DISNEY'S HIDALGO GALLOPS THROUGH RIDGECREST, CA (APRIL 3, 2003)

(Ridgecrest)---Not everyone knows that the Arabian Desert is located Just 2 1/2 hours northeast of Los Angeles, but the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission (RRFC) convinced WALT DISNEY PICTURES and the producers of HIDALGO just that. The Disney feature film, due out in October, did shoot a portion of the family action/adventure flick in the exotic African country of Morocco, where this true story occurred some 113 years ago. However, when matches for the arid deserts of Morocco were needed to complete the film in the U.S., Ridgecrest got the call, "HIDALGO had originally scouted our area almost a year ago but the decision was made to film in Morocco. We were very pleasantly surprised when their Location Department re-contacted us last October for additional locations," Ridgecrest Regional Film Commissioner Ray Arthur said.

Based on the true story of the greatest long-distance horse race ever run, HIDALGO is an epic action-adventure and one man's journey of personal redemption. Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire-a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian Desert-was a challenge restricted to the fines Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families.

In 1890, a wealthy Sheik and shipping merchant invited an American and his horse to enter the race for the first timel. Frank T. Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the US cavalry who had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheik's royal office would put this claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world's greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders-some of whom were determined to prevent the foreigner from finishing the race.

For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but also a race for his very survival as he and his horse Hidalgo attempt the impossible.

The star HIDALGO is, of course, the horse. But, on the human side, Frank T. Hopkins is ploayed by Viggo Mortensen ( Lord of the Rings, Perfect Murder, G I Jane). Starring with Mortensen is screen legend Omar Sharif (Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, Funny Girl), Frank Collison (Amadeus, John Larroquette Show). Veteran Director Joe Johnson, who has also helmed Jurassic Park III, October Sky, Jumanji, The Rocketeer and Honey, I shrunk The Kids directs HIDALGO.

Before and after the "El Nino" storms, HIDALGO, filmed 36 days at Cuddeback Lakebed, just south of Ridgecrest. This was Disney's third major feature film to be lensed in the greater Ridgecrest area in almost as many years. DINOSAUR chose several local sites including the Trona Pinnacles, Poison Canyon, Charlie's Place and Robber's Roost. And last year, HOLES, which will be released April 18th, spent several months at Cuddeback.

According to Arthur, bringing HIDALGO to the Mojave "High Desert" community of 25,000 created several logistical problems, "First, while 700 rooms should more than adequately fill a movie crew's needs, we had several hundred foreign military troops in town, training at China Lake (Naval Air Weapons Station). While rooms were at a premium we squeeze all 225 HIDALGO crew in, which made the hotels and motels very happy."

Additionally, several set designs on Cuddeback Lakebed initially concerned local BLM officials. Resource Management Specialist Peter Graves and other BLM staff worked with the film's crew to accomplish its goals while preserving and protecting the lakebed. HIDALGO crewmembers spent a week after production wrapped rehabilitating the location back to its original condition, and, according to Graves, "left Cuddeback in better shape than before they arrived."

Arthur also credits the professionalism of the Location Team of Laura Sode Matteson and Val Kim and their staff, "Laura and Val are both detail oriented and unflappable, the perfect combination for large featur films. These are the people that coordinate the housing, feeding and transportation of 225 people everyday, plus handling the day-to-day problems of "pm ;pcatopm" filming...and, just for fun, we added "El Nino."

Matteson was the recent recipient of "Location Manager of the Year" honors from the California Film Commission's California On Location Awards, for her work on THE HULK, which filmed briefly in Ridgecrest last year.

The RRFC estimates local revenue generated from the six week "on location" production at just over $1.8 million. HIDALGO is currently scheduled for national release on October 3, 2003.