Stargirl Filming Location Guide

Stargirl Filming Location

‘Stargirl’ is a coming-of-age film that follows Leo Borlock, an introverted teenager, who finds it difficult to blend in with his classmates at Mica High School, Arizona, after suffering years of bullying. His life changes when a free-spirited teen, Susan “Stargirl” Caraway, joins as a tenth grader. They form a bond when she receives the same treatment as Leo, for being different from the crowd. Leo eventually falls in love with her nonconformity, but after an argument, Stargirl adopts her personal name Susan and begins to chase popularity by trying to fit in. Will she ever get back to being the offbeat and quirky Stargirl? Will Leo and Stargirl ever mend their differences?

‘Stargirl’ is an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Jerry Spinelli. Julia Hart serves as the director and writer, along with co-writers Kristin Hahn and Jordan Horowitz. The movie was lauded for its empowering storyline, fresh performances, and striking cinematography. In case you’re wondering: Where was ‘Stargirl’ filmed? Keep reading!

Stargirl Filming Locations

Since New Mexico is one of the largest tax havens in the U.S., the production unit flew all the way to the Land of Enchantment for filming. The film received permission to shoot throughout the Southwestern region from the local officials and the New Mexico Film Office. The movie wrapped up its principal photography in November 2018.

Here are the specific filming locations.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Although the movie is set in Micah, Arizona, the teenage film was extensively filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And as we can see in the film, the scenic beauty of the Southwest region of the U.S., thoroughly complements the visual aesthetic of the film.

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The scenes which feature Leo and Stargirl, watching the sunset and strolling through the quiet neighborhood, were all shot in Albuquerque.

Stargirl Filming Locations

According to a local newspaper, the production department employed over 180 crew members, 15-20 actors, and about 3,500 extras to play Marching Band members and football players from New Mexico.

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Also known as The Duke City, ABQ, and Burque, Albuquerque is the most populous city in New Mexico. It also served as a filming location for movies and TV shows like ‘The Avengers,’ ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ ‘In Plain Sight,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Better Call Saul,’ and ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.’ In fact, ‘Breaking Bad’ was one of the reasons why tourism soared significantly in the city. In case you’re planning on visiting, you must make sure to plan your trip accordingly so as to not miss the world-famous 10-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which sees enthusiasts from all over the world.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Some of the scenes were also shot at West San Francisco Street in Santa Fe, which is located about 100 kms from Albuquerque.

While in Santa Fe, the crew also visited the famous Meow Wolf entertainment company for an immersive and interactive experience.

Sandia Mountains, New Mexico

Standing tall at 10,678 feet above sea level and located to the east of Albuquerque, in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, Sandia Mountains served as a filming site for a few scenes in the film. The Spanish name Sandia translates to watermelon, signifying the nature of the sunset, which transforms the sky into an awe-inspiring bright pink color. Here’s a picture of a breathtaking sunset at Sandia Mountains, shared by the protagonist of the film, Graham Verchere.

 

Although we aren’t sure about the specific scenes, we can certainly say that Belen, Valencia County and Truth or Consequences, Sierra County, also doubled up as filming locations for a few scenes in the film.

Here are some fun behind the scenes pictures and videos shared by Graham Verchere.

Read More: Best Coming-of-Age Movies

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