Official selection

School of Film, Dance and Theatre alumnus Martín González’s short film “The (Dis)united States” was named an official selection for the Oaxaca FilmFest international film festival in Mexico, which has been praised by MovieMaker magazine as one of the top festivals in the world. González, who graduated with a degree in film and media production in 2018, said his film is based on true events that occurred in 2009 and in 2013 in Arizona, when two different car washes were raided by the sheriff and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. González, a first-generation American whose family migrated to the U.S. about 25 years ago in search of a better life, said the film was a personal project that looks at how these families were torn apart. “This film is my way of raising awareness for those who have been silenced due to the political climate and political challenges we are still facing to this day.”

Above  Photos from dance production Emerging Artists I: Her Brown Body is glory, created by graduate dance student Hannah Victoria
Nov. 1–3, 2019

Oscar-nominated mentor 

As part of its continued efforts to connect students with Hollywood filmmakers and industry leaders, the School of Film, Dance and Theatre welcomed Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Larry Sher to speak with and mentor film students. Sher first connected with ASU students a decade before when Adam Collis, the director of the school’s ASU Film Spark program and professor of practice of film directing, was his first guest via video conference. Read more about the visit. 

A science experiment cos-playing as a game

ASU School of Film, Dance and Theatre Professor Lance Gharavi began testing a digital version of the card game Port of Mars, in which players are members of the first human community on the Red Planet. The game was developed as part of ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative. Gharavi calls it “a science experiment cos-playing as a game.” “Each game is a simulation, a kind of rehearsal for creating healthy future space communities.” Read more about Port of Mars. 

New schools, new collaborations 

In June 2020, the Arizona Board of Regents formally approved a plan to form the School of Music, Dance and Theatre and The New American Film School within the Herberger Institute and taking the place of the School of Film, Dance and Theatre and the School of Music beginning Fall 2020. By bringing together music, dance and theatre disciplines into one school and establishing a film school for the fastest growing film program in the country, the Herberger Institute aims to provide students and faculty greater opportunities and more room to innovate, collaborate and succeed. Jason Davids Scott, associate professor of film, was named the interim director of The New American Film School, and Heather Landes, formerly the director of the School of Music, stepped into the new position of director of the School of Music, Dance and Theatre. Read more about the new schools.

Official selection photo by Haylee Finn.

Her Brown Body is glory photos by Tim Trumble.