EUGENE,
Ore. -- (March 26, 2009) - Student films seem to be as old as the movies. Well,
not quite. There was, in fact, the first full-length student movie, filmed on
the University of Oregon campus 80 years ago. The behind-the-scenes antics of
that movie, "Ed's Co-Ed," were entertaining enough to inspire its own
movie.

The
University of Oregon has reached an agreement with Talking Ed Productions to
film a new movie inspired by the story of the first student film. Filming of
"Let's Do It" is expected to start within the next year and some or
all of it will be shot on campus and in Eugene.

"With
our agreement with the UO complete, we are free to get our final
'ducks-in-a-row,'" said Producer Bryce Zabel. "We have a great
story to tell and have assembled an experienced team to tell it to the widest
possible audience." The screenplay for "Let's Do It" has already been
written by UO alum Zabel and his wife Jackie, winners of the 2008 Writers Guild
of America award for their Hallmark miniseries, "Pandemic."

The
original "Ed's Co-Ed" was masterminded by UO students Nelson Carvel
and James Raley as a full-length feature film that spoofed college life. Realizing
they needed professional help, the two contacted top Hollywood director Cecil
B. DeMille, who sent his cameraman James F. McBride and a state-of-the art Bell
& Howell 35-mm camera to Eugene for filming. The film premiered in November
of 1929, just weeks after the stock market crashed, at the newly opened
McDonald Theatre in Eugene. It was one of the last silent films made before
"talkies" took over.

"Let's
Do It" is a comedic re-imagining of how those events took place and not a
re-make of "Ed's Co-Ed." In the new film, McBride is a cynical
Hollywood-veteran sent to Eugene to stay out of sight until an incident back
home cools down. While among the students, he re-discovers his original love of
filmmaking. Meanwhile, the students find their own lives reflected in the
romantic comedy they're making.

"Filming
a comedy based on this real-life experience of UO students will be a great
opportunity to showcase the University of Oregon and to tell an inspirational
story about the creativity of its students in the days just before our Great
Depression," said Zabel. "It's noteworthy that this
historic film was made 80 years ago, and that we hope to start production in
this, the 150th anniversary of Oregon statehood."

"We
are pleased to have worked out an agreement to film 'Let's Do It' on the
University of Oregon campus. Many of the locations featured in 'Ed's Co-Ed'
still exist and the university is happy to be part of a project that pays
homage to the student film genre while creating a professional production,"
said Matt Dyste, UO director of Marketing and Brand Management. "The UO
supports the Governor's Office of Film
& Television to bring movie production to the state. We work to allow
filming activities on campus, as long as it does not unduly disrupt students."

Besides
Zabel, the production team includes many with UO ties, including executive
producer Bill Swindells, former UO Foundation chair, and co-executive producer Duncan
McDonald, former dean of the UO School of Journalism and Communication. Also serving as co-producers are alums Jordan
Yospe and Robert J. King. Others are: Cary Glieberman, line producer; Jackie
Zabel, co-producer; Tracy Lilienfield, casting director; Nancy Tokos, graphic
designer; and Don Moss, attorney. Bryce and Jackie Zabel produced the UO launch
event for the successful Transforming Lives campaign in 2005, "Lights, Camera,
Oregon."

Links: "Let's Do It": www.letsdoitmovie.com

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