Commercial Film and TV Production

Prior approval from University Communications is required to conduct commercial filming and photography on the AU campus. Production companies and location scouts interested in AU as a filming venue should review the university's film policy below. The first step towards receiving clearance and permits for these activities is to complete and submit the university's project proposal form. If at any time, there is a question or concern, contact the office for more information. Keep in mind, certain scripts that contain references to AU also may require review by appropriate university offices, including the Office of the General Counsel.

Amenities, Services, and Venues

American University is located in a residential neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C., at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues—the top of Embassy Row. The campus is one mile from the Naval Observatory, down the road from the National Cathedral, and five miles from Capitol Hill. Skyline views of Rosslyn, Virginia, and downtown Washington can be seen from the roofs of campus buildings. The university is located three fourths of a mile from the Tenleytown-AU Metro station on the red line, and is convenient to the Interstates 495 and 95.

Highlights of the 84-acre main campus include a main quadrangle surrounded by several academic buildings, six residential halls, a 5,000-seat arena, and an outdoor amphitheatre. One block from the metro station, a smaller 8-acre satellite campus is home to three residence halls, several classrooms, and a recreational playing field.

American University professors who work with the film industry include artist in residence Russell Williams, Academy Award winner for sound work on two feature films, Glory and Dances with Wolves; director of the Center for Social Media Patricia Aufderheide, a former jury member for the Sundance Film Festival; and associate professor Randall Blair, a producer and director with Washington, D.C. based Blair Productions.