When asked about the next phase, Bassett responded: “We are working to bring to life the second phase of our vision which would include a backlot, with perhaps a New York street and a European street.”

Details will have to be worked out with the blessing of city leaders of Orange. But the tentative plan is that the backlot would be built on Cypress Street, the block adjacent to the Marion Knott Studios on its west side. This space, which is currently occupied by warehouses, is owned by the university as part of the 10-acre parcel Chapman set aside for the Dodge College.

The backlot would also provide additional stages for shooting, house a new television stage, classrooms and office space, which will be located behind the backlot scenes. Construction of an outdoor park or mall is also being discussed, which would provide a controlled outdoor shooting location for student filmmakers.

The university hopes to partner with professional production companies, television studios and possibly a public relations or advertising agency which would have offices on the backlot, according to Janell Shearer, media arts division chair for Dodge College.

“Housing these partners at the Dodge College would allow students to intern and work for professional companies on campus,” Shearer said.
Right now, students who wish to use off-campus locations in their films have had to take the difficult steps to obtain permits in order to film there. Sometimes that means getting local police involved to block off whole streets if the shoot requires large, high traffic areas, said Shearer. The backlot will allow students to film without permits, Shearer said.

“The greatest benefit of the backlot will be decreased restrictions on students,” she said. “The backlot will provide students with more options and control when shooting their films.”

The backlot can’t get here soon enough for Chapman’s film students.
Said film student sophomore Elena Gomez: “The backlot will make everything more realistic, because we’ll get experience working on real backdrops, just like at the major studios.”