The Confluence

Producers and University of Oregon students Tanner Staab and Claire Williams sought to create a mini series on an entirely new scale, breaking common trends in student film. They wanted an adventure, a show that would not only have appeal outside of the student body, but also take them far from the often-used filming locations around the University of Oregon campus. These objectives soon became Indiana Johana: An Action RPG Adventure.

Producer and Director Tanner Staab (right) gives notes to actors as Episode 4 DP Cairo Smith (left) reviews the shot list

Featuring locations in the Deschutes National Park, the old-West ghost town of Shaniko, and even Mt. Bachelor, Staab and Williams’ epic vision is realized in their RPG-inspired adventure.

The show filmed over an eight-week period, challenging students to produce quality content quickly. Their cast and crew crew ranged from five to twenty students, depending on the shoot, with most students having limited on-set experience.

Indiana Johana is one of Staab’s last projects at the University of Oregon, and won eight network awards.

The show follows Indiana Johana (Claire Williams) and Alex (Milo Kent-Pettit) through a fantastical adventure, seamlessly blending a showcase of Oregon’s stunning landscape with a quirky, live-action interpretation of video game tropes.

Catch the entire series on Youtube: Indiana Johana Full Series

Duck TV, a network run through the University of Oregon’s journalism department, gives students a chance to showcase their skills and create both news broadcasts and narrative miniseries for Channel 23, a local television station in Lane County. Indiana Johana was also made possible by the University Film Organization.

La Ruta PDX: A Gastronomic Festival launches on July 13th with a festival premiere party followed by a private screening of the Spanish documentary film Soul at the Portland Art Museum co-presented by NW Film Center about Basque Country 3-star Michelin chef Eneko Atxa tackling the complex universe of haute cuisine. A cocktail hour before the film will offer cava from Cellers Suriol and passed tapas from PLAZA DEL TORO chef Michael Kessler. VIP access includes paella from Tournant’s Jaret Foster and Mona Johnson along with Gramona Cava. Jason French of Ned Ludd will also cook at the premiere. The film will be introduced by Soul film producer Pedro Peira. A cheese and dessert reception after the film will feature Soul star Eneko Atxa’s txakolina being poured in Oregon for the first time.

La Ruta PDX is an industry and trade focused event series celebrating the culinary culture of Spain in Portland, Oregon from the 13th to the 16th of July 2017. Chefs from Spain will join forces with chefs from Portland in a series of collaboration dinners. Events throughout the festival will showcase Spanish products, purveyors, and specialty equipment to encourage collaboration and mutual enrichment between the two gastronomic cultures.

Tickets are available at www.larutapdx.com.

Part of VFX/PDX’s continuing workshop series aimed at keeping Portland up to date on the latest and greatest when it comes to post production, we bring you a special evening with Davinci Resolve 14. Dave Jahns (Joint) and Blackmagic Design bring you a hands-on look at what’s new with Davinci Resolve 14.

Blackmagic continues to expand and innovate the Davinci Resolve toolset, and with version 14 comes a major step forward via an extensive set of audio tools, facial tracking and correction, and reduced Studio level pricing to compliment the robust free version.  Resolve has never been more real and relevant, and whether you’re a seasoned colorist or a student just starting to look into editing and color tools, you’ll stand to get a heavy dose of the workflow and capabilities inherent to Davinci Resolve 14 in one tightly packed evening, with both our hometown presenters as well as a pair of  Blackmagic Product Specialists (Shawn Carlson and Rony Soussan) up from LA.

We will be giving away a license of Davinci Resolve 14 Studio as well as a license of Fusion 8 Studio at the end of the workshop.  You must be present to win.

Speakers to include:

Dave Jahns – Lead Colorist, W+K’s Joint Editorial – headlining project demo, workflows, and breakdowns.

Shawn Carlson and Rony Soussan – Product Specialists, Blackmagic Design – v14 highlights and new features: Fairlight audio tools, Fusion/Fusion connect, and collaborative editing/grading workflows.

J Bills – Compositor/Lead Colorist, Sprocketship – brief introduction and user group overview + demo project files.

This all takes place the evening of Wednesday, June 21st, from 6pm-9pm, graciously hosted & sponsored by the Art Institute, in their capable PC lab.  Space is very limited (20 workstations in the lab + about 10 extra non-workstation seats) and we expect this to fill up quickly, so reserve your spot now here:

https://resolveworkshoppdx.eventbrite.com

And please be courteous and cancel your ticket if your availability changes and you can’t attend so we can fill your seat.  This is absolutely free (extra special thanks to Dave and the Blackmagic artists for donating the time).  Also, be sure to check out and register separately for the Blackmagic Road Show happening the next day (Thurs, June 22) at OMSI from 1pm-5pm.  Details here.   See you at the workshop!

VFX/PDX Davinci Resolve 14 Workshop
Wednesday, June 21st, 6pm-9pm
The Art Institute of Portland
1122 Northwest Davis Street
Room 308
Portland, OR 97209

Shut Up Anthony take the Spirit Award for Narrative Feature at the 2017 Brooklyn Film Festival!

2017 Brooklyn Film Festival Winners: Rodrigo Reyes’ LUPE UNDER THE SUN Wins Grand Chameleon Award

 This June, MetroEast Community Media’s staff-produced program, Community Hotline, will achieve a landmark. They will be making history on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, when they will tape the 1,000^th episode of Community Hotline.

Started in 1996, Community Hotline is the longest running community affairs television show in Oregon and has been on the air for over 20 years. While it has undergone several significant changes in staffing, set design and distribution, it has held tight to the fundamental core of the programming, which is to inform and highlight community events, people and stories.

“Creating personalized programming for cable TV is something that gives a voice to everyone,” explains Marty Jones, chief executive officer of MetroEast Community Media. “We empower people to craft their message, tell their story and contribute to the conversation. As such, they create relevant, impactful programming that shares their message. Community Hotline educates the public about services and resources available to them, offers opportunities to make a difference through volunteering, and helps the community rise up together.”

In addition to offering equipment to the public, MetroEast also offers hands-on training in how to use the technology, as well as what makes a good, powerful story through thoughtful workshops and tutorials.

“What I enjoy is the diversity of programming,” says long time host of Community Hotline Monica Weitzel. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with the volunteers and resourceful clientele that create MetroEast’s programming. There are young people, adults, people from all stations of life. And we all contribute and learn from one another. It’s a never ending journey of learning and growing.”

To further its mission to empower citizens through audio-visual media technology, MetroEast provides affordably priced classes on how to use the equipment. One recent innovation allows patrons to borrow digital media “backpack” kits containing an iPad, microphones, camera, lenses and editing software.

“We’re essentially giving a voice to a lot of folks who may feel voiceless,” Jones says. “In this digital age, where you can consume stories anywhere and at anytime, we want to allow people to be part of that conversation. And that’s what programs like Community Hotline have been doing for 31 years. When we realized we were about to film our 1000^th episode, we just thought, you know, this is something that deserves to be celebrated. This is historic.”

Along with the celebrations for the 1000^th episode of Community Hotline on June 14^th, which will be shot in studio with a live studio audience (seating is limited to invited guests and RSVP is required), something they’ve never done before, Jones says his next big launch is to “make it easier for community businesses to join us as sponsors supporting quality hyper local programming like Community Hotline.”

About:

MetroEast, whose offices and studios are at 829 N.E. Eighth St., near downtown Gresham, makes a wide array of community programming, technical equipment and instruction on how to use it, available to the public. With funding provided through an agreement with the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, the organization serves Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village and unincorporated Multnomah County with six cable channels, three of which are devoted to citizen-generated programming. All programs are broadcast in SD and HD via Comcast and their xfinity platform.

Community Hotline is the longest running talk show for MetroEast and has been on air for over 20 years, and will celebrate the taping of it’s 1000^th episode on June 14^th in front of a live studio audience and invite members of the crew, cast, classes, community and media to take part in the festivities, followed by a small party to celebrate.

Northwest Documentary is partnering with Oregon Film and Eastern Oregon Film Festival to bring 4 great documentaries to our Media Center this summer in a free screening series that celebrates great films that are Made in Oregon.

Eastern Oregon Film Festival* curator Ian Clark will be hosting the screenings, featuring virtual or in-person visits with the cast and crew. We also will be offering a small selection of beer and snacks.

Don’t miss it!

Finding True Love – July 9th, 7-9pm – An 80’s inspired comedy featuring a group of filmmakers who set out to crash a high-school reunion in hopes of meeting the man they found in a yearbook thrift store find.

The Last Season – July 23rd, 7-9pm – 2 veterans from different sides of the Vietnam War make peace with the past while hunting mushrooms in Oregon.

The Pearl – August 6th, 7-9pm – The raw emotional journey of being middle-aged and transgendered in post-industrial logging towns of the Pacific Northwest.

Glena – August 27th, 7-9pm – A single mom fights to support her family by pursuing the high intensity career of a Mixed Martial Artist.
*Eastern Oregon Film Festival is headquartered in La Grande, Oregon. The festival promotes discovery, entertainment and education through independent film and music exhibitions. The festival runs October 19-21^st. www.eofilmfest.com/

DIY Documentary is NW Documentary’s flagship course: a 10-week journey to create a short film from start to finish. We welcome students ages 15 and up with all levels experience to tell a story that is meaningful to them, expressing their personal vision and style using the latest digital tools. Supplementary Editing coursework (Premiere or Final Cut X) and Camera/Lighting courses support the DIY student in achieving their vision. The class culminates in a screening of DIY films at the Clinton Street Theatre.

In addition to the DIY course and the DIY bundle we are also offering the following classes this Summer 2017:

Camera and Lighting for Interviews

Editing 101: Adobe Premiere

Editing 101: Final Cut Pro X

Rough Cut Feedback Intensive

Exploring Documentary in 360/VR

Mobile Filmmaking: Tools That Fit in Your Pocket

We keep classes small and flexible and invest a great deal of personalized attention in our students, customizing workshops to meet their learning pace, style, and passions.

Learn more about these workshops and register for Summer term at our website: http://nwdocumentary.org/workshops

As we move into another busy production season and a new fiscal year, we wanted to proactively answer a few questions about the Oregon Film & Video Office, a/k/a/ The Governor’s Office of Film & Television, a/k/a Oregon Film.

That’s us.

Did you know this office was “founded” in 1968 by Gov. McCall as a way to help better organize the needs of the film “Paint Your Wagon” that was in the throes of shooting in Baker County? (Yes, that means next year is our 50th anniversary – no gifts please).

Oregon Film is a semi-independent, state agency with a mission to promote, support and advance the film, video, interactive, animation and creative content industries within the state, by fostering and creating connections between production, businesses and the public, and strengthening this industry’s profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally.  We operate with a staff of four people who work to promote and strengthen this statewide industry, we answer to a board, who is overseen by Governor Kate Brown.  Oregon Film acts as the official voice of the production industry in Oregon. 

Oregon’s collective production industries now generate more than $200M in tracked economic activity per year. That’s more than 20x the tracked spending for this industry in Oregon in 2005. According an economic impact study by PSU’s Northwest Economic Research Center this industry now provides Oregon with more than 3000 jobs and $150M in annual payroll.

We manage the state’s incentive programs – OPIF, Greenlight Oregon, iOPIF and the newly created rOPIF – and a large and growing, interactive database of over 6000 filming locations, as well as curating and managing  the many resources that are needed to shoot a film, TV series, or commercial project, or start an interactive, animation or branded content company here.  We work with our legislators in Salem to provide data, insight, testimony, and individual case studies of our growing industry.  We promote Oregon as a creative and greatly versatile place to do business.  It is a state like no other – we have a skilled crew and talent base that can deliver interactive, animated,  and indie projects with bare-bones budgets, as well those multi-year, multi-season network television series that employ hundreds of people and vendors. These all help promote Oregon’s talent and locations to millions of people nationally and internationally every week.

Our newly minted #OregonMade “umbrella” initiative strives to raise awareness, pride and creative connections between production of all types, as well as businesses, crew, the education sector, events and related services.  #OregonMade promotes all sizes of projects, even those that do not necessarily qualify for our financial incentive programs.

As part of this initiative, we have also created the non-profit, Oregon Made Creative Foundation. This unique project, done in partnership with the Charitable Partnership Fund to create a stand-alone (501[c][3]), offers several limited edition #OregonMade products for sale.  All of the net proceeds will be used for grants for low or micro-budget creative content, initiated or made by Oregonians.

We aim to try and create space for  connections between the creative and business communities in Oregon – that’s where all of the exciting #OregonMade work lies!  This means we support and attend more than a hundred industry and community events in any given year; festivals, screenings, film shadow programs, educational outreach and business relationships/partners. We regularly work with state agencies such as; Travel Oregon, Travel Portland, Oregon State Parks, Oregon Arts Commission and Business Oregon; statewide non-profits like the OMPA, The Hollywood Theatre and The Historic Theaters Initiative; and educational programs at institutions such as PSU, SOU, PCC, CCC, U of O and even high schools across the state. (Take a look at some highlights of a High School Job Shadow program we did last summer.)

Did you know that last year we tracked more than 40 film-related festivals in Oregon? We were lucky enough to attend more than half of these (with a goal to reach them all!). All told, we traveled nearly 10,000 miles last year alone in order to make creative connections in Lakeview, Ashland, Burns, Pendleton, Estacada, Bend, Klamath Falls, Eugene and La Grande – all celebrating #OregonMade projects and locations.

Most recently, we we able to partner with Portland City Parks, Friends of Trees, Friends of Pier Park, Comcast/NBC, City of Portland, Gov. Brown and Comm. Nick Fish to plant a grove of trees in Pier Park ,North Portland, to commemorate six years of the NBC series “Grimm” calling Portland it’s photogenic home.

The icing on the cake this past year was the double-whammy of a six month exhibit at PDX Airport with costumes and props from some of Oregon’s most iconic shows – “Wild,” “The Goonies,” “The Librarians,” “Portlandia,” “Animal House” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” – an exhibit seen by over one million people – and last summer’s statewide tour of Buster Keaton’s #OregonMade 1926 silent classic ,”The General”, with a brand new, live score by Oregon Composer Mark Orton. The pinnacle performance took place in an outdoor amphitheater in front of more than 1500 people in Cottage Grove, about 100 yards from the very tracks where it was shot more than 90 years ago. These special projects represent the kind of creative connection we take pride in making with our collective #OregonMade brand.

If you think there might be ways we can creatively connect with you – please get in touch and let us know.  We thank you for partnering to help promote all things #OregonMade.

Want to stay up-to-date on production news in Oregon?  Sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Jon Garcia and Matt Alber are working on a new 8 episode docu-series called “Room To Grow“, about what it’s like to be an LGBT teenager today.

Why are we doing this? Figuring out who you are as a young person today can be pretty tough. Expressing it can be even tougher. It can feel exciting, awkward, stressful or even dangerous, especially when you don’t fit into the categories most adults expect. Family, teachers & clergy often want to help but they can also be sources of misinformation or even abuse, and finding a safe place to practice being yourself or even just someone to talk to can seem like an impossible task.

We have a couple of episodes in the can, and an ongoing fundraising campaign through fractured atlas where contributors can donate tax free.

Help us spread the word and please donate what you can.

Thank you for supporting Oregon Filmmakers!

Official Site
Watch the trailer
Fund Season One

Room to Grow • A New Family Docu-Series About Today’s LGBTQ+ Teens & Their Allies
Produced by: Matt Alber & Jon Garcia
Contact: [email protected]
(503) 427-8858

On Saturday, July 17th at the MAC club in Portland join multiple Grammy and Emmy nominated composer, Ron Jones (“Family Guy”, “Star Trek Next Generation” and many others) will speak about the future of soundtrack composition. Mr. Jones will also speak about the future of music and arts education and the critical role that it plays. Jazz Forest (a world-renowned jazz ensemble) will be performing, along with a live performance by the Oregon Crusaders.

Dinner and drinks provided, and all proceeds benefit the Oregon Crusaders, a Portland-based youth performing arts organization.

For more information and tickets, CLICK HERE