Ed Asner Appointed to Oregon Film & Video Board

Last week Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced his appointment of former Screen Actor's Guild President, Ed Asner to the Oregon Film and Video Board. He joins current board members Cynthia Whitcomb, chair Gordon Sondland, and Portland resident and award winning filmmaker Gus Van Sant, director of Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester.

Asner, known for his role as Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, was present Thursday for the announcement. He was laudatory of Oregon calling the state, "the land of total beauty."

"This is the promised land", said Asner, who visits Oregon frequently to see his daughter who resides in Portland. "Oregon is on Hollywood's radar in a big way," Asner continued. "I thank the Governor for appointing me to this board, and for his consistent support of the television and film industry in Oregon. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to bring more films - with larger budgets - to Oregon."

Asner's addition to the Oregon Film Board is expected to help jump start more television and feature filmmaking in the state known for it's lush forests, painted high deserts, and stellar coastal scenery. Oregon has been featured on the big screen in recent years in The Ring movies, The Hunted, starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones,

Feature motion pictures filmed in Oregon but not yet released include Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear, Untraceable, starring Diane Lane. Jennifer Anniston will be filming her next movie Managemen" in Portland and Central Oregon this fall.