Matthew Lawrence

Matthew Lawrence serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Film within the School of the Arts and Communication at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). His teaching portfolio spans core filmmaking disciplines including directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and digital production.

He holds a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Film Production from Boston University (2008), which forms the foundation of his practical expertise in cinematic storytelling.

Professor Lawrence's creative research focuses on the intersection of technical filmmaking craft and narrative expression, with particular emphasis on cinematographic techniques, music video production, and genre filmmaking. His work demonstrates sophisticated integration of lighting design, camera movement, and visual composition within constrained production environments.

His artistic output has received significant festival recognition:

• BEST MUSIC VIDEO at Coney Island Film Festival (2024)
• FINALIST at A Night of Horror International Film Festival (2022)
• BEST MUSIC VIDEO at GenreBlast Film Festival (2022)
• QUARTERFINALIST at HollyShorts Film Festival (2022)
• SEMI-FINALIST at Rhode Island International Film Festival (2022)
• QUARTERFINALIST at Emerging Screenwriters Competition (2022)
• QUARTERFINALIST at ScreenCraft Feature Screenplay Competition (2021)

At TCNJ, Lawrence actively mentors student creators through Lions Television (LTV) and the Student Film Union while driving curriculum innovation as Chair of the School of Arts and Communication Curriculum Committee. He organizes the Kendall After Dark Screening series and specialized workshops like the Lighting & Cinematography Mini Course, fostering hands-on learning beyond the classroom.