MFA Alumni Produce New Film and Book
September 19, 2024
MFA alumni Matthew Webb ’21 (Film & TV Production) and Chris Easterly ’22 (Screenwriting) continue to thrive in film and TV with a new movie and book.
Webb ’21 recently received the River Bend Film Festival: Best Feature Length Screenplay award for his film, A Carpenter’s Prayer, which released this summer to 67 theaters in 21 states. Watch the trailer here.
“A Carpenter’s Prayer tells the inspiring true story of a pastor and his family who set out to build a new church in 1970s rural Michigan,” Webb said. “Along the way, they face challenges that threaten to unravel everything when an afflicted carpenter becomes their unlikely source of hope, proving that faith in God is the true path to redemption, even in the most tragic circumstances. I based the film on the real story of New Hope United Brethren Church in Camden, MI.”
As writer, director, and producer, Webb developed the story as part of his master’s thesis project at Asbury.
“I brought the story to the attention of my mentor, Sean Gaffney, who worked with me over two years to shape the story into a script that would become the film,” Webb said. “We are now finishing a nationwide theatrical run and launching it on Up Faith and Family as well as many streaming platforms for rental or purchase (Apple TV, Dish, DirectTV, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango, etc.).”
Webb serves as assistant professor of film production at Huntington University. His producing credits include Praying the Hours (2021) and his feature documentary Generation Z (2022). Other credits include 1st Assistant Director on Not That Funny (2012) and the award-winning short, Weathered (2010), which he wrote, produced and co-directed.
Easterly recently announced a new book titled: Writing, Making, and Distributing Your Short Film: How the Short Film Can Advance Your Craft and Career. Available for pre-order on December 30, 2024, this book is a concise, practical guide to writing and making a successful short film.
“In an accessible and relatable tone, the book covers the filmmaking process from plot ideation to film distribution, without getting bogged down in the complicated details,” Easterly said. “It shows you how to create content, from script to screen, that can connect with an audience. Students and professionals alike who want to craft and perfect their short film will find this to be an invaluable resource and a one-stop guide to success.”
Easterly reflects on his Asbury experience.
“My time and training at Asbury really prepared me to be a more effective film storyteller and scholar,” Easterly said. “The faculty and staff are amazing, intelligent, experienced, kind, and encouraging. The MFA program was rigorous academically, but also enjoyable. Several of us graduates have worked together on indie films after meeting at Asbury.”
Easterly is a professor in the cinema-TV Department at Regent University, as well as a professional screenwriter and independent filmmaker, with two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. A graduate of the prestigious Warner Brothers Television Writers Workshop, he has written for Fox, Cartoon Network, NBC, Hallmark Channel, and others.
“Our alumni continue to do us proud!” Professor of Screenwriting Sean Gaffney said. “Both Matt and Chris are teaching at sister schools, and it’s gratifying to see how the body continues to work together to advance storytelling within the kingdom.”
The Asbury University Media, Journalism, and Digital Storytelling department offers majors in Media Communication and Multimedia Journalism. Online majors include Digital Content Creation and Instructional Design & Media. Graduate programs include the MFA in Screenwriting; the MFA in Film & Television Production; the M.A. in Communication; the M.A. in Digital Storytelling; and the M.A. in Instructional Design, Innovation & Leadership.