Alumni Feature: Barb Kuensting

Barb Kuensting, Murray Center Class of 2022, is hard at work on “Children of the Wolves,” a feature-length documentary about a group of Idaho teenagers compelled to protect embattled wolf populations in the state after a tragic event spurred them into action. The film is currently undergoing a crowdfunding campaign.

“The Murray Center has been fantastic for a theoretical approach to documentary filmmaking,” Kuensting said. “I learned a lot about morals and integrity — what you should and shouldn’t be filming.”

She said this foundation of knowledge proved useful when determining how to go about filming high school-aged children, a delicate task for even the most experienced filmmakers.

The Murray Center was also the site of a pivotal moment in her development as a leader, when she walked into Greene’s office and told him she wanted to be a director. Now, she leads an accomplished team that includes award-winning producers and a director of photography who has shot for National Geographic.

“A lot of women are producers; a lot of women are in assistant roles, roles that aren’t leading the pack,” Kuensting said. “For me to be able to lead this pack is something that the Murray Center has inspired in me.”