Primarily rural Del Norte County encompasses 1,007 square miles of terrain unlike anyplace else:  protected ancient redwood groves, lush forest wilderness, recreation areas, broad sandy beaches, rugged coastline, Crescent City harbor with two historical lighthouses, wild and scenic rivers, Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Parks.  Its 5000 acre Pacific Flyway Tolowa Coast Trails includes Tolowa Dunes State Park, Lake Earl Lagoon Wildlife Area (the largest estuarine lagoon on the continental West Coast), and Point St. George Heritage Area.  This coastal habitat boasts wetlands teeming with more bird species than 23 entire states and the National Audubon Society has designated it as a “Global Important Bird Area.”

Besides being known for the famous Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage, Del Norte County has been featured in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and provided locations for Jeep, Toyota, and Cadillac commercials shot in recent years, to name a few.

At the southern end of Del Norte County in the center of Redwood National and State Parks, is the town of Klamath, known for diverse outdoor pastimes such as fishing, camping, paddling, hiking, and jet boating.  One of Klamath’s most popular attractions is Trees of Mystery and End of the Trail Museum, a 3000 square foot space filled with one of the most extensive privately owned Native American collections in the world.  A crescent shaped bay is the pacific backdrop for Crescent City, the county seat, seaport, and commercial hub for Del Norte County, voted “one of the 20 prettiest towns in the US by Forbes Traveler in 2009 and 2010.  North of Crescent City is the town of Smith River, adjacent to Rowdy Creek near where the Smith River meets the ocean.  This community is known for its rich farmland and is deemed the “Easter Lily Capital of the World.  East, along HWY 199 is the Smith River National Recreation Area, where the Smith’s three main forks and countless creeks converge into a crystal clear blue river meander through beautiful steep, rocky canyons.  The hamlets of Gasquet and Hiouchi are located along this HWY 199 “Mystic Corridor” and are known for their recreational activities. 

The R.R.E.E.L., Inc. film office is here to help with your production needs and our services are provided free of charge.  We look forward to welcoming you and your crew to our amazing redwood region.

The Redwood Region Entertainment and Education Liaisons, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation which serves as the Film Commission for Del Norte County as well as for Humboldt County, its sister county to the south.  R.R.E.E.L., Inc is recognized by the County of Del Norte, County of Humboldt, and the California Film Commission as the official advocate for filming in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties, California.  We are a member of the Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI) and Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS).  

FILM COMMISSIONER

Prior to taking on the role as R.E.E.L., Inc.  Film Commissioner, Cassandra Hesseltine was involved in theater for 24 years, working as a director, actor, and teacher. Her interest expanded to film 10 years ago when she began producing independent films and television in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her last production was a television drama starring Steven Bauer, Julio Iglesias Jr., and Vida Guerra. In the redwood region, she has been a casting director for film, commercials, and print advertising for numerous clients including Good Year Tire, Bass Pro Shop, and Chevrolet, as well as for the movie, Humboldt County.

Ms. Hesseltine is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a degree in Psychology. She has also been a Friend of the Film Commission since 2005. As Film Commissioner, she is committed to supporting both out-of-town and local filmmakers while working to stimulate the local economy through production. She believes that with capable, experienced crew base, accommodating vendors, and film-friendly locations, the Redwood Region can shine as “the place to film.”