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SLU Goes Hollywood

by Joe Barker

For a few weeks in the fall of 2023, Hollywood came to Saint Louis University. 

Filming for the movie On Fire, which tells the story of SLU alum John O’Leary (CSB ’99), took place at several campus locations in November and early December. The film is slated for a 2025 release. 

A clapperboard with the words "ON FIRE" is positioned in front of a crowd of actors wearing graduation caps and gowns.

A clapperboard marks the start of a precommencement scene filmed outdoors on campus. Photo by Sarah Conroy

O’Leary was 9 years old in 1987 when he was so badly burned in an accident that doctors gave him less than a 1% chance of survival. He shared his journey to recovery in the 2016 bestseller On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, which is the basis for the film. 

“I’m a Midwest kid, a SLU grad, so this whole thing is shocking,” O’Leary said. “The fact that there’s a movie about it is remarkable.” 

Members of the SLU community got an up-close look at the making of a movie both in front of the camera as extras and behind the scenes by shadowing the director and crew. 

Production crews spent seven days filming on campus using outdoor locations near the Chaifetz School of Business and Lipic Clock Tower Plaza, as well as indoors at Chaifetz Arena, the former YWCA building on the West Pine Mall (now owned by SLU) and Salus Center.

The film stars Joel Courtney as O’Leary; Masey McLain as his wife, Beth (Hittler) O’Leary (DCHS ’01); John Corbett as his father, Denny (Law ’68); Stephanie Szostak as his mother, Susan; William H. Macy as broadcaster Jack Buck; and James McCracken as young John O’Leary.

“I’ve always loved our campus,” O’Leary said. “I brought our director here to just meet with my family — that was it. We weren’t going to film in St. Louis, but we met with St. Louisans and then he toured SLU and asked, ‘What is this place?’ I told him it was where I went to college, and he said, ‘This place is stunning. It should be in the movie.’”

In a Salus Center hallway, O’Leary (left) talks with McCracken, whose bandages match O’Leary’s following the 1987 fire.
In a Salus Center hallway, O’Leary (left) talks with McCracken, whose bandages match O’Leary’s following the 1987 fire.
Slide 1/8
Art director Clark Woodman puts the finishing touches on a room at the YWCA building, which substitutes as a SLU residence hall room circa 1999. “It’s all so cool,” O’Leary said. “The story is told in three different time periods — when I’m 9, when I’m 21 and then around 28. These scenes bring me back to being on the quad, being in the dorm room and the fraternity house, and back with my friends.”
Art director Clark Woodman puts the finishing touches on a room at the YWCA building, which substitutes as a SLU residence hall room circa 1999. “It’s all so cool,” O’Leary said. “The story is told in three different time periods — when I’m 9, when I’m 21 and then around 28. These scenes bring me back to being on the quad, being in the dorm room and the fraternity house, and back with my friends.”
Slide 2/8
In a scene depicting a luau-themed party filmed in the former YWCA building now owned by SLU, Courtney (far right) moves toward the camera as SLU student extras Danavan Wright and Mariah Slaughter (center) pose as party guests. More extras stand to the left.
In a scene depicting a luau-themed party filmed in the former YWCA building now owned by SLU, Courtney (far right) moves toward the camera as SLU student extras Danavan Wright and Mariah Slaughter (center) pose as party guests. More extras stand to the left.
Slide 3/8
Macy as Jack Buck (left) and Corbett as O’Leary’s father stand near McCracken (in wheelchair) as his character pays a visit to the St. Louis Cardinals locker room. The scene was filmed in an empty space in Salus Center, decorated to depict the 1987-era Busch Stadium room.
Macy as Jack Buck (left) and Corbett as O’Leary’s father stand near McCracken (in wheelchair) as his character pays a visit to the St. Louis Cardinals locker room. The scene was filmed in an empty space in Salus Center, decorated to depict the 1987-era Busch Stadium room.
Slide 4/8
Beth O’Leary (right) teaches McLain (second from left), who portrays her in the film, occupational therapy exercises on Courtney as John O’Leary (left) looks on. “My wife and I met on campus, we became friends on campus and eventually fell in love on campus,” O’Leary said.
Beth O’Leary (right) teaches McLain (second from left), who portrays her in the film, occupational therapy exercises on Courtney as John O’Leary (left) looks on. “My wife and I met on campus, we became friends on campus and eventually fell in love on campus,” O’Leary said.
Slide 5/8
Macy strums a ukelele between takes at Salus Center.
Macy strums a ukelele between takes at Salus Center.
Slide 6/8
Szostak and Corbett enjoy a laugh while waiting for a scene to start at Salus Center.
Szostak and Corbett enjoy a laugh while waiting for a scene to start at Salus Center.
Slide 7/8
At center, O’Leary (at podium), with Courtney and film director Sean McNamara (center, right) in front of the Center for Global Citizenship, formerly the West Pine Gym, for a 1999 business school precommencement scene. O’Leary makes a cameo in the film playing the ceremony speaker. “Hollywood does such a wonderful job of showing superheroes, and this movie does a phenomenal job of showing what it looks like in real life,” he said. “It’s a family, it’s a university, it’s doctors and nurses — it’s ordinary folks who see an opportunity to make a difference, and they take it and do it, so they change the world.”
At center, O’Leary (at podium), with Courtney and film director Sean McNamara (center, right) in front of the Center for Global Citizenship, formerly the West Pine Gym, for a 1999 business school precommencement scene. O’Leary makes a cameo in the film playing the ceremony speaker. “Hollywood does such a wonderful job of showing superheroes, and this movie does a phenomenal job of showing what it looks like in real life,” he said. “It’s a family, it’s a university, it’s doctors and nurses — it’s ordinary folks who see an opportunity to make a difference, and they take it and do it, so they change the world.”
Slide 8/8