Brosnan, Neeson visit Oregon to shoot 'Seraphim Falls'

SAHALIE FALLS, Ore. -- That might very well have been Bond, James Bond, seen ordering a martini in Lane County in recent days.

Or more specifically, Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, the British actor who portrayed Bond and has been shooting a Western in and around Sahalie and Koosah falls, along with costar Liam Neeson.

The movie, titled "Seraphim Falls," is a Civil War-era tale being produced by Mel Gibson's company, Icon Films.

Neeson plays a man bent on killing the character portrayed by Brosnan because of something that happened during the war.

Most of the film has already been shot in New Mexico, near Taos, said location manager Rowan Stanland, whose job it is to track down suitable places for filming. But the movie's opening sequences require a stunning waterfall, not only as backdrop but plot device as well.

Stanland had initially located a waterfall in Idaho, but when it froze over in December, she started looking for a new place.

She found Sahalie Falls in a guide book to waterfalls, and it had everything she wanted: access near the top and the bottom as well as on both sides of the McKenzie River, the likelihood of snow, and nearby road access.

Cast and crew have done their best to keep their presence in Oregon under wraps. Brosnan had lunch this week at Takoda's Restaurant, owner Carmen Wiley said, and autographed a menu for the staff.

"It's exciting that they're here, but they're just people like you and me," she said.

The crew has been gathering nightly at the Log Cabin Inn's restaurant and bar, said Cyndy Parazoo, gift shop manager at the inn.

The first few nights it was just the film crew hanging out. But by Wednesday, Brosnan and Neeson sightings had hit the local grapevine and people showed up in droves, she said.

Filming wrapped up Friday, with cast and most of the crew heading out. Stanland will wrap up a few last details before leaving next week, she said.

The production has been a financial boon in an area that sees very little business this time of year. "It slows down in the winter," Wiley said. "We don't have as many travelers. ... But it's almost been like spring or summer here this week."