Skagit Valley contains some of the most diverse landscapes in Washington State. From rolling hills to dense forests, lakes, and fields stretching as far as the eye can see, to quaint villages, abandoned rustic barns, ocean-side sunsets, and mom-and-pop diners. This is a place full of inspiration, which is why Washington Filmworks and the Skagit Tourism Bureau partnered together to bring “location managers and film industry decision-makers” to the area.
“Skagit Valley is an incredible location for an episodic series because of the vast amount of locations that are within one county. You can do so much. Therefore, you would be able to do a multi-episode show and even a multi-season show,” says Kristy Wylie, a freelance location scout and manager based in Seattle, and a participant on the tour.
Photograph courtesy of Skagit Tourism Bureau
The partnership resulted in a three-day tour around Skagit County that familiarized 10-12 people with all that Skagit had to offer. Highlights from the tour include exploring the film history of Skagit (i.e., the film “The Deer Hunter”) and the accessibility that the proximity to Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle brings.
The tour visited a group of children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County (BGCSC), answering questions about film. The BGCSC also partnered with the Skagit Tourism Bureau and Washington Filmworks to supply transportation for all. Not only that, but various business owners, mayors, and community leaders greeted the group and made them feel incredibly welcome. The CEO of the Skagit Tourism Bureau Kristen Keltz was tasked with finding spots to show to the group while making sure to be a great host.
Photograph courtesy of Skagit Tourism Bureau
“We had to take our tourism hat off, because when you’re talking about tourism, you’re showing all of the beautiful things that you want to entice visitors to come see. With location managers, it’s all about the good, the bad, and the ugly, because they could need a dilapidated barn or an old industrial site or an abandoned building, but they also want the beautiful home overlooking the water,” says Keltz. “So we really showed them a bit of everything.”
Not only did the group get to explore the diversity of the county, but they each had the opportunity to have dinner with the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe’s chairman and second-in-command. These tribal members expressed interest in being part of the “film liaison network,” which Amy Lillard, the executive director of Washington Filmworks and a participant on the tour, was personally excited about.
“That [was] an amazing privilege, [having] dinner with these folks. Their enthusiasm for sharing their land with potential films is inspiring. We felt so welcome and privileged to be part of that community,” says Lillard. “Kristen [Keltz] put together an incredible schedule for us.”
Photograph courtesy of Skagit Tourism Bureau
In three days, the tour participants experienced the magic of Skagit County while making connections and friends. Sherrye Wyatt, the film liaison for Island County at Washington Filmworks, was on the tour and enjoyed the opportunity to see the county up close while creating great memories along the way.
“The big theme is the hospitality and the attention to detail. You walk into this environment and feel as if you are part of the community. We were walking with the mayor [of La Conner] on the boardwalk, and the mayor was sharing the history of these buildings. She was buying us coffee, and it was just like we were dear old friends,” says Wyatt. “The cities are made to tell stories, because they’re just so charming and unique. It’s a gold mine for film.” visitskagitvalley.com, washingtonfilmworks.org
