The Confluence
Oregon Film's Official Blog: Bringing together the creative streams of film, television, and media in Oregon.
Vision Stages: Bring Your Vision to Life
Vision Stages is a 36,000 sq ft soundstage for film, TV, and commercial productions, and they have a NEW WEBSITE with new features added to the soundstage.
- Vision’s 30’x50’ cyc is pre-rigged with additional equipment available for rental
- ZoneWorks black retractable curtain separates Stage 1 from Stage 3
- Additional options for construction mill at MHCC across the street available
- The 12’x14’ ground-level rollup door provides easy interior access for picture cars and equipment trucks to drive onto our stage or cyc for rigging/shooting
- We have Hollywood flats and jacks available for rental
- Mezzanine offices come with 30/300 wifi and upgrades to 1GB fiber lines
- 10GB fiber lines, DIT services, equipment rentals, and more at Remotely Video’s new CloudDale location 4 doors down from our west entrance.
Check out the new site: https://www.visionstages.com/
Scriptwriting Focused “Top Secret Club” Calls for Submissions
Calling all mid-level to advanced screenwriters and playwrights to submit projects in late stage development to Open Call for Top Secret Club 2023!
Top Secret Club is a bimonthly script development and networking event for the film and theatre community that will host table reads in front of a live audience with local actors, screenwriters, and playwrights. The table reads will be followed by a facilitated feedback session, and a community social hour.
Over the course of 2023 there will be 6 Top Secret Club events. At the end of the year, all of the writers whose work was featured in 2023 will be automatically included in the selection process to receive a 1k grant, along with perks from Desert Island Studios and Artists Repertory Theatre to further develop their projects.
The two winning writers will be celebrated at a final public event in November 2023.
Entries are due December 20th at 11:59 PM
CLICK HERE to learn more and submit your work
#OregonMade “Mr. Holland’s Opus” Screens on December 5
Come celebrate two things that have impacted all of our lives in some way: music and teachers.
Next up in the #OregonMade Film Series at the Hollywood Theatre is “Mr. Holland’s Opus” on Monday, December 5.
Richard Dreyfuss and the always magical Glenne Headly star while William H Macy patrols the halls in search of rule breakers and rock and rollers in this Oregon Made opus of a film. Portland’s Grant High School is featured as JFK High School in the 1960s while Mr. Holland romps through the ages, overcoming adversity, disappointment, temptation, and tragedy to uncover the good things that were there all along.
(And, as a bonus, Oregon’s own The Kingsmen make a music appearance in a movie that’s not that set in a fraternity down in Eugene.)
Get your tickets here.
Watch the trailer here.
New Journal Highlights Indigenous Voices of the Columbia River
Left to right: Confluence Digital Manager Lily Hart, author Emily Washines (Yakama), author Sean Smith (Chinook), poet Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), author Rachel Cushman (Chinook), author Chance White Eyes (Oneida), and Confluence Executive Director Colin Fogarty.
A new journal by the nonprofit Confluence is designed to elevate Indigenous perspectives in how people understand the Columbia River and its tributaries. Voices of the River features articles, stories, poetry and artwork by Native American writers and artists from Northwest Tribes. Confluence and its supporters celebrated the release of the inaugural issue of the journal during a launch party and panel discussion on November 18, 2022 at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland.
Voices of the River features articles by authors Rachel Cushman (Chinook) and Chance White Eyes (Oneida), Sean Smith (Chinook), Emily Washines (Yakama), Carlee Wilson (Chinook), poetry by Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), and first-person narratives from Linda Meanus (Warm Springs/Celilo) and Confluence Founding Board Chair Antone Minthorn (CTUIR). Artist Tommy Greyeyes (Navajo) designed artworks that accompanied the articles. Confluence Digital Manager Lily Hart edited the journal, with layout designs by Brian Boram of RMB Vivid. The project was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
“This was really a refreshing editorial process,” said Rachel Cushman. She and her husband Chance White Eyes wrote an article about the educational lessons that can be found in Tribal Canoe Culture. “I really loved that it was a lot of local, Indigenous people who are reading it because those are the peers that I really care about.”
“One of the ways I saw this emerge was through the thoughtful engagement the authors had with each other,” Hart said. “We held meetings with all them together, so they could give each other feedback and build community along the way. I just sat back and watched them engage creatively.”
Copies of Voices of the River can be ordered here. The publication will also be distributed through partnering bookstores.
Confluence is a community supported nonprofit with the mission to connect people to the history, living cultures, and ecology of the Columbia River system through Indigenous voices. The group has completed 5 art installations that stretch from the mouth of the Columbia River to the banks of the Snake River in southeastern Washington. Confluence has also developed a series of educational programs in schools and public gatherings, designed to elevate Indigenous voices in our understanding of the Columbia River system.
The Goonies House Is For Sale!
It seems fitting that our partners at SetJetters took to their blog to post this great update on the “Goonies House” – hitting the market in Astoria next week.
Will the Goon Docks go to Developers?
By Erik Nachtrieb (SetJetters CEO & CoFounder)
Once a Goonie, Always a Goonie! This time the Goonies House isn’t in foreclosure. Could it go to developers or be your $400K/year investment property?
The Goonies House, built in 1896, sits high above the quaint city of Astoria, Oregon USA in an area that reflects the “Goon Docks”. Against a backdrop of evergreen forested hills, and set amongst a neighborhood with a smattering of Victorian-style homes, the house looks out on the mighty Columbia River at the gateway to the Pacific Ocean (and yes, it does have a ladder to the attic!).
The Goonies House in The Goonies (1985) – Image property of Amblin Entertainment/Warner Bros. Pictures
Although now a nostalgic set from the classic 1985 film “The Goonies” (watch the film and trailers here), the house was originally in disrepair when location scouts discovered it. The production, led by Steven Spielberg and director Richard Donner, offered to renovate the location in exchange for permission to use it in the film. Read More »
Creative Opportunity Program Launches for 2022-23
Last legislative session a bill passed that allowed Oregon Film to allocate funds to a program called the “Creative Opportunity Program.” This program dedicates up to $375,000 per year to creative projects, producers and programs around the state. These programs include the continuation of existing programs like the Pathways job training and placement program, the Outdoor Adventure Film Grant, the Tell Your Story Grant and partnership programs like CINE/SEEN and Creatives of Color Networking events (OMPA) and the BIPOC Filmmaker Grant (BendFilm). It also creates new programs and partnerships with groups like Desert Island Studios, Lion Speaks, the filmmaking programs of Southern Oregon University, Outside the Frame and PAM Cut.
Specific project announcements will be posted on this blog, our newsletter, OregonFilm.org, OregonMade.org and our many partnership websites as/when they launch. A more specific breakdown of the confirmed programs to date for 2022/23 can be found on this page of our site. We will be updating that list as/when new projects are contracted.
Shot In The Cascade Mountains, “Hello From Nowhere” Is Now Available To Stream
The romantic adventure-comedy-thriller, filmed near Mt. Hood, is now available to stream! “Hello From Nowhere” was directed by Portland’s Anthony Orkin and produced by Lara Cuddy, Todd Robinson, and Alyssa Roehrenbeck. The cast includes local favorites Summer Menkee, Sean Paul Ross, John Armour, G. Scott Brown, and Denah Angel.
A mysterious hiker pits two camping couples against each other in this wild and wooly comedy set along the Pacific Crest Trail in the picturesque Cascade Mountains.
Fans of musicals and mysteries will delight in “Hello From Nowhere,” a hair-raising, off-key, action-packed comedy set in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. Two couples are on a camping trip when they meet a stranger who says he’s hiking to Canada…but the truth is more complicated. As darkness falls, the lovers fight and the hiker moves in. Is this stranger a friend…or a fiend?
#OregonMade “Tasting Wild” Features Central Oregon
Nat Geo recently collaborated with Mazda on, “Tasting Wild,” a new 5 part series that began streaming on Hulu, on October 25th. The #OregonMade episode features chef, Melissa King, foraging for nature’s smorgasbord of ingredients in Central Oregon – alongside National Geographic explorers and photographers as they “discover the flavors of the wild places.”
The Central Oregon Film Office was contacted by the National Geographic team and provided scouting and production services at Smith Rock and Whychus Creek. Sandy Henderson, Executive Director and Founder, Central Film Office, said she, “worked closely with the production to ensure they had the locations they wanted, and were able to climb Smith Rock. We also showed them Fort Rock which they loved, and which made it into the final episode. For the shoot, we handled location management (in 100-degree weather!) and brought in PA’s, medics, fire crew, and catering. The shoot stayed at the new Element Hotel in Bend, for around 250 room nights. They rented vehicles and hired rock climbing guides and a water truck to wet down the roads. You can see this to advantage in the drone shots over Whychus Creek (the red road with the canyon beside it).”
Sandy went on to say, “As always, we love to introduce the beauty of Central Oregon to production partners. Without fail, everyone is blown away by the varied locations we have, and by the majestic rocks, lakes, and rivers – all close to the heart of Bend. National Geographic and Mazda were no exception and have already expressed a desire to return. They were also incredibly appreciative of the work we did, in some instances finding locations with a 48hour turnaround. We loved working with them, they were incredibly professional on all levels, and delighted to be here. We’re incredibly grateful to Matt Davey, Park Ranger at Smith Rock State Park who made the whole permitting process so easy, and to Scott Brown at Fort Rock State Park who turned around a permit really quickly (which I know they hate to do)! I can’t stress enough how our relationships with the State Park Rangers and the Deschutes National Forest are invaluable for productions. Central Oregon is a stunningly gorgeous area with so many iconic sites to choose from, but we couldn’t make any of this happen without our partners.”
“Tasting Wild” is streaming now on Hulu.
Portland Premiere – Campy Screwball Comedy Movie “Pocket Mouse Protector”
Winner of Best LGBTQ Feature Film (Seattle Film Festival), POCKET MOUSE PROTECTOR brings its zany humor to Clinton Street Theater on November 5th, 2022.
Starring Portland talent James Sharinghousen, Eleanor O’Brien, Blake Stone, Jonas Israel, Yelena King, Daniel Villarreal, and Paul Bright, the movie is a send-up of screwball comedies from the 20s, 30s, and 70s.
Environmentalist Larry takes an experimental virility drug to woo back his wife Mary who’s having an affair with Barry who works for Thierry who plans to destroy the remaining habitat of the endangered pocket mouse. Larry and Barry both take a double dose of the virility drug and when it makes them gay their entire worldview changes. Barry resists and attempts ridiculous ‘conversion’ treatments; Larry discovers the joys of being a gay man. They both get what they want in the end.
We filmed in the spring and summer of 2021 in Portland at iconic locations such as Pharmacy Bar (location for DRUG STORE COWBOY), 21Ten (Shoebox Theater), Dots Cafe, along the Willamette River, and in multiple high-end hotels. The timing of filming was very fortunate since everyone was vaccinated for original covid which was waning and Omicron hadn’t yet arrived. Principal photography took a few weeks; B-roll filming spread over 6 months.
While editing the movie I decided to add a musical number to the movie (because why not?) which we shot in February of this year. Our composer Will Gooding scored a perfect musical spoof on ‘Meglio Stasera’ (1963 PINK PANTHER) that I dropped into the film the same way Blake Edwards incongruously added Fran Jeffries to his comedy. Our musical number introduces Marge (performed by Kolten Franklin), who is a bitter waitress from New Jersey and desperate for a drink.
The movie also has memorable cameos of Portland actors Jonathan Hernandez, Janet Scanlon, Samson Syharath, Robin Michaels, Alec Lugo, Maria Mogavero, Christie Quinn, Timothy Krabill, Phillip A. Rudolph, Aaron Filyaw, Matthew Sepeda, Devon Roberts, and more.
POCKET MOUSE PROTECTOR world premiered at Hollywood’s Chinese Theater last month. Since then it’s played theaters in the US and Australia.
November 5th is the only scheduled showing in Portland. Cast and crew will be in attendance. Eventbrite Tickets: http://bitly.ws/vrNL
-Paul Bright, director.
This is Paul Bright’s 12th feature film as writer, director, producer, and editor.
More info at https://paulbrightfilms.com
Your Chance To Stay In The Newest Ghostbusters’ HQ Just Became A Reality
Do you believe in ghosts? If so, this is your sign to become a ghost-busting vacationer!
Vacasa has teamed up with Sony to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience – stay in the Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ and immerse yourself and 4 friends in all things spooky for a three-day stay. Even though the original Ghostbuster firehouse was in New York, the newest HQ has been recreated right here in Portland.
According to Vacasa: “These lucky few will have a chance to stay in the Ghostbusters Firehouse in Portland, complete with Vacasa’s 24/7 guest support, dedicated care, and even an Ecto-1 in the bay. Study the paranormal in a scientist-approved Ghost Facility Room and Dark Room (where you can put photos through the Spectral analyzer) within the two-bedroom, three-story firehouse built in the early 1900s.
All of Egon’s essentials, including smoking Ghost Traps, a P.K.E. Meter, Proton Packs, an Aura Video-Analyzer, and even an Ecto-Containment Unit are available throughout the firehouse so guests have everything they need to send ghosts back to their place of origin or the nearest convenient parallel dimension. And, no Ghostbusters station would be complete without an ominous seven-foot Vigo painting watching from the wall.
As with all Vacasa vacation homes, all the finishing touches are in place: the beds are freshly made, the Ectoplasm has been expertly cleaned up, and the pantry is stocked—with StayPuft marshmallows and cheezy crackers, of course (as long as Slimer doesn’t get to them first).
So, where ya gonna book? Visit the listing on October 21, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT sharp for your chance to reserve the single stay at the firehouse, Oct. 28-31, 2022, for $19.84 per night (plus taxes) in honor of the year the first movie was released (No phone bookings for this stay, as the lines need to stay clear for ghost sightings).
Vacasa will also make a donation to the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association to commemorate the stay.”
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