Narrative Arts at HCU - Cinema, Digital Media, Writing

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Narrative Arts at HCU - Cinema, Digital Media, Writing

Providing a challenging creative environment for students to develop timeless skills for today’s dynamic multimedia opportunities.

The Cinema & New Media Arts major at HBU provides a challenging creative environment for students to develop their artistic abilities and prepare for future work in this rapidly expanding medium. Taking advantage of developing technologies, our curriculum is uniquely focused on the new opportunities available to filmmakers and media producers in the twenty-first century. The major offers students

ample opportunities for practical, hands-on experience coupled with mentorship from our experienced faculty members. All of this is designed to prepare students for a variety of pursuits, from small-budget independent work to large studio productions and everything in-between.

08/31/2026

Welcome back for another great first day of school, Huskies! The HCU Narrative Arts faculty are so excited to walk alongside you this year as you study your craft & grow in wisdom. The first-day jitters aren’t just for students—we feel the buzz of energy, too!

Check out how many fall “first” days faculty have had here at HCU. We’ll see you in class!

08/10/2026

Master of Fine Arts students join HCU faculty and guest speakers at Jordan Ranch this week for our annual writer's retreat. A focused time of reflection and creativity alongside industry insight and connections spur students on toward completing their thesis work and embarking on their journeys as artists and storytellers.

Have an itch to write a story? You can join us here next summer! Fiction writers, poets, and screenwriters welcome. Learn more online: https://hc.edu/school-of-fine-arts/degrees/creative-writing-mfa/

08/08/2026

We are thrilled for the Houston premiere of Professor Chris Hartwell’s feature film DO NO HARM. Demand for the premiere has led to a second showing at 9:45 pm on August 20 at River Oaks Theater. Tickets are available online: https://www.theriveroakstheatre.com/movies/RiverOaks/DO-NO-HARM---Houston-Premiere/RS118602902848-131772000018

08/02/2026

The Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival is a program of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities that aims to change the picture of disability through film. The oldest cinematic celebration of disability in the state, the Festival features the work of independent filmmakers from around the world, from documentaries to animated shorts to the avant-garde.

We were so pleased to welcome the Cinema Touching Disability festival to our campus for a Houston screening of last year’s award-winning short films!

The 23rd annual Festival will take place on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at a new venue: Central Austin Library in Austin, TX.

Thank you for making HCU your venue for an event that celebrates diversity & filmmaking!

05/10/2026

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

04/25/2026

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.

03/25/2026

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.

02/09/2026

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:

01/29/2026

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!

01/16/2026

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

Address

7502 Fondren Road
Houston, TX
77074

Telephone

+12816493000

Website

http://hc.edu/narrative

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