ESCAPE ROUTES

Local screenwriters Lucia Smith (Jackson County) and Marlene King (Josephine County) are networking their romantic comedy called ESCAPE ROUTES with the Southern Oregon wine community. They feel it’s a perfect vehicle to boost the area’s tourism industry and make it a national wine-lover’s destination. “To date,” Marlene says, “the vintners have been welcoming and full of good marketing ideas for us.”

ESCAPE ROUTES features an ensemble cast of engaging characters – Kate, a career-driven attorney, her stodgy boss (also her love interest,) her two love-troubled girlfriends and a flirty river guide. Stuck for the weekend in a quirky town they romp through vineyards and whitewater as they try to figure out love and life.

Lucia and Marlene have just launched their website: www.escaperoutesmovie.com where more details about the proposed movie are spelled out. They are reaching out to vintners hoping to connect with the right producer, agent or star who could make it happen. A long shot? “Maybe not,” says Lucia. “All sorts of interesting people show up in tasting rooms. It just takes one. When SIDEWAYS appeared on the big screen, wine sales in Palo Robles soared by 70%. Imagine what ESCAPE ROUTES could do for the Southern Oregon wine scene.”

Lucia and Marlene are creating buzz for their screenplay by networking with Southern Oregon vintners who see the potential in supporting such a budget-friendly and timely film. Please contact them via their website for more information.