Big screen finds Eugene
Independent films are on the
rise and artists are cutting costs
by filming in Oregon
Ryan Bornheimer
Senior Pulse Reporter
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 filmmak
ers are turning up all over. Eugene
is no exception.
Oregon has always been an attrac
tive area for the film industry; it is
near California and offers a wide va
riety of locales.
In the 100 years of producing this
relatively young art form, Hollywood
has often ventured into the North
west to shoot movies. Everyone from
Robert Mitchum in 1939’s “Rachel
and the Stranger” to River Phoenix
in 1985’s “Stand By Me” has wan
dered through Eugene to make their
mark on film.
It doesn’t take a long visit to Eu
gene 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 com
mercially 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 inde
pendent 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 possibili
ty. 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 Eu
gene and shown this summer at Mc
Donald Theatre to a crowd of 500
people. At the moment, the film is
making its way to movie houses
across the country as the filmmak
ers seek a distribution deal.
Lyttle, a southern California na
tive, says there are many benefits to
making movies in Eugene.
“One of the good things for us was
the benefit of avoiding union entan
glements that exist in California,”
Lyttle said. This is a huge cost-saver
for an independent filmmaker.
“Clem,” originally budgeted at
$250,000, eventually cost approxi
mately $900,000 — still well below
the ever-escalating cost of higher
profile films.
Mark McCambridge Emerald
The artistic spirit of Eugene fosters a burgeoning independent film community.
Lyttle employed the same 16
millimeter camera used to film
“Leaving Las Vegas” as well as a dig
ital 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 peo
ple, all from Eugene — evidence
that Hollywood’s filmmaking mo
nopoly continues to dissipate.
Ralph Gonradt is a local filmmak
er who sees the future of filmmak
ing everywhere.
“In this day, anyone with a $2,000
DV camera and 81,000 PC can pro
duce a high quality film for theatri
cal distribution,” Gonradt said. “It's a
great time to be a filmmaker.”
Though his work is mostly in pro
ductions for the National Institutes
of Health, Gonradt 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 communi
ty. This important resource for local
filmmakers is a non-profit associa
tion of over 200 professionals work
ing 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 Port
land, 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 in
dependent filmmakers in Eugene, it
would be, get to know people,”
Storms said. “Eugene is a growing
city with a lot of opportunity. It’s fun
ny. When I lived in Eugene, I was al
ways going to Portland to find work.
Now that I live in Portland, it seems
like I’m shooting something in Eu
gene every other day.”
Anyone thinking about rushing off
to big cities to make their break in
movies should take note of these film
makers. 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.
Contact the senior Pulse reporter
atryanbornheimer@dailyemerald.com.
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