Spent day in Lakeview and night at the Lake County Library a few weeks ago. I was there for the public announcement of the feature length documentary about Bernard Daly and the impact of his remarkable scholarship. Having ridden Oregon Outback Highway 31 by bike twice, I always enjoy the drive to Lakeview from Corvallis. A mixture of memories, beautiful landscape and, as happened on my 2016 cross country bike trip, I came across a herd of cattle on the road near Fort Rock (they seemed more interested in me when I was on my bike).
Kim Waltrip, our producer for the documentary, met me in Lakeview and the two of us spent the day scouting film locations for two on-location filming sessions in Lakeview in May and June 2026. Our first visit was with Shelley Batty, Lake County Chamber Director who filled us in on happenings in Lakeview and offered to help with on-the-ground arrangements. Then we went to the Lake County School District Office where we met with Michael Carter, the superintendent, and to the high school for a visit with Brandi Harris, the counselor who works with students who will receive the scholarship. After lunch, we visited with Marie Lee at the Lake County Museum and then headed east of town to visit with John Shine on his beautiful 5,000 acre ranch. By the way, John’s RV Resort was just named one of the best in the country by Forbes Magazine.
After our visit with John on the ranch we went to the library to describe the documentary we’re making about Bernard Daly and the impact of his scholarship. Great to see so many people I met while working on the book over the years. My first visit to Lakeview was in 2010; when I finished the book in 2022, I thought I was finished with the project. Turns out, there’s more work to be done.
It’s moving quickly, especially in comparison with my slow-moving book research and writing. Our work is based on some assumptions: it will be a documentary, not a dramatized reenactment (though it will have some AI generated scenes (perhaps the Silver Lake Fire); will cover both Bernard Daly and impact of his scholarship; time travel from today back and forth to the times of Daly; include filmed conversations with Lakeview high school students and college students who have the scholarship; and will use my voice as narrator. We’re planning to do some on-location filming in Lakeview in May and June 2026, and will use lots of historic photos and images, as well as interviews with scholarship recipients.
I’ll keep you updated on our progress through this blog. And we’re hoping for support from all who are connected in some way to the scholarship: scholarship recipients, community members; and all who want to share the story of Bernard Daly and his scholarship. People can support the project as donors, through our GoFundMe page or as investors with the possibility of a financial return if the film is profitable. All donors, regardless of the size of the donation, will be recognized in the end credits and investors will be recognized as producers. Help us share the story.
