The Oregon Film Trail Oral History Project.
The Oregon Film Trail is a statewide network of markers placed at significant filming locations across Oregon—the first trail of its kind in the U.S. This trail connects communities, landmarks, and notable films, weaving together Oregon’s deep film legacy and celebrating over a century of filmmaking.
Currently, an oral history project is underway, gathering stories from local community members who interacted with productions during filming. Eventually, these stories will become part of the Trail, offering visitors a unique insight into the filming experience from a local perspective—the “stories behind the story.” With Oregon’s many iconic film projects over the years, there are plenty of stories waiting to be told.
Last fall, with the help of the Baker Heritage Museum, the first collection of oral histories took place in Baker City. Next up is Astoria and the north coast. The Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce and Clatsop County Historical Society will assist with collecting the stories from this region. These stories will ultimately be part of the Oregon Film Trail’s statewide oral history database and eventually available to discover while traveling the Trail. Additionally, they will also become part of the Oregon Film Museum‘s collection.
If you have a story you want to share that highlights how being a part of a film production impacted your life – whether you worked on set, appeared as an extra, or provided goods or services to a production – then please get in touch, the Oregon Film Trail wants to hear from you!
The collection of stories will take place on February 20th, at the Flavel House Museum, Astoria. There are a limited number of recording slots available, so submissions will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, while ensuring a diverse range of stories are represented. Sign up here.