The Confluence

Day 1 at the PLAYA Screenwriting Residency. So honored to be here. Thank you Oregon Made and NW Film!

Mostly off the grid until 1/31, will post from time to time, see you in February!

#screenwritingresidency #filmresidency #playasummerlake

Bloated Cat Productions introduces a new short film… THE PHONE DEAD

Phone Zombies Attack!!  Shot on location in Portland, Oregon.

The film plays in a fun block of comedy shorts as part of the Portland Underground Film Festival at the historic Clinton Street Theater on Sunday, January 19th at 5pm.  The film will be followed by a Q and A with Director Josh Hoffman.

“The Phone Dead” was featured in the sixth edition of the wild, Japanese anthology TETSUDON and World Premiered at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival.  It also played at the Yokkaichi Film Festival and as the closing film for the Asian Summer Film Festival in Spain before touring Japanese theaters.

Other films from local filmmaker Josh Hoffman include the plastic surgery horror feature UNDER THE KNIFE and EYETANIC, a new short film that completed filming this fall about a giant eyeball attacking a city.  Both are scheduled for 2020 releases.

You can WATCH – THE PHONE DEAD – RIGHT NOW on AMAZON PRIME or TROMA NOW!

www.amazon.com/Phone-Dead-Josh-Hoffman/dp/B08144CZ9C

troma.vhx.tv/videos/the-phone-dead

You can follow along on TWITTER: @ThePhoneDead1

or on INSTAGRAM: @ThePhoneDead

Bloated Cat Productions Official Site:

www.BloatedCatProductions.com

Learn No Evil is an upcoming documentary about a #MeToo reckoning for one of Oregon’s most prestigious schools. In this explosive, and still-unfolding story, former students uncover decades of teacher abuse at Catlin Gabel.

Since my initial posts about the inappropriate conduct I experienced at Catlin Gabel, there’s been a perpetual flow of victims coming forward. The severity of offense ranges from disturbing and gross, to shocking and horrific. There was physical abuse, emotional abuse, molestation, rape and even incest – all at the hands of TEACHERS, some of whom were seen (by many) as God-like at the school. The discoveries have sent waves of grief and heartbreak throughout the network of students, parents, alums, and staff at Catlin Gabel. However, along with the darkness, there comes a light.

The public release of Catlin’s year-long internal investigation was a watershed moment. Countless victims who’ve been keeping painful secrets, for fear of shame, exile, or retaliation, are learning that they are not alone. One person said, for the first time, she no longer has self-doubt, what she experienced was real, and the violations were indeed, major violations. Another victim, a Catlin Gabel lifer, sent me this message:

“You might have saved my life.”

People are re-connecting with old classmates, sharing love and support. We are having meetings and building a plan of action for our own healing, as well as demands for the school. The first gathering was put on by Catlin Gabel administrators, on campus, with very short notice. Not to mention, it was during the holidays. Despite all that, a multi-generational crowd of about 75 people attended. We took turns sharing personal stories of the various forms of abuse we endured there. There was a box of tissue on every table and not a dry eye in the house.

That’s when it hit me, what MY next step(s) should be…

Given that I am one of the folks who sparked this firestorm, and I happen to be a gonzo journalist, I am determined to build something positive from the ash. Therefore, I am producing a documentary about the cult-like “community” that insulated and covered-up what has turned out to be decades of abuse at Catlin Gabel. I have a growing list of subjects who wish to share their stories. This is an opportunity to shine light on a deep trove of formerly unspeakable secrets, while also addressing the wider epidemics of Rape Culture and Toxic Masculinity. It astounds me to witness new pages turning in so many chapters we thought were over, long ago.

Unlike my usual Audreality Productions content (where it costs nothing but my own precious time), right now the goal is to raise enough funds to make a “real” feature length film. A professional documentary costs one-to-two thousand dollars per minute to produce. Therefore, we are trying to raise at least $100k. This will cover a small crew and an animator, to help illustrate stories for those who wish to remain anonymous.

If you’d like to share your Catlin Gabel experience, or to contribute funds, please email:

[email protected].

Hulu released a new trailer for the second season of “Shrill” (based on Lindy West’s bestselling 2016 memoir, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman).  You can watch the premiere January 24th for this 8 episode season.  Aidy Bryant stars as Annie, “a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body.”

“Annie starts the season on a high. She has faced her demons head on—her mom, her boss and her troll—and she’s feeling pretty good. She also has her boyfriend Ryan by her side. But the high doesn’t last long. Annie realizes that quitting her job was a hasty move. Things aren’t perfect with Annie’s mom either. She cleared the air, but the old problems are still there and there is way more to deal with.”

We can’t wait!

#OregonMade

The 92nd Academy Awards nominees were announced this morning in Los Angeles.  Congratulations to Laika and Annapurna Pictures on their Oscar nomination for, “Best Animated Feature” for the studio’s 5th feature, “Missing Link.”

Coming off their recent Golden Globe win for, “Best Animated Feature” (also for “Missing Link“)  Laika beat out Disney’s, “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King”, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”, so it will be exciting to see how they fare at the Oscars.  Laika has been collecting awards and nominations since its first feature, “Coraline” came out in 2009 and has had several Oscar nominations in the past and a technical Oscar win on “ParaNorman” for their clever use of 3D printing.

The stop-motion feature was written and directed by Chris Butler and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Dabid Williams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifinakis.

The 92nd Academy Awards will take place Feb. 9 in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre.

#OregonMade

“First Cow,” shot entirely on location in Oregon last year.  “A taciturn loner and skilled cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) also seeking his fortune; soon the two collaborate on a successful business, although its longevity is reliant upon the clandestine participation of a nearby wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.”

Writer-director, Kelly Reichardt, has used Oregon for the backdrop of many of her features and indeed many of the production team (such as producers, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani and Vincent Savino) have worked together on other #OregonMade projects such as; “Wendy and Lucy,” “Night Moves,”  “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Certain Women” among others.  Johnathan Raymond (“Mildred Pierce”, “Meek’s Cutoff”, “Wendy and Lucy”) authored the novel on which “First Cow” was inspired.  Raymond and Reichardt co-wrote the “First Cow” screenplay and indie studio, A24, produced this feature.

“First Cow” previously played at the Telluride and New York Film festivals.

Opens March 6th, 2020.

Disney’s first look trailer is now out showcasing their latest feature, shot partly in the Portland Metro area last year, “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.” The film will begin streaming on Disney + February 7th. Timmy and his polar-bear partner, Total, start a detective agency to solve neighborhood crime – adapted from the children’s best selling series written by Stephan Pastis.

Read more here.

Last year Blue Chalk Media won the $15,000 “Winter Season Grant” – provided by the OregonMade Creative Foundation and Travel Oregon – and have now successfully created two short films of moving “postcard stories” (one of which is available above) that were designed to, “captivate and encourage people to experience the winter season for themselves.”

“We pitched a series of short narrative pieces that highlighted different, often overlooked, winter areas of Oregon. The resulting films are a love letter to Oregon’s Alvord Desert and the Suttle Lake near Sisters. For this project, we were given the freedom to create something that we personally found compelling which resulted in some of our team’s favorite moments of the year.” – Blue Chalk Media

The purpose of this grant was to support local content creators who are producing high-quality, innovative multimedia content about Oregon that inspires travel to or around the state.

Congratulations to Laika on their first Golden Globe win for “Best Animated Feature” with “Missing Link“.  Laika beat out Disney’s, “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King”, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”.

The stop-motion feature was written and directed by Chris Butler and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Dabid Williams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifinakis.

Read more.

#OregonMade

It is with sadness and a deep sense of loss that we reflect on the work of two #OregonMade artists – cinematographer John J. Campbell and actor Robert Blanche – who we have recently lost from our community.

We know how much our work depends on the talent and experience of the community we serve, and John and Robert are exemplary examples of what makes this place so special. Their accomplishments and their connections to all of us are too numerous to list and it goes without saying that we will miss them every day and on every set.

Thank you John and Robert for lending us your talent and your light.

Cinematographer John J. Campbell with Director Gus Van Sant on the set of Mala Noche

Actor Robert Blanche