World’s preeminent winter filmmaker to feature Bend

They have spent nearly 60 years showcasing some of the world’s top winter destinations from A (Aspen) to Z (Zermatt), and for their 59th annual feature film Warren Miller Entertainment is bringing its film crews to Bend for a feature segment in the company’s 2008 film.

“Having Bend featured in the Warren Miller Film Tour gives instant and significant global credibility to Central Oregon’s winter tourism offerings,” said Doug LaPlaca, president and CEO of the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau. “I cannot think of a more efficient and effective tool for promoting winter tourism to a targeted audience both domestically and internationally.”

A cooperative effort led by the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau has secured the destination feature, which will focus on Bend, Mt. Bachelor and Central Oregon. Partners involved with bringing Warren Miller Entertainment to the region include the Bend VCB, Travel Oregon, Mt. Bachelor and the LibertyBank Bend WinterFest. As part of the agreement, the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau will have rights to use all footage shot for the segment in future marketing and promotional efforts.

“Oregon features some of the most scenic landscapes and abundant recreational opportunities in the West, and this will be a perfect vehicle to showcase both,” said Kevin Wright, Director of Consumer Marketing for Travel Oregon. “This project aligns well with Travel Oregon’s marketing objectives and we look forward to working with the Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau to leverage the opportunity.”

Specific creative plans for the approximately five-minute segment have not been finalized, but film crews from Warren Miller Entertainment will visit Bend on multiple occasions this winter, including February 8-10 during Bend Winterfest. Ideally, Warren Miller Entertainment would like to time their visits so they coincide with favorable conditions on the mountain.

“There aren’t many places in the world where one can take a chairlift to the top of a volcano, look out at a dozen surrounding peaks, and then choose from nearly 360 degrees of skiable terrain,” said Matt Janney, President of Mt. Bachelor. “Couple that experience with Mt. Bachelor’s unique abundance of both snowfall and sunshine, and it has the makings of a memorable segment.”

When complete, Warren Miller Entertainment’s 2008 film will be screened to an audience of more than 300,000 people, with more than 400 showings in more than 200 U.S. cities including the country’s top 30 markets. An estimated audience of 500,000 international viewers will attend screenings in other countries across the globe. Following the theatrical tour, the film is distributed on DVD, Pay-Per-View and Warren Miller TV.

“The word is out that Bend is one of the best mountain towns in the country,” said Max Bervy, Producer & Director for Warren Miller Entertainment. “The athletes and experiences that we plan to capture on film will only solidify that reputation even further.”

About the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau:
The Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau is a non-membership, non-profit economic development organization dedicated to promoting tourism on behalf of the City of Bend.  For more information or to order a complimentary Official Visitor’s Guide to Bend, contact the Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau at 1-800-949-6086 or visit www.visitbend.com.