“How to Die in Oregon” Wins at Sundance

How to Die in Oregon

It was already a banner year for Oregon film makers at Sundance with six films represented at the festival with Oregon ties.  At the final day awards ceremony, 2011 became an award winning year for Oregon film makers.  Portland based director Peter Richardson won the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival which as Shawn Levy described it “one of the most prestigious awards that can be won by a non-fiction film anywhere in the world.”  Continue reading... ““How to Die in Oregon” Wins at Sundance”

Blue Like Jazz Shooting in Portland

Over four years ago, Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson sat down and wrote “Blue Like Jazz” a feature based on Donald Miller’s New York Times bestselling memoir by the same name.

We caught up with the crew on the set yesterday (they are shooting one more week in the Portland metro area).  They were excited to be seeing their project finally come to life and the whole funding route really is a great story in and of itself.  After Don Miller announced the project was dead due to lack of funding, a Kickstarter campaign began and after a while they were right there at the top of the leader-board.  Continue reading... “Blue Like Jazz Shooting in Portland”

Sundance Round Up And Oregon Wine

Troon Vineyard, Applegate Valley near Grant's Pass, Oregon

Shawn Levy (The Oregonian) has been busy blogging from Sundance with the roundup of the fantastic showing of Oregon made films and documentaries that have been screening, check it out here.

They  were not the only Oregon products featured at Sundance this year – Troon Vineyard (located in the beautiful Applegate Valley near Grant’s Pass) was selected to pour at the Sundance opening ceremonies.  They served; Troon 2009 Viognier, 2007  River Guide White and 2009 Druid’s Fluid Red and 2007 Kubli Bench Cabernet Sauvignon.  Continue reading... “Sundance Round Up And Oregon Wine”

Video Footage of the NYC Premiere of Portlandia

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/19054260[/vimeo]

It was a great night at the Edison Ballroom Wednesday night as IFC put together a fantastic party for “Portlandia”.  The space was decked out in everything Portland – Douglas Fir trees, cocktail tables with bicycle tires, and of course plenty of birds!  Local winery Argyle Wines had their 2007 Pinot featured and Rogue Ales was there serving their Dead Guy Ale.  Everyone that attended also got one of the signature “Portlandia” bottles.  I think the entire SNL cast was there along with Lorne Michaels, Heather Graham, Kyle MacLaclan, and “Kenneth” from “30 Rock”.  Continue reading... “Video Footage of the NYC Premiere of Portlandia”

Chris Paine To Give Public Talk At PSU

Chris Paine with EV, the Chevrolet Volt. Courtesy of Chris Paine

What a great opportunity, PSU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts and PGE are hosting acclaimed director and electric vehicle (EV) enthusiast, Chris Paine for this public lecture on “how the new generation of cars are America’s future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever”.

Paine is best known for his 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car.  This year Paine has a new movie coming out, Revenge of the Electric Car, and in it he chronicles how every major car maker is clamoring to make new electric models as well as winning over the public. Continue reading... “Chris Paine To Give Public Talk At PSU”

Portlandia In Times Square For A Day

47th and Broadway

The “Portlandia” east coast premiere is tonight in New York (Edison Ballroom) and is showing a strong Portland presence at 47th and Broadway, right off Times Square.  An eclectic variety of Oregon products will make up the goody bags, Rogue Ales created a special “Portlandia” bottle to serve and Portland band, The Thermals, will be playing.  All in all, a true Portland experience right there in New York.

Interestingly, some screening events are popping up in and around  New York and Portland when the 6 part IFC series begins airing, Friday 21st at 10.30ET/PT. Continue reading... “Portlandia In Times Square For A Day”

An Interesting Environmental Film Collection

….will be showing at the Siskiyou Film Festival in Grants Pass, January 28th and 29th. This festival is a production of the Siskiyou Project, now in it’s 10th year.  The festival has rounded up a really interesting collection of films, all of which focus on environmental issues and some specific to the Pacific Northwest. Continue reading... “An Interesting Environmental Film Collection”

Did You Read……….

Rob Owen/Special to The Oregonian

……in Oregon Live that “Portlandia” continues to raise awareness for the city?  According to Rob Owen, during the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour last week, life in Portland was on topic for those journalist attending the “Portlandia” Q & A with Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen.  Read about it.

Did you read…………that there is now a second “Portlandia” screening at the Hollywood Theater on January 14th?

Did you read………Kristi Turnquist’s piece in Oregon Live that Melissa Locker’s posting a couple of days ago on the IFC Blog highlighted an interesting  “Portland in the 90’s playlist”? Continue reading... “Did You Read……….”

SXSW Hosting a Party in Portland on January 11

Last Year's SXSW Festival

Tomorrow at the Doug Fir in Portland, the South by Southwest festival will be hosting an event.  I picked this up from Rick Turoczy’s Blog Silicon Florist.  SXSW has quickly ascended to become the premiere event that covers Film, Music and Interactive all in one place.  In other words, it’s a festival about the future of our industry. Continue reading... “SXSW Hosting a Party in Portland on January 11”