Elkins, W.Va. – Davis & Elkins College proudly announces that The Appalachian College Association (ACA) has awarded a Faculty Summer Fellowship to Lonnie Martin for his Post-Doctoral Research project, a short film entitled The Lady Widow. ACA funds will support essential post-production processes.
The ACA, through its 2025-2026 Faculty Fellowships, seeks to furnish financial support to member institutions’ faculty for post-doctoral research or pre-doctoral completion in the 2026-2027 academic year. This year, 31 faculty members representative of 23 institutions have been granted this prestigious opportunity.
The Lady Widow is a narrative fiction short film that explores themes of liberation, gender equity, and self-determination in the wake of World War I. The project features D&E alumni both in front of and behind the camera. Principle Photography was completed earlier this year over four days of filming at Graceland Inn & Restaurant and on private property in Doddridge County. Funding from the ACA will support post-production actions of editing, color correction, sound design, music composition, sound mixing, and visual effects.
“This project is a personal labor of love,” says Martin. “It also showcases D&E’s commitment to faculty-led creative research that integrates artistry, scholarship, and teaching. The College has been immensely supportive with both encouragement and resources. I’m hopeful the finished film will enhance the visibility of the Theatre and Film program, and serve as both a recruitment tool and an example of the high-caliber work that can emerge from a small liberal arts environment.”
The Lady Widow is tentatively set to be completed by April of 2026 for a film festival run.
