Critically acclaimed feature film SKETCH brought to life by Lipscomb students, faculty and alumni through CEA’s Imagine House
Film to open on 2,000 screens nationwide Aug. 6
Kim Chaudoin |
After earning rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival and a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the upcoming feature film SKETCH is anticipated to become one of the breakout family hits of the year.
SKETCH, which tells the story of a recently widowed father whose daughter’s dark, scribbled drawings come to life and wreak havoc on their small town, is set for worldwide release on Aug. 6 by Angel Studios, who distributed The Chosen. Behind the camera, Lipscomb University’s creative talent helped shape the film in meaningful ways as a number of students, faculty and alumni had integral roles in the project.
The live-action feature, starring Emmy Award-winner Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden, was written and directed by Lipscomb adjunct professor Seth Worley and produced by Imagine House executive director and associate professor of cinematic arts Steve Taylor. Taylor, a longtime collaborator with Worley, was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition and served as lead producer for the project.
Steve Taylor on the set of SKETCH. Photo: Corbin Schmidt
Through Imagine House, the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts’ professional production house, Taylor brought together a team of Lipscomb students and alumni to work in key production and post-production roles on the film, helping them gain real-world, industry-level experience working alongside Hollywood talent and veteran producers to help bring SKETCH to life.
“What’s exciting is that these aren’t just assignments—they’re high-stakes, national-profile projects that help elevate the students and the university. It’s one thing to study film,” said Taylor, a Grammy-nominated filmmaker, writer, producer and recording artist whose diverse career has earned him accolades across music, film and media. “It’s another to actually work on a real movie set and to get paid for it while you’re still in school. The hope is that when our students graduate, they leave with both a diploma and a meaningful resume.”
Production on SKETCH took place over a three-year period and was filmed entirely in Nashville. During that time, a number of students — who have since graduated from Lipscomb — and alumni filled a variety of critical roles on the production team.
Lipscomb alums Phynley Joel, right, and Haley Herold on set at the pond in the woods which served as a key location for the production. Photo: Corbin Schmidt
Phynley Joel, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2022, served as second second director, assistant to the producer and first team production assistant.
"SKETCH was my first job out of college, and it was the most familial project I’ve ever worked on," she said. "We all knew we were working on something really special. It was like a big family."
Her role meant working directly with the actors, especially the young cast, and helping coordinate their schedules, movements and needs on set. "I was essentially the actors’ liaison. I helped get the kids ready each day, made sure they were getting their tutoring hours and supported them throughout the shoot,” said Joel. “It was such a joy. They really made the set come alive.”
Joel was also instrumental in securing a key filming location when production encountered a challenge. "We needed a house we could completely transform and destroy with monsters and water," she explained. "I found one scheduled for demolition and got permission to film there. That house ended up being central to the story’s setting."
Photo: Myah Naomi Lipscomb
When a wave of COVID-19 hit the production team during a crucial shoot week, Joel and her fellow Lipscomb grads were asked to step up. "All of us production assistants became the assistant director team," said Joel. "Suddenly I was part of the assistant directing team, helping coordinate a school bus crash scene and more. We were thrown into the deep end, but we got it done. That week taught us we could handle anything."
Joel’s experience on SKETCH launched her into high-profile roles, including a position with actress Nicole Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films. Today, she teaches as Lipscomb’s first emerging artist in residence in film while continuing her work as a freelance writer, director and producer.
"Lipscomb is unique in how early you get hands-on experience,” she said. “By my second week as a student, I was loading gear into my car and working on sets. That practical training made all the difference."
David King, right, was a production assistant on SKETCH, his first feature film experience. Photo: David King
David King, who graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, was a production assistant on SKETCH, his first feature film experience. His responsibilities included locking up the set, passing out sides and collecting time cards.
“Sketch was my first movie project, so I was very excited,” King shared. “It is hard to believe that this moment is almost here (the public release of the film) and yet crazy how long this journey has taken. My friend Phynley and I, who worked on the movie together, talk frequently about how we can say that we worked on something this special.”
“It sounds cliche but the thing I enjoyed the most about this project was really the friends I made along the way,” he continued. “Anytime I see someone from the crew, my first thought is some memory from working together. Also, working with Tony Hale was a bucket list item I did not know that I had.”
Since graduation, King has worked full-time in Nashville’s camera department as a first and second camera assistant. "Lipscomb taught me to work with real gear early on,” he said. “Lipscomb was really good about getting students on set and figuring out the equipment. It wasn’t just theory, it was practical, on-set training."
Myah Naomi Lipscomb on the set of SKETCH. Photo: Myah Naomi Lipscomb
Myah Naomi Lipscomb, a 2017 Master of Fine Arts graduate, served as marketing and public relations manager for SKETCH. She helped manage all behind-the-scenes photography and videography, conducted cast and crew interviews, and captured content for social media.
Upon graduating from Lipscomb, the Adelphi, Maryland native jumped right into the world of freelancing as a freelance writer, director, producer, cinematographer and editor for local production companies along with her own company, Myah Naomi Productions. Her work ranges from commercials and music videos to short films and documentaries. Lipscomb’s original comedy series, #WeirdMYAH, which she produced while at Lipscomb, became award-winning, winning Best TV Pilot at the 2018 National Black Film Festival in Houston, Texas. In 2020 and 2021, she had the opportunity to serve as the marketing and public relations manager on two Lifetime Movie Network Films, A Welcome Home Christmas and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story. Since October 2023, she has been working full-time as the creative director at Nashville’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
“It has been quite inspiring to follow the journey of SKETCH. Knowing the backstory of how this project came to be and witnessing the production of it firsthand, has truly sparked a fire within my own creative journey,” shared Lipscomb. “It actually was what motivated me to turn my series, #WeirdMYAH, into a feature-length film. I saw that it was possible, and to see the success of SKETCH is proof that dreams really do come true.”
Behind the scenes with Myah Naomi Lipscomb on set. Photo: Corbin Schmidt
Lipscomb said she is driven by her love for bringing stories to life and the collaborative process that is required to do so.
“It truly is a gift to see a project that you are passionate about go from an idea to something that is complete and showcased to the world,” she explained. “I have met some of my lifelong friends in this industry and feel so blessed to do what I love as a profession.”
She credits the connections made and experiences while a student with preparing her to pursue a career in the film industry.
“These were the reasons I was able to work on SKETCH, as well as the Lifetime movies,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities I have been blessed to experience due to recommendations from my professors and colleagues. I love that this opportunity was available for Lipscomb students and graduates to participate in and gain experience from. I have always felt supported by my professors and appreciate their desire for us to flourish in our careers.”
Corbin Schmidt, right, with lead actor Tony Hale on the set. Photo: Corbin Schmidt
A 2019 Master of Fine Arts graduate, Corbin Schmidt, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, documented the SKETCH production as the unit photographer and behind-the-scenes videographer. He also conducted interviews, along with Lipscomb, and created the Electronic Press Kit (EPK). During his graduate studies, he took courses taught by Taylor and Worley.
“One of the highlights for me was getting to meet and interact with the cast — many of whom are well-known actors. But more than that, it was watching Seth direct a large-scale project,” Schmidt reflected. “Seeing his process up close was inspiring, especially knowing how much heart he poured into this film.”
“I’m incredibly proud of Seth for getting his first feature made. It’s no small feat,” he continued. “It was amazing to see so many Lipscomb students and alumni working together on the film. It really felt like a community, and now, many of those people are continuing to thrive in the industry thanks to the doors this project opened.
Today, Schmidt works professionally as a director of photography, primarily based in Nashville. He has shot a variety of music videos for different artists and also worked on several other film sets in various capacities.
“Lipscomb connected me with people who are actively working in the industry — professors who weren’t just teachers, but mentors and working professionals,” he shared. “Those relationships led to real-world opportunities, like being part of SKETCH. That kind of access and support was invaluable. It led me to being in this industry, which lets me combine that creative drive with storytelling and collaboration, which I love.”
Joel Guthrie joined the SKETCH team early in development to help animate test versions of the film’s sketch creatures. Photo: Joel Guthrie
A native of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, Joel Guthrie joined the SKETCH team early in development to help animate test versions of the film’s sketch creatures. Though the final cut used a different animation style, Guthrie said working with Worley and Taylor was an incredible opportunity.
"It’s exciting to see the success of a project I contributed to early on," said Guthrie, who graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in animation. "It’s rewarding and inspiring to see people in my circles make such a significant creative achievement. Lipscomb equipped me with animation and storytelling skills that informed my work and gave me the skills and the connections to get involved in the industry right out of school."
Since leaving Lipscomb, Guthrie has been involved in a number of professional animation projects including serving as an assistant animator on Space Jam 2, Disenchanted and Green Eggs & Ham. More recently, he animated on promotional material for Magic the Gathering, Monopoly Go and Charity Water and was a lead animator for Pencilish, the animation studio of Tom Bancroft, artist-in-residence at Lipscomb. He currently serves as an assistant editor and occasional animator for The Dead Sea Squirrels series, a project spearheaded by visiting professor Mike Nawrocki, which Guthrie said “has been my favorite thing to work on.”
Guthrie said what he enjoys most about his career in the industry is, “getting to make people smile.”
“There’s something almost transcendental in the experience of seeing the room brighten up from something you created,” he said.
Other Lipscomb alumni who worked on SKETCH include: Tiffani Alexander (’21), key office production assistant; Kristen Breshears (’22), rotoscope artists; Caitlin Burke (’22), second second assistant director; Chris Capp (’20), production assistants; Amber Garrison (’23), assistant craft services; Haley Herold (’21), set costumer; Aurora Liljestrand (’23), otoscope artists; Blake Pettigrove (’21), rotoscope artists; and Tiffany Young (’21), production assistants.
Photo: Corbin Schmidt
Taylor credits Imagine House for making these immersive opportunities possible. "Imagine House is our outlet for commercially viable projects," he said. "Many start as professional endeavors I’m already involved in, and we find ways to integrate students into the production pipeline. It’s a real apprenticeship model, and it works."
This is the second feature film Imagine House has participated in; the first, Sun Moon, was released through Sony Affirm. SKETCH, however, marks a major leap forward for the program, offering broader student engagement and more technical challenges, especially in visual effects.
With international distribution secured by Angel Studios and a global theatrical release on the horizon, SKETCH has already captured the attention of audiences and critics alike. For the Lipscomb community, it also showcases the power of creative mentorship, industry-connected faculty and real-world learning, said Taylor.
"It’s a movie for the entire family that’s wholly original," he said. "It’s funny, smart, emotionally rich and it shows what happens when you pair imaginative storytelling with emerging talent and the right opportunities."