Arizona State University: Shaping Hollywood’s Film Industry Past and Movie-Making Future

For decades, Arizona State University has served as more than just an academic institution—it has functioned as a working backlot for some of Hollywood’s most memorable productions. From classic comedies starring Jerry Lewis to Oscar-nominated dramas featuring Tom Cruise, the ASU Tempe campus and its surrounding facilities have provided directors and producers with versatile, visually striking locations. Today, Arizona State University has evolved beyond being merely a convenient filming destination. Through innovative programs like The Sidney Poitier New American Film School and cutting-edge facilities such as the MIX Center, ASU now actively trains the next generation of filmmakers who will define the future of movie-making in the USA and beyond.

Tracing Arizona State University’s Hollywood Film History

The relationship between Arizona State University and the film industry stretches back to the early 1960s, when Hollywood producers first recognized the visual appeal of the desert campus. What began as occasional location scouting eventually developed into a recurring partnership that has benefited both the university and the movie-making community.

Early Campus Productions and Classic Hollywood

In 1962, legendary comedian Jerry Lewis brought an 80-person production crew to the ASU Tempe campus to film classroom and laboratory scenes for The Nutty Professor. Lewis, who served as producer, writer, director, and star of the film, used Discovery Hall and the Matthews Center library as key locations. The production also created a unique opportunity for approximately 150 ASU students to work as extras, earning $10 per day while gaining firsthand exposure to professional movie-making operations.

The campus continued to attract major Hollywood attention throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1976, Mountain America Stadium—then known as Sun Devil Stadium—underwent a dramatic transformation for the Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson remake of A Star is Born. The production staged a massive six-hour rock concert that drew 43,000 paid attendees who served as extras for just $3.50 each. Performances by Santana, Peter Frampton, and other notable acts were captured on film, with Streisand’s 30-minute pre-recorded performance becoming the emotional climax of the movie. The resulting soundtrack spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Concert Films and Cult Classics at ASU

Arizona State University’s stadium became a favored venue for concert documentaries during the late 1970s and 1980s. The Rolling Stones filmed portions of their 1983 documentary Let’s Spend the Night Together at the Tempe campus during their record-breaking 1981 tour, which generated approximately $50 million and attracted nearly 3 million fans. Similarly, U2 captured footage for their documentary Rattle and Hum over two December nights in 1987, selling tickets for just $5 to pack the venue with 60,000 enthusiastic fans, primarily ASU students.

The campus also provided settings for films that would later achieve cult status. The Coen brothers filmed scenes for Raising Arizona throughout the Valley in 1986, with Mountain America Stadium appearing in the film’s final dream sequence. The satirical black comedy Used Cars, directed by Robert Zemeckis before his Back to the Future success, featured memorable sequences at the stadium and recruited local residents as extras at $25 per day. Campus Man, a 1987 comedy inspired by the real-life experiences of 1982 ASU alumnus Todd Headlee, showcased the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center and University Towers, essentially serving as an extended campus tour with comedic elements.

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How Arizona State University Transformed From Filming Location to Film Education Leader

While ASU’s history as a Hollywood filming location is impressive, the university’s current role in the film industry extends far beyond providing scenic backdrops. Arizona State University has strategically positioned itself as a comprehensive training ground for aspiring filmmakers, offering degree programs that combine theoretical knowledge with practical, industry-relevant experience.

The Sidney Poitier New American Film School

The establishment of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School represents ASU’s most significant commitment to film education. The school’s film and media production degree is offered in both Arizona and Los Angeles, allowing students to study either on the Tempe campus or directly in Hollywood’s backyard. This dual-location approach provides flexibility while ensuring students have access to the epicenters of American movie-making.

The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, with faculty members who bring extensive industry experience to their teaching. Students don’t simply study film theory in isolation—they engage with the practical realities of production, from pre-production planning to post-production editing, under the guidance of professionals who understand contemporary industry standards.

Virtual Production and the MIX Center

Perhaps the most significant indicator of ASU’s forward-thinking approach to film education is the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center and its Virtual Production Volume Studio. This facility features a professional-grade LED stage with real-time camera tracking and immersive digital backgrounds—the same technology used in major Hollywood productions like The Mandalorian and numerous contemporary blockbusters.

Calvin Jude Stanley, video systems technical director at the MIX Center, emphasizes that the goal extends beyond teaching students to operate equipment. According to Stanley, students learn what it takes to plan, collaborate, and shoot in a professional environment, preparing them to become the storytellers, creators, and innovators who will define the next era of filmmaking. This approach ensures graduates understand not just the technical aspects of virtual production but the collaborative workflows that characterize modern movie-making.

Submit your application today to join the next cohort of film students at Arizona State University.

ASU Film Spark: Producing Independent Films While Training Students

Arizona State University’s commitment to practical film education extends beyond classroom instruction through initiatives like Film Spark, a program that produces independent feature films while integrating students into professional production environments.

The 2016 film Car Dogs exemplifies this approach. Directed by ASU Professor of Practice Adam Collis and written by former ASU student Mark King, the independent comedy-drama starred Patrick J. Adams, George Lopez, Nia Vardalos, and Octavia Spencer. While no actual scenes were shot on campus, 85 ASU students served as interns alongside veteran Hollywood professionals throughout production. This unprecedented hands-on classroom experience demonstrated that ASU could do more than teach filmmaking—it could produce movies while preparing the next generation of industry professionals.

Similarly, Postmarked, a $250,000 indie comedy-crime adventure directed by former ASU Professor Gene Ganssle, was shot extensively on the Tempe campus. The film provided more than 30 students and eight alumni the opportunity to work on a professional feature film alongside an experienced crew. Written by Valley actor and writer Ron Hunting, who lived with ALS, the project carried personal significance while delivering practical education.

Explore our related articles for further reading on ASU’s innovative approaches to film education and student opportunities.

Major Hollywood Productions That Featured Arizona State University

Reviewing the breadth of productions that have utilized ASU’s campus reveals the versatility that has made the university attractive to Hollywood filmmakers across multiple decades and genres:

• The Nutty Professor (1963): Jerry Lewis filmed classroom scenes at Discovery Hall and Matthews Center, with 150 student extras participating in the three-day shoot.
• A Star is Born (1976): Mountain America Stadium hosted a massive concert sequence with 43,000 extras, while ASU Gammage provided the setting for Streisand’s performance of “With One More Look at You.”
• Used Cars (1980): The Robert Zemeckis-directed satire featured stadium sequences and recruited local extras, later becoming a cult classic through home video distribution.
• Let’s Spend the Night Together (1983): Hal Ashby’s Rolling Stones documentary captured the band’s historic 1981 tour, including footage from the Tempe campus.
• Campus Man (1987): This ASU-inspired comedy featured extensive campus locations including the aquatic center and residence halls, with 20 students appearing as calendar models.
• Raising Arizona (1987): The Coen brothers’ cult classic used Valley locations throughout, with the stadium appearing in the climactic dream sequence.
• U2: Rattle and Hum (1988): Two nights of filming captured U2 at their peak, with 60,000 fans creating an electric atmosphere for $5 tickets.
• Not Quite Human: Part 2 (1989): This Disney Channel production used ASU as the primary backdrop for its story about an android navigating college life.
• Jerry Maguire (1996): The film’s thrilling finale returned to Mountain America Stadium for a fictional Arizona Cardinals game, with the movie earning nearly $275 million worldwide and an Academy Award for Cuba Gooding Jr.
• The Kingdom (2007): Universal Pictures transformed ASU’s Polytechnic campus into an overseas setting, constructing an entire dormitory complex for explosive action sequences and hiring approximately 200 local extras.

What ASU’s Film Industry Connection Means for Aspiring Filmmakers

For students considering careers in the film industry, Arizona State University offers a unique combination of historical significance and forward-looking innovation. The university’s decades-long relationship with Hollywood provides a foundation of credibility and institutional knowledge that newer film programs cannot match. At the same time, investments in facilities like the MIX Center ensure students train on the same technology used in contemporary major studio productions.

The practical experience available through programs like Film Spark distinguishes ASU from institutions that focus primarily on theoretical instruction. Students who participate in these productions graduate with demonstrable professional experience and industry connections that can accelerate their career entry. Additionally, the option to study in Los Angeles provides direct access to the entertainment industry’s core infrastructure.

As Calvin Jude Stanley notes, ASU’s connection to the film industry represents not just history but future opportunity. By embracing emerging media, new technologies, innovative forms of storytelling, and stronger collaborations with industry leaders, the university continues expanding what is possible for film students in the USA.

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The Future of Movie-Making at Arizona State University

As the film industry continues evolving with advancements in virtual production, streaming distribution, and interactive media, Arizona State University appears positioned to remain relevant in training professionals for these changing landscapes. The MIX Center’s Virtual Production Volume Studio represents just one example of how the university is adapting its curriculum to match industry developments.

The university’s approach—combining historical awareness of Hollywood traditions with aggressive adoption of new technologies—creates graduates who understand both the legacy and future of movie-making. Whether students aspire to work on traditional feature films, streaming content, immersive experiences, or forms of media that have yet to be defined, ASU’s film programs provide foundational skills and exposure to emerging tools.

For the film industry, Arizona State University’s evolution from convenient filming location to comprehensive education partner signals a deepening relationship that benefits both parties. Hollywood gains access to trained professionals familiar with current technologies, while ASU students benefit from the university’s established industry connections and practical learning opportunities.

Share your experiences in the comments below if you have attended ASU’s film programs or worked on productions at the university.