Page 53 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2020

MAKING

MOVIES

Filmmaking Thrives in
Southern Oregon

by pamela r. gibson
by mary wilkinskelly

aking movies in Southern Oregon
Mhas a long history, beginning with
the feature film Gracie’s Visit to the Rogue
Valley, released in 1915 during the
World’s Fair held in San Francisco. This
original film was shot entirely with a
35mm hand-operated camera. Since
then, feature films have advanced with
technology and film shoots have steadily
increased. Some notable classics include
The River Wild (1994) with Meryl Streep,
Wild (2014) with Reese Witherspoon,
and Brother Nature (2016) with Rita
Wilson, Bill Pullman and many of the
Saturday Night Live cast members.

Filming in the region is popular because
the location provides seamless access
to and from large production centers
like Los Angeles. Additionally, Southern
Oregon has steadily been gaining popu-
larity because of the Rogue River and
the diverse backdrop it offers for film-
ing. As a host to many film festivals and
the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the
region is a mecca for creativity and cul-
ture. This is clearly demonstrated with a
compilation of talents and an abundance
of diverse, imaginative artists residing
locally.

In fact, for the past seven years, Moviemaker
Magazine has specifically named Ashland
“the best place to live and work as a film-
maker.” Consideration for this honor
acknowledges factors such as the film
culture, tax cuts allowed to filmmakers,

spring 2020 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 51