Harty Blackert
Professional Background
Professor Blackert in an award-winning filmmaker, holds a BS in Speech Education and Dramatic Production from Bob Jones University and an M.A. in Theater from Regent University. He has a background in business, performance, directing, script writing, community and faith-based theater-making, and reality and narrative filmmaking.
Aside from being an online Adjunct Professor for Regent University (teaching graduate-level Text Analysis and Design classes), Professor Blackert was the full-time Technical Director at Independence Community College for many years where he taught Stagecraft, Design and Tech Practicums in Lighting, Video and Audio.
Professionally, he designed the set and lights, production managed, consulted or facilitated as Technical Director for each William Inge Theatre Festival and Conference (the official theater festival of the State of Kansas), from 2012 to 2019 for award-winning playwright honorees such as Octavio Sollis (2019), Carlyle Brown (2018), Beth Henley (2017), Donald Margulies (2015), Arthur Kopit (2014), and David Henry Hwang (2012). He was also the Designer and TD for the 2014 and 2016 Kansas ASTRA Arts Festival productions.
For the past 20 years, Prof. Blackert has also helmed the drama and tech ministry of his home church (a large, thousand-member fellowship), where he and his wife have written, designed and directed full-length Easter and Christmas drama and musical productions, pulpit dramas, VBA serials and directed Children’s Summer Theatre productions, mounting such shows as The Sound of Music, Jr., The Music Man, Jr., and Singing in the Rain, Jr., He was also on the pastoral staff as the Associate and Creative Artis Minister, utilizing the Video/Film an d Performing Arts as vehicles to spread the Gospel before joining the faculty at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Classes Taught
Film History, Introduction to Video Production, Advanced Video Production, Digital Film Production, Directing the Documentary, Faith and Film, Scriptwriting, Acting for Theatre and Film, Introduction to Photography, Theatrical Design & Advanced Theatrical Design (both undergrad and grad-level), Theatrical Production, Stagecraft, Stage Makeup, Tech Practicums in Lighting, Video and Audio.
Publications or Presentations
Worship Presentations:
Missouri Thespian Conference, Downtown Convention Center, Kansas City, MO 2019
“The Art of Stage Lighting”
Oklahoma Thespian Conference, Tulsa Community College, Tulsa, OK 2016-2020
“The Art of Stage Lighting”
Kansas Thespian Conference, Century II Convention Center, Wichita, KS 2012-2015, 2018
“The Art of Stage Lighting”
2014 “The Art of Sound on Stage”
The William Inge Theater Festival and Conference, Independence, KS 2012-2013
“Theatrical Lighting: the Amazing Technicolor Dream Stage”
2014 “How to Build a Realistic-looking Brick Wall”
2016 “How to Make Brick and Stone Walls Like the Hollywood Pros. Creating Walls out of Cardboard
Play Reading:
2017 “The Long Goodbye” an unpublished play of mine, received a reading at ORU, and was submitted to Dramatist Guild, New York, NY.
Film:
2024 “Breakaway” Digital Short Film Produced at OKWU, winner of 18 awards at various film festival.
Professional Organizations & Affiliations:
Dramatist Guild (New York, New York) – Associate Member
Playwrights’ Center (Minneapolis, MN) – Member
Film Freeway Film Festival submitter – Member
How does your work contribute to OKWU’s mission?
As a stage and film director, I’m constantly engaging in creative production, as well as practical research and application of technologies and software that apply to film, stage, music, audio, video, and lighting production not only used in theatre and film, but in houses of worship. Through this application, and careful modeling, we are helping equip OKWU students in the creative arts to further the Kingdom of God through their own creativity.
How do you integrate faith into your teaching or daily work?
As a teacher, playwright and screenwriter, I often research the next idea for a play or film that might hit me. Currently, I am interested in major spiritual awakenings that have happened throughout Europe after the Middle Ages, as well as the Great Awakenings that happened in the Americas.
To find the cause of a complete change of heart that had a major positive impact not just on a few individuals, but on hundreds of thousands and changed business, public policy, social care, etc. is of great interest to me. Inevitably, I share and bring up in class the relevance of what I’ve learned, what inspires me, and what I know about creatives, both past and present that are making a difference in the world and for the Kingdom.
I am fascinated by the Biblical examples in the Old and New Testaments of single individuals that changed the course of their nation. The Old Testament lists prophets, judges, shepherds and kings that led national revivals and invited God’s blessings on His people.
In the New Testament, we have the disciples and the followers of Jesus that forever changed history. Right at the birth of the church, we have martyrs of the Gospel that inspired thousands to give their lives to Christ despite the danger of persecution and death. In the centuries that followed, we continue to have faithful preachers and martyrs of the true Gospel who refused to follow false religions, man-made dictums, and religious traditions that had nothing to do with being a true Christ-follower.
These persecutions sparked major movements and spiritual awakenings, some of which are felt to this day. These true-to-life stories make for excellent storytelling in film and on stage, potentially inspiring the ones producing the works and those watching to make changed in their own lives and their community.
I am fascinated by the historical 15th through 18-century revivals. Several prominent spiritual leaders coming out of those events have left their marks, and they are still inspiring and influencing the modrn church and evangelical thought today.
Men and women, young and old, have been used by God to stir the hearts of communities, cities, states and nations, and I desire to be a part of telling their stories through the creative arts, all the while inspiring my students to do the same.
What makes OKWU a special place to you?
OKWU offers the freedom to present the truth of the Gospel in our academics without hindrance, censorship or discrimination fo any kind. This is rare in today’s academia, and I pray the leadership of OKWU never loses that boldness, integrity and unapologetic stance for righteousness. I appreciate the genuine love and care our OKWU family has for our students, faculty and staff, it is truly special.
What advice would you give to a prospective student?
Pray fervently for guidance on where God would like you to go to college and prepare for your future career. It might be OKWU or it might not be, but asking the Lord if you are headed in the right direction as you are praying for wisdom will open opportunities. I speak from experience!