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Asbury University students spent part of their summer working alongside film professionals on Cat Enright: The Opium Equation, a feature film shooting in the Lexington, Kentucky area.
Asbury University students stepped onto a feature film set this summer and helped bring Cat Enright: The Opium Equation to life. The film, based on Lisa Wysocky’s award-winning book The Opium Equation: A Cat Enright Equestrian Mystery, began principal photography May 6 in the Lexington area and will head to television and streaming platforms.
Twenty-one Asbury students joined the crew and worked across several departments, including production design, props, grip, and electric. Over the course of a three week shoot, students experienced the pace, pressure, and collaboration of professional filmmaking. They helped support long production days, solved practical problems on set, and turned classroom theory into real world experience.
The film stars Sophie Bolen as Cat Enright, with other cast members including Austin Bourne, Nicholas “Zack” Heart, Kassondra Rose, Zane Joseph Hadish, and Blake Spires. Brad Etter directed the film with Cindy Johnson on-campus as the producer.
For Asbury students, the opportunity gave them the chance to learn from professionals while contributing meaningful work to a project designed for a broad audience.
This hands-on production experience for Asbury students helps to build confidence, sharpen technical skills, and prepare for careers in film, television, theatre, and media.
As part of the art crew for this film. I worked as a scenic painter and painted a variety of set pieces, including the large cave set that we built in Asbury’s Greathouse Theatre.”
“I learned a lot about scenic painting techniques and how to build large sets for film. Additionally, I had the unique opportunity to be an underwater set dresser for an underwater scene.”
Asbury students have built a growing record of work on professional film projects. In recent years, students also contributed to feature films such as Mr. Manhattan in 2024 and Not Your Romeo & Juliet in 2022. Each project gives students another opportunity to develop their craft, serve on professional crews, and understand the demands of storytelling beyond the classroom.
We prepare our students with the highest-level cameras and related film gear in the industry within an incredible facility that includes backlots, sound stages, Atmos audio, an animation lab, and virtual production.”
“Adding professional experience opportunities to this combination provides Asbury media students who are well-prepared to enter the media industry.”
Through experiences like Cat Enright: The Opium Equation, Asbury University’s School of Communication Arts continues to connect students with meaningful creative work. These opportunities help students practice excellence, collaboration, and calling as they prepare to tell stories that matter.
The Asbury University School of Communication Arts offers Traditional Undergraduate programs in Communication, Media Communication, Multimedia Journalism, and Theatre. Graduate programs include the M.A. in Communication; M.A. in Digital Storytelling; M.A. in Instructional Design, Innovation & Leadership; MFA in Film/TV Production; and MFA in Screenwriting.