Miami University’s arts made it international.

“Rachel Hendrix” will premiere to the world at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival next week. Miami faculty members Todd and Lisa Stuart worked as assistant art director and costume designer, respectively. Todd is the director of Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship and Lisa teaches in the Theatre and Art Departments.

The Stuarts teamed up with well-respected director Victor Nunez ("Ruby in Paradise", "Ulee's Gold") whose reputation they credit to the project’s success. Nunez cast Lori Singer from “Footloose” as the protagonist in this film.

It takes place on the Florida coast, where a widowed college professor deals with her loss while also managing a poor relationship with her daughter. In the meantime, she befriends a young woman and eventually mentors her about how to grapple with such immense change. 

Lisa, designed, built, and shopped the costumes and also supervised the wardrobe and make-up crew. She worked closely with Nunez to create characters through dress for the film.

Todd, on the other hand, got to dress sets and make props to create environments for the character of the film. Todd also supervised the art department interns on the film.

“Rachel Hendrix” meant returning to a 20-year-old relationship with Nunez – for Lisa, her fifth collaboration, and for Todd, his third.

The film, shot in summer 2021, releases February 13.

Learn more on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's website.