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Oregon's Boat: the McKenzie River Drift Boat

Oregon's Boat is an expository documentary that explores the evolution and enduring influence of the McKenzie River Drift Boat, a distinctive craft that represents the Oregonian spirit for adventure. Featuring a compelling mix of historic film, archival photographs, and insightful interviews, the film charts the boat’s evolution along the McKenzie River, reveals its role in transforming fishing and whitewater adventures in shallow rocky rivers, and showcases the ingenuity and craftsmanship behind this iconic vessel, providing an engaging exploration of its lasting legacy in outdoor recreation and American river culture.

  • Randy Dersham
    Director
  • Randy Dersham
    Writer
  • Roger Fletcher
    Writer
  • Randy Dersham
    Producer
  • Roger Fletcher
    Key Cast
    "Drift Boat Historian"
    none
  • Brad Dimock
    Key Cast
    "Grand Canyon River Guide; Boat Builder; Historian"
  • Richard Helfrich
    Key Cast
    "Lifetime River Guide; Prince Helfrich's Son"
  • Maurya Kaarhus
    Key Cast
    "Tom Kaarhus's Granddaughter"
  • Steve Steele
    Key Cast
    "Keith Steele's Son; Boat Builder"
  • James Scott
    Key Cast
    "Narration"
  • Boyan Penkov
    Editing
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Outdoor, White Water, Fishing, History, Boats, Expository Documentary, Short Documentary
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 23, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    70,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Full Frame Digital+ 8mm + Photos
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4k Flat 1.85
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Oregon Documentary Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    January 26, 2025
    Portland, Oregon
    Finalist: Best Feature
  • Richard E. Wildish Community Theater
    Springfield, Oregon
    United States
    November 24, 2024
    McKenzie River Premiere
  • McKenzie Flyfishers
    Eugene, Oregon
    United States
    November 20, 2024
  • Columbia River Maritime Museum
    Astoria, Oregon
    United States
    November 19, 2024
  • Star Cinema
    Staton, Oregon
    United States
    November 17, 2024
    Staton, Oregon Premiere
  • Art House
    Eugene, Oregon
    United States
    November 10, 2024
    Cast & Crew Premiere
Director Biography - Randy Dersham

Randy Dersham has just completed his debut documentary, Oregon’s Boat: the McKenzie River Drift Boat, about the evolution and influence of the McKenzie River Drift Boat, Oregon’s iconic whitewater craft.

He is an executive leader of startup businesses and executive producer/director of award-winning video games for companies including Disney, EA, Zynga, and Sierra. Randy has presented at conferences and served on panels nationwide on the craft of creating games for entertainment and education. He has served on the UCLA-Industry Transformative Media Consortium, a sponsored group of educators, businesses, and government designed to explore the influence and impact of electronic games.

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Director Statement

After a long career in the video game industry, I’ve shifted my focus to filmmaking with my debut documentary, Oregon’s Boat: The McKenzie River Drift Boat, which explores the evolution and lasting impact of Oregon's iconic whitewater boat.