“Tea on the Beach” Now Streaming: A Story of Hope, Forgiveness, and Community

Huntington University’s Digital Media Arts Department celebrates the release of Tea on the Beach, now available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play, and YouTube for rental or purchase. The film, produced through the University’s award-winning film program, was a collaborative project between students, faculty, and industry professionals.

“The original story was inspired by the real-life events of the mother of the screenwriter, Rachel Hart Cabello,” said Matthew Webb, associate professor of film at Huntington University and one of the producers of Tea on the Beach. “Working with Rachel, we took her mother’s story and reimagined and adapted it for the screen over a two-year period of development.”

Alongside Webb, Dr. Lance Clark, dean of the arts and professor of digital media arts/film, also served as a producer. Brian Farrell, adjunct professor and the department’s equipment and instructional director, worked as key grip. Along with 20 industry professionals, they guided a crew of more of more than 40 Huntington University students serving in every department — from pre-production and filming to post-production.

Now that the film has reached streaming platforms, Webb hopes viewers will take away a deeper message.

“Two of our main goals are that audiences will find hope, even in the toughest of times, through the love of family and friends, and that they would seek reconciliation and forgiveness with those same people,” Webb said. “God made us of and for community, so we pray our audience will be inspired to nurture community in their own lives.”