The Confluence

Wow, one week later and I’m still high. What an amazing evening!

Thanks to all for an oh-so-very-special 7/31 encore screening of Space: A Meditation on the Meaning of Art: 

• Pamela Chipman and Erin Dengerink and the Bldg5 team for their support and stellar venue
• Samie Jo Pfeifer, Dave Storrs, Dave Leslie, and Chris Johnedis for their music deep from the heart
• Demetri Pavlatos and Bryce Frimming for their herculean staging efforts
• the Picture This team for their superb projection and tech support
• Dale Petersen for bringing Tim Stapleton’s art back into the world
• Sam Morse for his unconditional and dogged assistance
• Ryan Graves for his brilliant promotional efforts

…and a huge shout out to Producer Jessica Daugherty, without whom we could have never turned Bldg5 into a “temple du cinéma.”

Fox12 recently caught with local film historian Ellen Thomas to find out more about the early silent movie studios that called Oregon home at the turn of the 20th Century.

From “The Goonies” to “Stand By Me,” a number of iconic movies have been filmed in Oregon, but did you know that the state’s film industry goes back more than a hundred years? That’s when a small studio in Beaverton named Premium Picture Productions began making movies that were seen across the country.

The OMPA presents CINE|SEEN 2026. A night of short films showcasing the talents of filmmakers based in Oregon. Highlighting the unique perspective and films of underrepresented and underserved artists. Join them in creating a space for creative expression. Projects must have been shot in Oregon.

Submit your films, web series, docs, music vid etc. through August 24.

Submit here.

CINE|SEEN on September 30 at the Hollywood Theatre. Doors at 630p, event starts at 730p.

OriginalMind Productions today announced the world premiere of “Secret Life,” a new comedy-drama written, directed, and produced by Steve Perkins, on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the recently renovated Whitsell Auditorium in
the Portland Art Museum.

Doors open at 6:00p.m. for an opening reception featuring live music from composer Jay Ringer, with the film
screening from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew from 8:30 to 9:00p.m. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.

“Secret Life” filming took place entirely within a house in Southwest Portland designed by architect Frank Shell.

The 2026 Vision Grant provides financial support ($10,000) to one woman, trans and/or non-binary media creator in Oregon or SW Washington (Clark County). This project-based grant aids in production of a documentary while fostering the artist’s professional and personal development.

This grant is offered annually through Women in Film Portland (WIF-PDX), a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to elevating women in film, communications, and media through education, outreach, and professional development.

Only WIF-PDX members are eligible to apply. Join or renew your Membership with Women in Film-Portland now at www.wifpdx.org

Space: A Meditation on the Meaning of Art, the feature documentary about NW Marine Art Works that sold out it’s Portland Premiere last month, is having an encore screening on Friday, July 31st.

Tickets are selling fast. See the film at the very warehouse where its final scenes were shot — and enjoy Food & Drink, a Tim Stapleton Art Exhibit, Live Music w/ Big Vibe & Samie Joan, and the Filmmakers’ Art Talk. Get your tickets now and tell all your friends!

The Cottage Grove Historical Society are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton’s “The General” in Cottage Grove on August 28th and 29th. There will be speakers and films and a dinner at the same place Buster and his crew stayed during the filming in 1926.

You can find out more on the CGHS Facebook page.