Hollywood is still the filmmaking capital of the world. But the “movie factory” may want to look over its shoulder to see what’s sneaking up from behind. The world is getting smaller, and homegrown filmmakers are turning up all over. Eugene is no exception.
Oregon has always been an attractive area for the film industry; it is near California and offers a wide variety of locales.
In the 100 years of producing this relatively young art form, Hollywood has often ventured into the Northwest to shoot movies. Everyone from Robert Mitchum in 1939’s “Rachel and the Stranger” to River Phoenix in 1985’s “Stand By Me” has wandered through Eugene to make their mark on film.
It doesn’t take a long visit to Eugene to recognize its artistic spirit. And anyone who’s seen a movie at Bijou Art Cinemas knows this movie theater’s celebration of independent film is an extension of that spirit. But these movies, though unlikely to pop up at the local cineplex, are still commercially released films.
If there are audiences in Eugene for independent movies, one has to assume that there exists a desire to take an active role in them as well. Though a distinct network of independent filmmakers may appear elusive, there is reason to believe that at any moment, the talk of the film industry could spring up from our own backyard.
Oregon filmmaker Erich Lyttle is a perfect example of that possibility. Lyttle and his producing partner Dan Wilkins operate Legacy Films, a production company with offices in Eugene and Portland. Their docudrama, “Have You Seen Clem,” was filmed partially in Eugene and shown this summer at McDonald Theatre to a crowd of 500 people. At the moment, the film is making its way to movie houses across the country as the filmmakers seek a distribution deal.
Lyttle, a southern California native, says there are many benefits to making movies in Eugene.
“One of the good things for us was the benefit of avoiding union entanglements that exist in California,” Lyttle said. This is a huge cost-saver for an independent filmmaker. “Clem,” originally budgeted at $250,000, eventually cost approximately $900,000 — still well below the ever-escalating cost of higher profile films.
Lyttle employed the same 16-millimeter camera used to film “Leaving Las Vegas” as well as a digital video camera. He not only saved money but used the various formats to heighten the film’s “dual identity” theme. In addition, the crew consisted of basically five people, all from Eugene — evidence that Hollywood’s filmmaking monopoly continues to dissipate.
Ralph Conradt is a local filmmaker who sees the future of filmmaking everywhere.
“In this day, anyone with a $2,000 DV camera and $1,000 PC can produce a high quality film for theatrical distribution,” Conradt said. “It’s a great time to be a filmmaker.”
Though his work is mostly in productions for the National Institutes of Health, Conradt is currently making a documentary tracking his son’s recovery from a catastrophic brain injury suffered in a high school football game.
The Mid-Oregon Production Arts Network offers further evidence of Eugene’s burgeoning film community. This important resource for local filmmakers is a non-profit association of over 200 professionals working in film, television and video, as well as in audio and multimedia. The organization works to promote local media professionals. Their Web site, mopan.org, contains a directory of its members and includes listings of everyone from local casting directors to camera rental houses.
Networking is the key to working in independent film. Austin Storms, a Eugene native now living in Portland, was the sound recordist for “Clem” and says he never would have discovered these opportunities without the connections he has made in Eugene.
“If I were to offer any advice to independent filmmakers in Eugene, it would be, get to know people,” Storms said. “Eugene is a growing city with a lot of opportunity. It’s funny. When I lived in Eugene, I was always going to Portland to find work. Now that I live in Portland, it seems like I’m shooting something in Eugene every other day.”
Anyone thinking about rushing off to big cities to make their break in movies should take note of these filmmakers. It may not be Hollywood, but Eugene offers more than meets the eye, and the seeds are being sown for the future of the art form.