Posted by Granny (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Loosen up Fergus Falls business. Its a wonderful opportunity.

Posted by cheif (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

...in response to the Belli Cucina story... http://www.fergusforum.com first!

...in response to this story... I see both sides. If it _will_ hurt progress for the University, I would have to say to not allow filming.

Posted by stolmani (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is why Fergus Falls is commonly known as a town that is scared of change and unfriendly to business! The thought that it would scare away potential students is ludicrous. Something positive could happen to Fergus... Watch out, be scared, and bury your head in the sand as this opportunity passes you by.

Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Uhm.. how about maybe more students will want to come to the college because of the movie?

Posted by notcominghome (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You got it stolmani! I second that!!!

Posted by cascade (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Anderson also voiced concern the film would create a sense of insecurity in the community and add to the anxiety parents already feel when sending students to college."
Huh? Am I missing something here? I think they may be giving Dav a little too much credit.

Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't see ANY reason for not having the film made here,
except this, for those who want to see the site demolished. Nation wide, and world wide, knowledge of this building will make it harder to get rid of it.
Any body remember the movie "Field of Dreams"? People were visiting that flat bit of corn ground for years after filming. The farmer kept part of the ball field for a while just to let visitors come and see it.
Lets get this site known and save it!

Posted by NeedMoreInfo (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for you Jean!

Way to stand up to the crotchety, stagnant, and ultra-conservative good-old-boys (and gals) that do whatever it takes to prevent growth in this town. Once again, this goes to show that we need a change (wince) in who we elect and appoint in FF…

Posted by jeepman (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go Fergus...its just like you to want to shoot down any progressive business opportunity or activity that could bring more people to town. (it looks as though I'm not the only one thinking this) I think that this could be a great thing for the RTC as well as FF- what better publicity than a movie. Lets try and be a little open minded. I don't see how this can have any negative impacts on plans already in the works or create a sense of insecurity.

Posted by melindakay (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

While watching movies takes some suspension of disbelief, that suspension ends when the movie is over. No rational person is going to negatively associate FF or the RTC with a "scary" movie. States compete for the chance to have movies filmed in their area, because it is such a boon to the local economy. Any business-minded individual should understand these things - it's not rocket science.

Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the only detrimint to the RTC is the CDG, here is a chance of a life time and they are going to blow it.

Posted by vikingfan07 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just goes to show that this cities leaders are old fashioned and scared of change.. A film shot on RTC grounds would not hinder the students in any way. Get a clue.

Posted by Amanda (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The little town of Bodega Bay was used for the film "The Birds." They attract tourists year round because of this little piece of nostalgia and film history. The RTC is a unique and interesting building that could garner the attention of other filmmakers, thereby increasing the coffers for the city of Fergus Falls. While I agree with not making any hasty decisions, the positives far outweigh any negatives that could happen.

This is money in the pocket.

Posted by werty (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The movie is an awesome idea. In fact, many colleges pine for movies to be made on their campus to gain free advertising to attract more students.

Posted by MomOf2 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think its a great idea to bring this film to town. They should be more impressed that they were thinking of the RTC in the first place. Way to go Jean for sticking up for this!

Posted by silly272002 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wouldn't having a film maker and the film crew stimulate the Fergus Falls and surrounding economies? This would be a fantastic opportunity for Fergus. There are countless other communities that would kill for this opportunity!!

Posted by americanwerew31 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I completely agree that this is a WONDERFUL opportunity for this community! I think it would reflect positively on us and possibly give a younger generation a reason to give Fergus a closer look. The way this town is going (and I mean refusing CHANGE of any sort) it isn't going to be around much longer! Bring in revenue, tourists and young people! create an environment that PROMOTES growth, not hinders it! Eesh, when will the "good ol' boys n gals" get this?!

Posted by silly272002 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another great point! IF you want a community to flourish and to be around for years to come, you need to keep younger people around and being active in the community. Think proactively! Look down the road!

Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How narrow minded to suggest we pass this up. It sounds like a great opportunity for this town. We should take advantage of it while we can. These opportunities don't come along that often.

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

a movie being shot here is probably the best opportunity this town has ever had in my lifetime!
Don't screw it up!

Posted by brighteyes (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

read the comments, the people have spoken. film it.

Posted by skeptik (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This talk of Fergus Falls becoming more progressive and welcoming to forward-thinking, educated young adults has been around for decades. NOTHING EVER CHANGES! It never will. It's refreshing to read all these hopeful posts, and to know there are others who view this community the way I do, but I'm afraid you're setting yourselves up for disappointment if you actually think Fergus will change. The status quo is how the older, religious, conservative majority of the local citizens want things to stay. Historically, the FF graduates with the ideals expressed in this thread can't get out of this town fast enough, and I don't blame them a bit. In any other central MN town (Alec, DL, Brainard) the red carpet would already be out for this film crew.

Posted by soonertobe (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In a time were the economy is questionable, to say the least, and area business and government are looking for ways to cutback and hold their own. Why would you turn away a source of income, advertisement and a chance to show your city off to a greater audience? If I was a business owner in Fergus? This movie project would be a godsend. How in the world would this bring any harm to the city or the teaching center that is moving into this venue. Think of the possible local news coverage, people coming into town to watch the filming, feeding and housing the film crew and actors and licensing rights. Figure it out Fergus !!!!

Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This Anderson is an idiot. Parents afraid to send their college-bound kids to a town where a horror film was shot? Last time I checked, NYC still has millions of visiters per year "despite" [sarcasm] King Kong having been set there. Note: King Kong was shot mainly on sets in LA - and millions of tourists still flock there, too!

Posted by E_85 (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It was a mental institute right? There are enough stories floating around about this place, that if they are not scared already they never will be. I know I have heard my share.

Posted by mccain08 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 1:47 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by dino43_99 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Many years ago I was told by a bank president that they were going to stop a MAJOR tractor company from building a distribution center in fergus. Why ? He said it would bring in a lower class of people. What he meant I think was his buddies would have to start paying higher wages!

Posted by pamelajo1012 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think this would be great for the community, and the background of the building is perfect for this kind of movie. Fergus Falls would just be goofy not to do this, ANY business is good business, especially in todays economy. Make the movie.

Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is Richard just expressing his opinion about the movie? Or is he threatening to pull the development project if the movie goes ahead? If the college is going to be so successful, I think it would proceed regardless of whether or not a film crew is here for a month. It sounds to me like he's just being a bully. I hope the City makes a decision based on fact and not opionins or threats.

Posted by cascade (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Skeptik-
Whats being religious have to do with being crotchety?
Conservative I can see, but religious?

Posted by WallLakeWhiggaPosse85 (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Credit is due to Ms. Bowman, the CofC and the MN Film Board, but we need some perspective. Check out "Dav Kaufmann" on the Imdb:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442118/

What they are proposing is a micro-budgeted independent production with almost zero chance of any kind of theatrical distribution whatsoever. This is the kind of film that plays once on IFC at 3:00AM, never to be seen again except in your "Other Movies You Might Like" queue on Netflix.

I'm surprised it took the MNFB this long to realize what a great movie set the State Hospital would make, but this is all a tempest in a teapot. The actual impact on Fergus Falls, economic or otherwise, will be negligible, so the concerns raised in the story above would seem to be moot. The only businesses that will benefit from a 3-week indy horror shoot in FF is Arby's and the muni liquor store.

Make no mistake, however, that this is exactly the sort of thing that we have a CofC for. In no way should we impugn the efforts of those people who are trying to bring this film to FF, but it seems that many people are confused about the actual scale of the project. The best thing that could happen is for some major studio location scout to happen on this film and use the SH in a larger production. Stranger things have happened, and it certainly seems more plausible than the current plan...

Posted by Josephine (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fergus Falls has held back on so many things, this should be a GO FOR IT!!

Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not saying that towns don't need groups like the CDG, but this way of thinking is exactly why Fergus Falls is literally "Off the Map". Granted, this won't be a huge, blockbuster of a movie, but heck, it's something different for a change. It could bring this town some notoriety.... other than being the most boring, backward, afraid of change place on the planet. Correction, I've lived here since 1977 and I have seen change, but not much of it has been all that positive. We got a Mall......many of the downtown businesses left to locate there,then when they couldn't afford to stay,they just plain left Fergus. Now look at the Mall. What a joke! The city appears to have a real tough time managing itself with deals like the "Great Golf Course $ Giveaway", while our streets crumble and our schools lose music programs and teachers. It has never known how to promote itself or it's resources. Ex. more than 1000 lakes and streams in the county. Which business has a fishing contest? Which business has a Big Buck contest? Which business "Welcomes" hunters or fisherpeople. Where's a real Baitshop or Sporting Goods store?
Heck, where's a Mens clothing store or a shoe store? We have almost 14,000 people in this town, so why do towns that are a lot smaller, like Alex. and D.L. have these things and more and Fergus doesn't? Our towns leaders need to get "Out of the Box" and into the 21st century, and listen to "All" the people, even us "Lower Class" ones, if we're ever going to have any hope of attracting anything more progressive than a fast food joint or auto parts store to Fergus Falls. On the other hand, I could be wrong.

Posted by richan (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

davieboy; I have lived in this town since 1952. and what You describe has been an issue that entire time. it used to be a real hardship to shop in Fargo or minneapolis. it no longer is. and citizens of all ages now shop in those towns as if they were running "uptown" for a trivial item. sadly because the firmly embedded fear of competition for long term businesses and an even deeper fear of having to pay truly competitive wages are problems which seem to have no solution. lost major opportunities are by no means a new thing for Fergus Falls. but the status quo is no longer a viable concept if this City hopes to prosper.

Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on July 19, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If "the community" can't welcome a small-time film producer from MN, Richard's bigger concern should be how welcome will 500 students from China feel?

Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I completely agree...

let's roll out the red carpet and have some fun with it. Being too serious will make you crazy...

;-)

Posted by Nyrad (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"This is very shortsighted"... says who? "CDG is firmly against such a shortsighted decision for little gain"... So what. What does the COMMUNITY want and just what makes it so shortsighted, and who says there will be "little gain"? "sense of insecurity in the community and add to the anxiety parents"...What insecurities and anxieties are you talking about? According to these comments, Mr. Anderson, you have no idea what your talking about. Your entitled to your opinion, but don't pretend to know what's good for the community. Your need to ask...I got to tell you, I'm kind of embarrassed for you.

Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on August 4, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

RTC and Movie Opportunity.

Today I sat in on our City council meeting.

A man named Dav Kaufman explained and outlined his generous proposal to use our RTC to shoot a movie.

this movie sounds good.

The money for our community sounds good too, but perhaps what I liked most is that this movie would be shot by people from Minnesota and involve local Fergus falls people as well.

This movie would be done and cleaned-up within a reasonable amount of time for those who support selling the RTC off to foreign interests, so it should be a no-brainier.

I did hear what sounded like political trickery to delay making a decision until it would be too late for the movie to be shot here by a council member named "Wilson".

I also noticed "Shelstad" did not attend.

there was a lot of talk about concerns over how Chinese interests could feel about a film shot here.

I decided to speak and expressed that I don't understand why Chinese concerns should factor in when deciding whether to allow our own people to shoot a movie.

Members of my family have fought and died to preserve this country.

when I think of what the costs were to build this country and our community, and then hear some local residents and elected officials chose to babysit possible Chinese interests at the cost of our own people, it angers me.

certainly there are people in our community who have personal financial interests in catering to the Chinese.

I think history has shown us what could happen.

the Chinese are still in one of the largest military build ups in history as well as going after every possible oil source they can find.

I don't know what they will do with all these resources they are gathering.

I do know that I live here and my concerns are with my people.

we have an opportunity, the parties involved have explained intent and outlined how this would benefit our community, this film has the support of statewide organizations.

some of whom had representative in attendance today who spoke candidly in support of this film.

I hope as a community we do not chose to support a rumored Chinese buy-out, which there is still not even a letter of intent from the Chinese, to deprive this community of the concrete opportunity of this movie offer!
thank you!
Jamie Cooper