The last big movie “about fly fishing” (that wasn’t about fly fishing at all) allegedly exploded participation in the sport of fly fishing, bringing tears of joy to equipment manufacturers and leading those who prefer riverside solitude to grumble incessantly.
Now, with production beginning on the movie version of David James Duncan’s The River Why, will we see a new boom in fly fishing — and a whole new wave of models throwing tailing loops in SUV/Viagra ads?
Word comes from the Oregon state office of film and television that a movie adaptation of David James Duncan’s “The River Why” is set to start shooting around July 7.
As the film’s Web site describes Duncan’s book: “Set on the banks of a wild river, ‘The River Why’ is the story of 20 year old Gus Orviston, the Mozart of flyfishing, who leaves his big city home in rebellion from his family. In the process he comes in contact with an assortment of eccentric characters who help him in his journey to adulthood. Most of all, The River Why is a love story. The love of a man for the wilderness, and for a beautiful woman who comes to share it with him.”
It’s not like me to claim credit for things I obviously had everything nothing to do with, but clearly, one of Hollywood’s brighter bulbs read the Underground’s massively popular “The Five Fly Fishing Movies That Should be Made Immediately” post, and rather than pay me a percentage of the gross, searched out the one plot that wasn’t already suggested by myself or the Undergrounders.
It’s OK; if our huge monetary sacrifice helps our beleaguered fly fishing industry off its knees and back onto its blistered, unsteady feet, well, I’m glad to once again be of service.
I’m dashing this off just prior to a death march hike into the mountains after brookies, and while the cold, cloudy, threatening weather suggests a stay at home hugging a cup of hot chocolate, I think the Undergrounders should discuss the following talking points in the hopes I might survive and return to discuss it with them:
- Can Hollywood possibly do The River Why (a literate book) justice?
- Will fly fishing enjoy another boom, and will we be subjected to endless “yep, I was there” ramblings about the movie from people who once were employed to buy donuts for the film crew?
- Is this good news, or bad?
I’m sure this will provide fodder for message boards all over the fly fishing universe; naturally, I expect my readers to rise above the obvious gags that I didn’t have time for, instead holding a literate, Algonquin Roundtable level of discussion.
See you in the cold, windy mountains, Tom Chandler.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
The URL should be fixed to: http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2008/06/the_river_why.html
Thanks for the heads up
Quote
I noticed this the other day ….
http://www.theriverwhy.com/
I dunno Tom – I have a feeling this might be a straight to DVD movie without Brad Pitt – I volunteered as I have a striking resemblance to Brad however the producers wanted to go in a “new direction” and wanted someone taller,thinner,younger and with pecs.
Quote
I think Alistair may be right. We got a somewhat honest treatment in the prior yarn, so this time they’ll sell us down the river – the river serves merely as a pretense to show someone’s breasts.
We’re due.
Quote
John: Thanks for the heads up.
Alistair: Any fly fishing related movie without me (and my boyish good looks and natural charme) is naturally suspect, so I understand your trepidation.
Kbarton: We’re due?! Did you not see “Catch & Release” with Jennifer Garner? I’d say fly fishing’s suffered enough…
Quote
I think I have the moral highground, I didn’t know “Catch and Release” existed. It says a lot for them long snowbound Dunsmuir winters … liable to make a rational fellow stoop to .. well, anything.
Quote
Ignorance is no excuse, at the very least you should have smelled it.
Quote
Tom — thought I might jump in and introduce myself…. I WAS actually Brad Pitt’s double (in the scene where he swims the river) and they didn’t pick me on this new Fly-Fishing-movie-that-really-is-a-Fly-Fishing-movie either:-(…..
I am now 17 years older and no longer have any hair…. But then again I didn’t audition this time — and my Spey cast sucks (I don’t remember if Gus used a Spey rod or not –but I remember something about a dead body and a mother who bait fished.)
I read Tom Cohen’s script 17 years ago (the film actually was scuttled two weeks before shooting way back when as soon as the investors got wind that Redford was going to produce A River Runs Through It). Back then the script had some serious potential but does not have the kind of big-audience appeal like the Pulitzer-Prize winning novella did.
On another note, have you checked out Hook.tv? Maybe we can convince them to premiere the film on our IP Network!!! Certainly the right audience. Why not?!….A the least, we plan on giving anglers some sneak peaks of the behind-the-scenes-videos of the making of this film on Hook.tv. I, for one, would be interested in seeing where and how they are going at this….
By the way, the Trout Underground is awesome. We should talk about some way to work together in terms of Hook.tv. JD
Quote
Interestingly, many movies have been made trying to depict the drama and excitement of rock climbing (my first passion), and none have matched up, or even approached, The Eiger Sanction (1975), the first and best movie on climbing (not about climbing, of course). I am rooting for Christie and Tom, but it’s far from a slam dunk. Climbing has grown not from the release of that film, but by a proliferation of ‘cool’ images, sound and art related to the sport that attracts young people.
In fly fishing, there is a growing wave of art coming from the new school jump-cut VH1 generation that you can see on hook.tv and other sites. This is more likely the way young people will discover and find interest in fly fishing. It’s more likely to last, too, since it’s a more organic upwelling from enthusiasts themselves, and not H-wood.
Quote
Damnit – missed these comments while I was on the road.
John: People say I look like Brad Pitt too, though I can’t convince Angelina Jolie of that fact.
We should talk – about us working together in terms of the Trout Underground. Somebody’s gotta write the thousands of words to explain those videos…
Kenji: You’d have to believe that any wave of participants who flock to a hobby because of a Hollywood movie are a little suspect to begin with. And I have some questions about the impact of “The Movie” to begin with.
As for the VH1 generation (should that be MTV generation?), it’s a growing segment, but then, so are text-based platforms (like blogs).
I don’t see any format dominating fly fishing’s media; what I do see is a growing democratization in fly fishing media — the ability to say what you want (the way you want to say it) without relying on someone else to fund it.
Prior to the Internet, there wouldn’t be an outlet for the weird mix of fishing reports, environmental news, and just plain weirdness that comprises today’s Trout Underground.
I expect the same is happening on the video front. Good to have you back.
Quote
I’ve read where the movie makers and the Sierra Club are being sued by the author because their options on the movie rights had lapsed. Anything that stops further commercialization of fly-fishing is a good thing by my way of thinking. There are enough people sloshing through streams like Rambo as it is.
Quote
JAK: Frankly, I don’t know that fly fishing could be any more commercialized than it already is.
If you mean you don’t want it to become any more popular than it is, then declining participation in most outdoor sports suggests you’ll get your wish.
Quote
I was part of the production crew for “the river why” movie and got to work with Jason several times. He is a fearless, flawless caster and he helped us very much. No distribution yet but there were some very realistic action scenes of steelhead battles. Filmed on Wilson and clackamas rivers.
Quote
Now, i know this is an overly commercialized movie but i think “a River Runs Through It” was one of the best fly fishing movies. i thought it really romanticized fly fishing.
Quote
When is the movie “The River Why” available?
Quote
Honestly, I don’t know. The IMDP database doesn’t list a date, just “2009.”
Quote