‘It all started at ASU’: Football player, theater alum makes the big screen
ASU alum Ben Fritz was producer on two films screening at Valley film festivals this week. Courtesy photo
For filmmaker Ben Fritz, everything is about connection, relationships and overcoming expectations.
“It’s about seeing people beyond how they see themselves,” he said. “When you create a space for people, they can reach their potential.”
As a theater student at Arizona State University, Fritz was also a linebacker on the 1997 football team that competed at the Rose Bowl.
“I came to ASU to play football. I was one of two guys on the team who had a 4.0 GPA — and Pat Tillman was the other,” Fritz said.
“Pat Tillman really took me under his wing. I was an artsy guy and didn’t really fit in. Pat saw that. He put his arm around me and really encouraged me a lot. He showed me that more than anything, being true to yourself is what it’s really all about. He still inspires me today.”
An injury sidelined Fritz’s football career and put his focus back on the arts. During his time at ASU, Fritz performed in a dozen theater productions and regularly worked with Southwest Shakespeare Company.
After graduation, he moved to Tucson for a while and performed with Arizona Theater Company, Borderlands Theater and Live Theater Workshop, gaining experience and working alongside Arizona legends like Ben Stewart.
Fritz then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film — and has worked as a professional filmmaker for more than 25 years. Most recently, he produced for Academy Award-winning director Louie Psihoyos on “Mission Joy” and the Hulu thriller “The Apology.”
Desert roots run deep
While his time in LA was fruitful, Fritz's journey is now coming full circle, returning to the desert to screen two of his films at Arizona film festivals.
In 2020, Fritz created the Children's Film Academy of Madison to give filmmaking opportunities to youth in the Midwest. The company’s film “Small Town Rock Stars” was screened as an official selection of the Arizona International Film Festival on April 10. And on April 12, another one of the company’s films, “Wrestling,” will be screened at the Southern Arizona Independent Film Festival.
“I discovered myself as an artist and an individual in the deserts of Arizona, and I am excited to be bringing back some meaningful cultural stories to share with the community,” Fritz said.
Growing up as a kid in the Midwest, Fritz knew he wanted to make movies. He held garage sales for enough funds to make movies with friends in the neighborhood. When he came to ASU, he chose a theater degree to build his acting skills. He ended up finding community, as well as gaining training.
“Eighty percent of my classes were with the same 15 students. You really get to know people in a different way," Fritz said. "It makes for a more cozy feeling in a bigger school. And my theater training has made me much more story-oriented and actor-oriented in my filmmaking.”
After his time in Los Angeles, Fritz returned to his home state of Wisconsin to care for his aging mother. It made Fritz realize he wanted to create the type of organization he wished had existed when he was a kid.
“I wanted to inspire kids,” said Fritz. “Teaching and empowering people is something I’m passionate about. I think it can ground us to create and make things together. I love it because it brings together people who share a vision and want to bring it to life. That’s what I want to see in society.”
The Children's Film Academy of Madison pairs youth with film professionals to bring authentic stories to the big screen. The only organization of its kind in Wisconsin, it serves youth across the state. Their films have been screened at major festivals, Times Square and the State Capitol of Wisconsin. The organization seeks to build bridges between communities, with a focus on urban and rural communities coming together.
“I also wanted to honor my mother. She cared deeply for children. We had a lot of foster children in our home growing up. Working with youth and caring for the next generation, mentoring, was something that was missing in my life.”
Fritz said he’s honored to have the organization’s work recognized.
“It’s a big accomplishment, and it’s so cool to be such an integral part of these stories and to bring them back to this place where I found myself,” Fritz said. “Everything is coming together to allow me to use my talents to serve my community. Intergenerational relationships are really important to me.”
Speaking of intergenerational relationships — soon there will be a second generation of Sun Devils in Fritz’s family. His niece, Arielle Fritz, is graduating from ASU this May.
“There’s a lot to learn by being in the presence of greatness,” Fritz saod. “I can’t emphasize that enough. I’ve rubbed elbows with a lot of really incredible people, and it all started at ASU.”
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