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Friday
March 19, 2010 Since 1922 |
Oh say, can you see Sitka
By Wanda Orton
Contributor Published November 11, 2009 When the newly released DVD version of “The Proposal” emerged on our TV screen, I looked forward to seeing scenes of Sitka. The picturesque seaport in southeast Alaska was where the main character, portrayed by Sandra Bullock, would meet the parents of her coerced husband-to-be, played by Ryan Reynolds.
Alas, “The Proposal,” wasn’t filmed in Alaska. After watching the movie, I did a bit of research and learned much to my chagrin that the town of Rockport in Massachusetts was subbed for Sitka. As we say in Texas, “Get a rope.”
I couldn’t tell for sure where “The Proposal” was filmed but hoped we were looking at Sitka, for real.
For such a long time I’ve wanted to go there, especially after seeing photo slides of a trip made by Curt and Marti Ball. Some time back in the early 1990s they journeyed north to Alaska, including a stopover in Sitka. And I’ve heard about Sitka from other friends who’ve gone on Alaskan cruises.
What a unique history it has.
Did you know that Sitka once served as the Russian American capital? That’s right. Russia owned Alaska until 1867, when the U.S. bought it for $7.2 million -- that’s right, $7.2 million.
In the movie made in Massachusetts, the majestic mountains looming in the background of so-called Sitka seemed real enough. Also, the totem poles in the town’s forefront sported an air of authenticity. (Before Russians, there were Indians.)
Come to find out, the computer wizards had moved mountains. It’s really not Sitka, folks. You’re looking at digitized visual effects.
Totem poles sprang up the old fashioned way. They were built by hand and made to look like those totem poles in you-know-where.
Since the movie came out, many Alaskans – especially Sitkans – have been busy playing “gotcha,” finding flaws in the extreme makeover of Rockport, Mass. For example, the lobster boats. Someone should have moved them out of Rockport because they surely don’t belong in Sitka. And that flight from Juneau to Sitka would have been, in real life, on an Alaskan Airlines 737 rather than the twin-engined, propeller-driven plane in the movie.
Of course, “The Proposal” is just one of a long list of movies with Alaskan settings that have been filmed elsewhere.
Going way back, John Wayne never crossed the California state line when he made “North to Alaska.”
And remember “Northern Exposure,” the TV series about quirky individuals in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska? The show drew so much attention to Alaska that it made a tourist attraction out of Roslyn, Wash., where it was filmed.
A horror movie, “30 Days of Night,” was supposed to take place in Barrow, Alaska, but was shot in New Zealand. (Now that’s a stretch.)
Also, a thriller called “Insomnia,” with Al Pacino and Robin Williams, reportedly had an Alaskan address but was filmed in Canada, as was “Snow Dogs” with Cuba Gooding Jr.
A few Alaska stories, however, have been filmed in Alaska, among them “White Fang,” with Ethan Hawke; “The Thing,” with Kurt Russell; “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” with William Shatner; and “Into the Wild,” directed by Sean Penn.
So why aren’t there more? The weather, the rugged, unforgiving terrain and lack of transportation are factors but the main problem seems to be the lack of tax incentives. That’s due to change, however. New legislation will enable Alaska to compete with Massachusetts and all the rest in attracting the movie industry. When that happens, Alaska, film-wise, no longer will be left out in the cold.
Here’s what the mayor of Sitka, Marko Dapcevich, has to say: “If a film is going to showcase your community, you would really like it to be your community being showcased rather than another community that is impostering your town.”
Wanda Orton is a retired managing editor for The Baytown Sun.
Contributor Published November 11, 2009 When the newly released DVD version of “The Proposal” emerged on our TV screen, I looked forward to seeing scenes of Sitka. The picturesque seaport in southeast Alaska was where the main character, portrayed by Sandra Bullock, would meet the parents of her coerced husband-to-be, played by Ryan Reynolds.
Alas, “The Proposal,” wasn’t filmed in Alaska. After watching the movie, I did a bit of research and learned much to my chagrin that the town of Rockport in Massachusetts was subbed for Sitka. As we say in Texas, “Get a rope.”
I couldn’t tell for sure where “The Proposal” was filmed but hoped we were looking at Sitka, for real.
For such a long time I’ve wanted to go there, especially after seeing photo slides of a trip made by Curt and Marti Ball. Some time back in the early 1990s they journeyed north to Alaska, including a stopover in Sitka. And I’ve heard about Sitka from other friends who’ve gone on Alaskan cruises.
What a unique history it has.
Did you know that Sitka once served as the Russian American capital? That’s right. Russia owned Alaska until 1867, when the U.S. bought it for $7.2 million -- that’s right, $7.2 million.
In the movie made in Massachusetts, the majestic mountains looming in the background of so-called Sitka seemed real enough. Also, the totem poles in the town’s forefront sported an air of authenticity. (Before Russians, there were Indians.)
Come to find out, the computer wizards had moved mountains. It’s really not Sitka, folks. You’re looking at digitized visual effects.
Totem poles sprang up the old fashioned way. They were built by hand and made to look like those totem poles in you-know-where.
Since the movie came out, many Alaskans – especially Sitkans – have been busy playing “gotcha,” finding flaws in the extreme makeover of Rockport, Mass. For example, the lobster boats. Someone should have moved them out of Rockport because they surely don’t belong in Sitka. And that flight from Juneau to Sitka would have been, in real life, on an Alaskan Airlines 737 rather than the twin-engined, propeller-driven plane in the movie.
Of course, “The Proposal” is just one of a long list of movies with Alaskan settings that have been filmed elsewhere.
Going way back, John Wayne never crossed the California state line when he made “North to Alaska.”
And remember “Northern Exposure,” the TV series about quirky individuals in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska? The show drew so much attention to Alaska that it made a tourist attraction out of Roslyn, Wash., where it was filmed.
A horror movie, “30 Days of Night,” was supposed to take place in Barrow, Alaska, but was shot in New Zealand. (Now that’s a stretch.)
Also, a thriller called “Insomnia,” with Al Pacino and Robin Williams, reportedly had an Alaskan address but was filmed in Canada, as was “Snow Dogs” with Cuba Gooding Jr.
A few Alaska stories, however, have been filmed in Alaska, among them “White Fang,” with Ethan Hawke; “The Thing,” with Kurt Russell; “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” with William Shatner; and “Into the Wild,” directed by Sean Penn.
So why aren’t there more? The weather, the rugged, unforgiving terrain and lack of transportation are factors but the main problem seems to be the lack of tax incentives. That’s due to change, however. New legislation will enable Alaska to compete with Massachusetts and all the rest in attracting the movie industry. When that happens, Alaska, film-wise, no longer will be left out in the cold.
Here’s what the mayor of Sitka, Marko Dapcevich, has to say: “If a film is going to showcase your community, you would really like it to be your community being showcased rather than another community that is impostering your town.”
Wanda Orton is a retired managing editor for The Baytown Sun.