narrative2026
*Note: If you just want to attend the concert, you can leave the registration field for the conference blank, as registration for the conference is not required to attend Sandra's concert.*

We can't wait to see you there!

You’re invited to attend the second annual Narrative Arts Conference on February 7, 2026. This year’s conference features a diverse array of artists from various disciplines, including:

• Acclaimed singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken (Keynote)
• Filmmaker and author Craig Detweiler (Keynote)
• Video game designer John Whitmore (former executive at SEGA and Mattel)
• Publisher Kristin Dulaney (vice president at Macmillan Children’s Publishing)
• Screenwriter Josiah Nelson (from the upcoming Pendragon Cycle TV series)
• Katie Morton, a senior production coordinator at Pixar Animation Studios
• And several fiction writers and poets: Jane Scharl, Van Garrett, Jennifer Hartenburg, and Timothy Bartel

Our conference theme this year is Process & Purpose. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics applicable to creatives in many disciplines, including creative writing, filmmaking, video game development, and animation. Anchored by a shared Christian foundation, the Department of Narrative Arts and our guests hope to inspire and encourage a new generation of storytellers to develop narrative skills, navigate creative industries, and pursue excellence.

Registration is $50 and free for current HCU students, faculty, and staff. As a special event, Sandra McCracken will provide a free solo concert before the conference on Friday, February 6. We hope you will be in attendance.

Learn more and register online: HC.edu/Narrative2026

🎬 Shout out to all of our filmmakers for their success at this year’s Film Festival! You know it’s a good time when we all walk away eager to return to our creative projects. 👏🏻

🏆Best Editing (Eye for an Eye)
- Matthew Cuddus & Caleb Zahr

🏆 Best Cinematography (Eye for an Eye)
- Jordan McGuffie

🏆 Best Production Design (Sticky Fingers)
- Kristina Johnson

🏆Best Acting (Jillian Linton (Jade) in Girls Night Out)

🏆 Best Writing (Girl’s Night Out)
- Keith Ebmeier, Caroline Roebuck, Bryce Smink

🏆 Best Directing (Eye for an Eye)
- Caleb Zahr

🥇Best Film (Girls Night Out)
- Keith Ebmeier, Gray Coleman, Bryce Smink

Congratulations to all of our Spring 2024 graduates!

We have 24 hours left on the Kickstarter for our department's next short film, directed by Jesse GrothOlson and produced by Joshua Sikora with an incredible team of student filmmakers. We'd love your help reaching our $8,000 stretch goal to support bringing on some industry pros to help mentor our students on this production!

Being Human - Short Film by Professor Jesse GrothOlson Help HBU students present a short film written and directed by Professor Jesse GrothOlson with Executive Producer Joshua Sikora