The Illinois Film Office was established in 1976 to attract feature film, television, and commercial production to Illinois. Housed in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, and a division of the Bureau of Tourism, the Film Office has helped bring more than 550 feature film or television projects to our state. Illinois is now a top location state for filming, ranking consistently in the top 10 for the past 20 years. The benefit to the state's economy is significant, with more than $750 million in direct cash expenditure and 250,000 temporary local jobs created by these productions.

Ron Ver Kuilen

"Hollywood in the Heartland" was a slogan the Illinois Film Office developed a few years ago to bring film production to all of our state. When Hollywood comes knocking on Illinois' door, too often there is a failure to realize the splendid geographic and cultural diversity that exists in the 101 counties outside the immediate Chicagoland area. Unfortunately, to the film industry Chicago is synonymous with Illinois. It is our job to teach our friends in the movie business that there is more to life than living under the "el" tracks.

This past summer, the film "A Thousand Acres" was shot in Rochelle, Creston, Mendota, Sycamore, and other rural areas of Lee and Ogle counties. Stars Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfieffer, Jason Robards, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keith Carradine, and the hundred-odd crew ate at local restaurants, rented homes, and shopped in the area. Local hotels were filled to capacity by cast and crew members. The economic impact of the production extended from grocery stores to lumber yards to bakeries.

The summer also saw an independent film, "35 Miles from Normal," shot in Pontiac which just happens to be 35 miles from Normal! Over the years, films with such stars as Robert Conrad, Bill Murray, Andie Macdowell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, Richard Pryor, Kevin Costner, John Goodman, Joe Pesci, and Craig T. Nelson have been shot in Mount Carroll, Woodstock, Pontiac, Peoria, Galena, Danville, Champaign, and Springfield.

Typically, it all begins with a phone call. A production company will call and detail what its needs are—which could range from certain movie locations to necessary support services for on-location filming.

Thankfully, we can call upon this state to answer a challenge. We contact local chambers of commerce, convention and visitors' bureaus, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, and local media.

The Film Office is committed to telling Hollywood about what downstate Illinois has to offer. Great town squares such as those in Highland, Metamora, Carlinville, and Lincoln. Terrific courthouses such as those in Paris, Jerseyville, Cambridge, Eureka, and Oregon. Wonderful Main-Street towns like Clinton, Geneseo, Quincy, Greenville, and Mt. Carroll. To us, rural small-town Illinois is the backbone and soul of our state. We have had to convince producers that a movie about life on a corn farm should be set in Illinois, and not in Iowa.

The Film Office believes in being pro-active. We scour trade magazines for possible leads, we travel to Los Angeles for sales calls and conventions. We will get into a car with a camera and shoot any and all interesting locations. We also are very aware that, despite all of our efforts, there is probably a gem of a place that we don't know about. If you have a special location or service that Hollywood should know about, please contact the Illinois Film Office at 312-814-3600 or fax 312-814-8874. When Hollywood calls, continue to welcome them with open arms. Hopefully, the filming experience will turn into a love story—and the happy ending is all dollars left behind!

Ron Ver Kuilen is the managing director of the Illinois Film Office, appointed by Governor Edgar in 1995. He has been with the Film Office since 1980, serving as assistant director from 1983 to 1995. He is a member of the board of directors of the Independent Feature Project, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 1997