Welcome to The Sidney Poitier New American Film School!
We are so glad you’re here, and we look forward to teaching you the fundamentals and principles of storytelling. It’s an exciting time at The Poitier Film School, which now operates in locations across three cities and two states, including our campus in Tempe, the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in Mesa and the ASU California Center in downtown LA.
As one of five schools in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, we are building interdisciplinary courses and degrees to develop in our students an even broader understanding of the arts and design and how they relate to storytelling in all its forms, on all platforms. We recognize and value creativity, which is why we have built an inclusive, high-impact film school to empower the next generation of cinematic storytellers.
Our students will hone their sense of purpose, passion and perspective in all their communication efforts, whether that be film, AR/VR/XR, shortform video production or any other experiential media. We at The Poitier Film School foster spaces that uplift and encourage our students so they can feel confident to tell their stories.
We take students on the journey of a story, from its inception to its intended audience on all the varied distribution platforms we have today. Our mission is to ensure our students are educated, energized and prepared for their chosen futures. We can’t wait to see the stories you have to tell.
— Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Founding Director of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School
A message from Cheryl Boone Isaacs
Founding Director of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School
About
Cheryl Boone Isaacs
Cheryl Boone Isaacs is the Founding Director of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School and a celebrated veteran of the film industry with over 40 years of experience as a respected motion picture marketing executive.
Boone Isaacs is the former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and president and CEO of CBI Enterprises, Inc., and has consulted for companies such as MTV Films, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate and Sony Entertainment. Boone Isaacs previously served as president of theatrical marketing for New Line Cinema and developed the campaigns for such films as “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” “Rush Hour” and “Blade.” As executive vice president of worldwide publicity for Paramount Pictures, she orchestrated the publicity campaigns for the Best Picture winners “Forrest Gump” and “Braveheart ”
Who was Sidney Poitier?
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School Mission
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School educates students in the literature, theories, histories and practices of contemporary filmmaking Our teaching, research, creative activity and professional service enrich the cultural life of the University, the community, the state and the region, extending beyond our borders; and move the art of film production into the future by building on its diverse histories and cultural contexts
The Sidney Poitier Legacy
Actor, film director, civil rights activist, author, ambassador, father and husband – Sidney Poitier was a groundbreaking international film icon whose life, both onscreen and off, serves as an example of strength, passion, depth and integrity. The youngest of seven children, Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 20, 1927, and grew up on Cat Island in the Bahamas. When he was 15, he was sent to live with his brother’s family in Miami; at 16, he moved to New York, where he held a string of jobs before lying about his age to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the Army, he worked as a dishwasher, until a successful audition with the American Negro Theatre launched his acting career
Over the course of his long and varied career, Poitier starred in more than 40 films, directed nine and wrote four His many memorable roles as an actor include “The Defiant Ones,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “A Patch of Blue,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “To Sir, With Love” and “Sneakers ” For his outstanding performance in “Lilies of the Field,” a 1963 film set and shot in Arizona, Poitier became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor Among many other accolades, Poitier has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award, the Screen Actors Guild’s Life Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honors Award, an NAACP Image Award, a Grammy Award for bestspoken word album and an honorary Academy Award for his contributions to the medium.
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Sidney Poitier himself. That’s reflected in our 1,000 film students, who represent the creative diversity of our country, with more than 40% coming from underrepresented backgrounds. Unlike many other top film schools, which measure themselves by whom they exclude, The Poitier Film School celebrates its accessibility, which makes a high-quality film education possible for students traditionally locked out of the opportunity
One School, Two States, Three Cities
Dixie Gammage Hall
Tempe,Arizona
Home to The Poitier Film School’s main administrative office on the Tempe campus, Dixie Gammage Hall is one of ASU’s most charming historic buildings and a former girls’ dormitory.
The Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center Mesa,Arizona
The world-class MIX Center in Mesa, Arizona, is home to the production and post-production facilities, including state-of-the-art sound stages, editing suites, an Enhanced Immersion Studio, Planar virtualproduction studio, Dreamscape and two screening theaters with official Dolby Atmos Tier 1 certification, a rare achievement for educational institutions.
ASU California Center
LosAngeles,California
The Poitier Film School now welcomes freshmen and Semester in LA students in downtown Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment industry. Here, film students can accelerate their careers, connect with alumni and industry professionals, take advantage of internship opportunities and attend exclusive events.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Production
A Bachelor in Fine Arts in film and media production provides creative experiences and pre-professional training to students with a focus on ethical practices, cutting-edge technical skills and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students are equipped to master digital technologies and create stories that reflect their unique vision and voice.
Beginning with foundational courses that situate the film and media artist as an active citizen-storyteller with a responsibility to their community, students choose between a capstone film or senior thesis in a three-semester-long process.
The curriculum also includes interdisciplinary requirements and elective options from across ASU to ensure that students experience connections between the arts, cultures and the creative process. Students can also benefit from the California based Semester in LA program, job and internship fairs, professional intensives and exclusive events.
Graduates are prepared for success in an ever-evolving media industry, to pursue a graduate degree or to pioneer new careers that will require advanced media production skills, a professional work ethic and a strong creative voice.
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Film (Filmmaking Practices)
Students who pursue the BA in film with a concentration in filmmaking practices learn foundational production skills, entertainment and media ethics and general film and media industry history and practices.
Course offerings focus on key professional skills such as producing practices, including on-set production and production management, business and legal matters, professional and technical writing, and production for feature films, television and internet content.
Production experience is regularly available through lower-division courses that provide creative coursework options, the upper-division course FMP 300, and credited opportunities to work on projects produced by students and faculty at The Poitier Film School. All students complete a year-long senior project, initiated and developed by the students and supported through dedicated faculty mentorship. There is also a unique Semester in LA program available to sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as industry intensives and internship opportunities.
BA or BFA: What is the difference?
In short, the Bachelor of Arts in film with a concentration in filmmaking practices allows students more flexibility to explore the art of film and storytelling This degree is great for students who would like to double major, gain an overview of filmmaking as a practice, explore various interests, or find ways to communicate issues in other disciplines through filmmaking.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with film and media production This degree is great for students who are interested in carving out a specific focus area in production and receiving in-depth instruction and training focused on that area.
Minor in Film and Media Production
Students pursuing the film and media production minor study the basic production processes of film while learning about the history and practices of the film and media industry as well as the cultural value of cinema, television and digital media.
2024- 2025 Minor Map Film and Media Production
Master of Arts in Narrative and Emerging Media
In the MA program in narrative and emerging media, students learn how to tell stories that aren’t just watched or read they’re experienced. In under one year, students learn innovative storytelling techniques, explore the emerging media marketplace, connect with the field’s top professionals and develop critical media project management skills.
Through hands-on learning, students explore the entire landscape of emerging immersive media techniques including augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality, 360 video, animated graphics, short-form digital video and documentary production to tell creative fictional stories or nonfiction journalistic work. Students capture and create content for workflow in multiple industries, and they learn to lead teams of producers, engineers, writers and artists across different technologies.
Meet Your Professors
Greg Bernstein
Associate Professor
Max Bernstein
Clinical Assistant Professor
Carla Bishop
Assistant Professor
Nita Blum
Clinical Asst Professor
+ SAFE Set Coordinator
Cheryl Boone Isaacs
Founding Director + Professor of Practice
Adam Collis Professor of Practice
Joseph Fortunato
Teaching Professor
Gene Ganssle
Associate Teaching Professor
C.A. Griffith
Associate Professor
Reina Higashitani
Assistant Professor
Cristina Ibarra
Associate Professor
Philip Klucsarits
Associate Professor
Chris LaMont
Clinical Associate Professor
Alex Ma
Associate Professor
Mary Matheson
Professor of Practice
Meet Your Professors
Brian McAuley
Clinical Assistant
Professor
Rodrigo Meirelles
Assistant Professor
Jason Davids Scott
Associate Professor
Peter Murrieta
Deputy Director + Professor of Practice
Nicholas Pilarski
Associate Professor
Luiza Parvu
Assistant Professor
Nonny de la Pena
Program Director + Professor of Practice
Debby Seibel
Clinical Associate Professor
Sharon Teo-Gooding
Associate Director + Professor
Andres Torres
Program Director + Professor of Practice
Horacio Velasquez
Clinical Asst Professor
Alex Rivera
Associate Professor
Susan Weeks
Clinical Associate Professor
Ryat Yezbick
Learning Resources Specialist
Meet Your Staff
Taylor Blackmore
Communications
Program Coordinator
Michael DeSanti
Events Coordinator
Melissa Dickman
Student Experience Manager
Lucinda Edwards
Assistant to Director
Louis Giaquinto
Curriculum Coordinator Sr.
Paisley Hearney
Curriculum Coordinator Sr.
Nathan Jean Coordinator
Clyde Jose
Business Operations Specialist Sr
Jasmine Nungaray
Business Operations Specialist
Nicholas Seidel
Business Operations Manager Chalysse Standifird
Executive Administrative Support Specialist
Barbara VanDenburgh
Communications Manager
Meet Your Staff
Los Angeles-Based
Barry Bogovich
Program Coordinator
Senior
Leslie Elias-Volz
Assistant to Deputy Director
Jet Olano
Learning Technology Specialist
Maurine Simmons
Administrative Specialist
Tom Gallagher
Equipment Operations Manager
Latavia Young
Program Manager, Career Services CA
Jadyn Gobert
Operations Coordinator CA
Ben Gross Specialist CA
As a student in The Poitier Film School, you will be part of a thriving arts community made up of faculty, staff and peers who share a passion for media and storytelling. In addition to our degree programs, we offer plenty of dynamic creative spaces for you to explore through student clubs, workshops, screenings and events, and so much more.
ASU Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is a great resource for first-year students looking for ways to engage with campus communities and navigate the university. The center makes available all the tools necessary for university success, including one-on-one mentorship with peer coaches on campus
The Office of Student Success in ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts facilitates the academic achievement and creative development of students. Poitier Film School students have the support of film school advisors in navigating studies to achieve their goals.
Advising
The Herberger Institute Advising office is located in the Design South building (CDS) room 101, which is located near the SW corner of Forest and University Appointments are recommended and can be scheduled in advance or students may utilize our walk-in hours.
Creative Career Services
The support for our students seeks to expand beyond their tenure within our school The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and ASU Career and Professional Development Services have collaborated to help you prepare for a career after college In this center, students have access to personalized career advising, connections with employers in their field, and assistance with resumes, cover letters and other application materials
Student Experience
Student Clubs and Organizations
ASU Film Alliance
Association of Filmmakers at ASU
Association for International Media
Entertainment Business Association
Hollywood Invades Tempe Crew
Fade-In
Maroon and Gold Entertainment
Rough Cut
Womxn in Film @ ASU
Safe in Sound
Financial Aid Resources
Explore the scholarship opportunities
Financial Aid Calendar
Contact ASU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services
Current on-campus students
855-278-5080 (toll free)
Current or incoming ASU Online students
855-278-5080 (toll free).
Incoming First Year Students – on-campus and transfer, contact your admission representative.
