Shubhabrata Dutta
Created by J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, HBO Max’s ‘Duster’ is a crime thriller series that brings gasoline, dust, and debris to the screen in the form of an unlikely camaraderie in 1970s Arizona. The story follows Nina Hayes, a driven rookie FBI agent and the first Black woman to become one, who is bent on bringing down trucking tycoon/regional crime boss Ezra Saxton and his syndicate. Realizing she cannot do it alone, she reaches out to charismatic getaway driver Jim Ellis, who works for Saxton, with the aim of using all he knows to get to Saxton and his men. Ellis, who rides the desert in his red 1970 Plymouth Duster, has a tragic past, which may be connected to Saxton, something that Hayes uses to persuade him to help her. The narrative of ‘Duster’ is set in the southwest, and the show’s aesthetic almost becomes a secondary character, and the myriad visuals become its various avatars.
Duster Filming Locations
The filming of ‘Duster’ took place in Arizona and New Mexico. Principal photography of Season 1 began in Arizona in September 2021 and lasted several weeks before halting in mid-November the same year due to tax incentive issues. Production shifted to New Mexico in the second half of March 2023 but had to be suspended the following May due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming reportedly resumed in November of the same year after the strike ended and continued for a few months before finally wrapping up towards the end of March 2024.
Pima County, Arizona
The pilot episode of ‘Duster’ is filmed in Pima County, which is located in Arizona’s south-central region. The crew concentrated on the city of Tucson, the county’s seat, for filming indoor and outdoor scenes. Various areas of downtown Tucson, especially the streets, have been used as backdrops, including the west section of Silverbell Road between Speedway and Anklam Road, the Menlo Park neighborhood, located in the heart of the city, and Santiago Hills, located north-west of Menlo Park, including the Camino Santiago. Signs were put up for commuters to take detours during production hours, while ensuring as little inconvenience as possible.
The City Hall, AKA Tucson City Hall, located at 255 West Alameda Street, has been used to tape some indoor scenes. Many departments on the second floor had to be relocated to a similar customer-friendly spot in a public works building downtown to enable the crew to use the entire floor as the set. Care was taken to change signs with those that resembled the ones from the 1970s. The crew brought in Muscle cars resembling those prevalent during the 1970s. Since Tucson lies in the Sonoran Desert, it provided the production team with a proper blend of Western and urban settings, perfectly fitting the narrative’s aesthetic.
The crew also filmed additional scenes at the Saguaro National Park, about 10 miles west of Tucson. The natural landscape, especially the desert terrain, contributes to the world-building. For the same reason and to bring variety to the aesthetic, the Tucson Mountain Park, located at 451 West McCain Loop, was also accessed. Reputed for biking, hiking, and camping, the park has 62 miles of non-motorized trails for shared use. A few scenes have also been filmed in Vail, a census-designated place around 24 miles southeast of Tucson. It is home to the well-known Colossal Cave cave system and the Colossal Cave Mountain Park, which offers horse rides, picnic options, and camping facilities. A few scenes have also been shot at the Three Bridges, located around 20 miles east of Tucson. It is known for the scenic Arizona Trail. Unfortunately, the issue with the tax incentives led the production to shift base to New Mexico, which had its filming taxes sorted out.
Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Many cities across various counties of New Mexico have been used to film the major part of ‘Duster.’ Among them, the Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, located at 523 Bonanza Creek Road in Santa Fe County, became the setting for many indoor and outdoor scenes. It has been used for the filming of ‘Rust,’ ‘Dark Winds,’ ‘Hostile Territory,’ and many other Western movies and shows, thanks to its true-to-form sets, including a bank, a hotel, and a prison, and structures resembling the Old West. Furthermore, the surrounding plains and hills enabled the crew to capture scenic natural landscapes for establishing shots.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
The team also used Albuquerque, the seat of Bernalillo County, for filming. While several urban outdoor areas, reportedly including the space near the Copper Lounge at 1504 Central Avenue, became backdrops, the Cinelease Studios, located at 9201 Pan American Freeway, was used for indoor scenes. The 500,000 square foot facility is situated on a 50-acre lot and boasts five sound stages, five acres of backlot, standing sets, and state-of-the-art production facilities. Over 4000 New Mexico natives were involved in the production, along with 350 local crew members.
Torrance County, New Mexico
In Torrance County, located in central New Mexico, the crew resorted to the city of Moriarty to capture a few scenes. Known for its suburban backdrops that imbibe the Western aura, the city’s wide and dusty streets made it a natural selection for filming the series. It is named after Michael Timothy Moriarty, who arrived there with his wife and kids in 1887 and became the first permanent family to settle in the area. The local attractions in Moriarty include Lewis Antique Auto & Toy Museum, McCall’s Pumpkin Patch, and the US Southwest Soaring Museum.
Valencia County, New Mexico
The crew used the cities of Belen and Peralta in Valencia County to lens several scenes. Belen lies in the center of New Mexico and is known for its cultural events, including the Miracle on Main Street Festival, the Electric Light Parade after Thanksgiving, and the St. Patrick’s Day Balloon Rally. Popular attractions in the city include the Valencia County Fairgrounds, Eagle Park, and Anna Becker Park. Peralta, on the other hand, carries historical significance, since the Battle of Peralta took place there during the Civil War. The city offers vibrant urban landscapes underscored by lush greenery, which have been taped to highlight the show’s setting.
McKinley County, New Mexico
The crew also used Gallup, AKA the Heart of Indian Country, the seat of McKinley County, as the background for a handful of scenes. The city’s rocky terrain has a rich history as a filming location, having served as the backdrop for classic movies like ‘Billy the Kid,’ ‘ Escape from Fort Bravo,’ ‘Only the Valiant,’ and ‘The Hallelujah Trail.’ This may have influenced the crew to use Gallup for ‘Duster’ as well. The city is rich in Native American roots and home to many tribes, including the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi.
Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico
Besides the cities mentioned above, the crew also reached out to the Sandia Pueblo settlement north of Albuquerque for filming some scenes. The settlement falls under the Sandoval County and the Bernalillo County and is home to the Native American Pueblo people, who use the Tiwa language. It lies at the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, which provide it with a gorgeous red against green visage during sunrise and sunset. The natural terrain may have led the crew to incorporate it in the show and provide the Western narrative with a Native American aspect.
Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico
Some areas of Laguna Pueblo, another settlement west of Albuquerque, were also used to shoot a few scenes. It falls under the Cibola County and comprises the villages of Encinal, Mesita, Laguna, Paraje, Paguate, and Seama. The Laguna Pueblo Mission church, located at 1 Friar Road, is a historic monument standing tall as a true example of Spanish colonial architecture in Laguna and is a go-to visiting spot for tourists.
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