by Zeke and Myra Davidson

We would like to respond to a recent article in local newspaper titled Hollywood in the Heartland.

Since 1976, millions of dollars has been brought to Illinois by the film industry. The Illinois Film Commission, state funded by taxpayers, has done an excellent job bringing Illinois to the top 10 states in movie making, but all the movies were in the Chicago area none for Southern Illinois. One picture was made in Sparta, titled In the Heat of the Night, before the film commission existed.

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A few people have tried for years to get movies made in our part of the state and also to establish a film commission for Southern Illinois to work for us. Attempts have been made through [former] Gov. [Jim] Thompson’s office and the Chicago-based film commission. Calls have been made and letters written to Susie Killet, former commission director. We usually received no response, and what we did receive was negative. In their opinion we do not have the necessary facilities for movie making.

My wife and I have been acting and casting for 25 years with Shari Rhodes, one of Hollywood’s top casting directors, all over the United States. We can prove the location we have stayed and worked in cannot compare to what we have in Southern Illinois, including talent, location, scenery, etceteras. That is the reason in 1972 movie companies left Hollywood and began filming all over the states to get the real scenery instead of make-believe sets. As a result states began establishing film commissions to lure movie makers to their area, bringing millions of dollars.

The state of Texas formed five film commissions to tend to all their state, not just Dallas and Houston. Shari Rhodes was one of the first casting directors in Texas. She worked with Steven Spielberg’s Sugarland Express. We brought her here for casting calls in our area. She discovered our own Jeff Starr of Anna. He played the catcher in two Bad News Bears movies. She used the SIUC film department to make a video tape to send Warner Bros. Ms. Rhodes was amazed at the modern facilities that SIUC has. She has been back many times for seminars and to cast for movie parts. She was astounded by the talent in this area.

We have had producers, actors, and directors in our home through the years. We have driven them miles showing our beauty, facilities, SIUC and unique places. Their response has always been, Get your Illinois Film Commission on the ball. You have a new frontier for movie making.

We are at this time working hard to bring a movie for all to see to be shot in this area. Debbie Reynolds’ son David Fisher, is the co-producer, as is Ron Causey, a SIUC graduate. It is probable Debbie Reynolds will appear in the movie if we are successful in the production. We only became aware recently of the number of actors, writers, and producers that are products of the SIUC Theater Department. A majority of those would be willing and anxious to work with our film commission to bring films to where they got their start.

We talked with Rick Johnson, Hall of Fame quarterback from SIUC, during our alumni meeting last fall. He has been in three movies cast by Shari Rhodes. The latest was Fire Down Under starring Steven Segal. He will be cast for a part in the movie we are making if it comes to be.

It is impossible to state everything we would like to in this column. People like Mr. John Alongi have spent numerous dollars going to California attending film festivals and meeting other contacts attempting to bring the movie industry here. He also has made attempts to form a Southern Illinois Film Commission. My wife and I have spent money and hours of our time in the same effort.

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It is time for young people with ambition and energy to bring SIUC and all of Southern Illinois into the picture.

We will be glad to give our time, facts and figures to anyone interested. We have always worked free and will continue to do so. We challenge all to pursue all avenues to put us on the map. We have tried now it is up to you.