It’s official: Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program makes SOU one of the best film schools in North America. The current edition of MovieMaker magazine, which bills itself as the world’s most widely read independent film magazine, includes SOU among its picks for the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada.”
“When we launched the Digital Cinema program in fall 2019, one of our big aspirations was to become a nationally-ranked film school,” said Andrew Gay, a professor of Digital Cinema and director of SOU’s School of Arts & Communication. Continue reading... “SOU Digital Cinema Named as a Top Film School”
This year’s festival includes screenings of over 120 films by visionary filmmakers, including over a dozen Portland-based filmmakers and animators. Innovation will also be displayed in the screening methods utilized at the festival. Continue reading... “PFCAT Returns To OMSI August 21st Through 25th”
Tuesday was the first day of production for an independent film being shot in southern Oregon.
Described as “Driving Miss Daisy” meets “Reservoir Dogs,” the 75-minute feature film, “The Plan” follows an Uber ride from Sacramento to Josephine County with unexpected consequences.
The film, directed by Brad Douglas, will be shot entirely in southern Oregon and features Los Angeles Comedian and Actor Henry Coleman, local Actress Marlyn Mason, and Oscar winning Special Effects Artist Jeff Dawn.
The producer, Ray Robison talks about why the film is being shot in southern Oregon, “the time is right, to get this done, and this is the right place to do it because there are so many talented people around here.” Continue reading... ““The Plan” Begins Production in Southern Oregon”
In this artist talk and workshop on June 5 at PAM CUT, Ariel Baska, multiple disabled horror filmmaker and disability advocate, shares their experiences using accessibility tools as a uniquely creative layer. They are joined by Cheryl Green, of the Social Audio Description Collective, to talk through how captions and audio description can intertwine aesthetically with the work. By working in this way, artists can provide access that is both integral to the art and opens up new artistic worlds to audiences they have never reached before. Continue reading... “PAM CUT Workshop: Access as Art and Practice in Creative Projects”
Desert Island Studios in Portland hosted its first Level Up Workshop last weekend. According to the hosts and the attendees, the event was a tremendous success.
With these Level Up Workshops, DIS strives to provide educational content that will be relevant to a variety of experience levels, accompanied by targeted outreach meant to entice participants for whom the material is most appropriate.
In the wake of the pandemic and recent strikes, DIS feels it’s an important time to equip future generations of media makers with the invaluable tools and knowledge they will need to be successful in their careers. Continue reading... “Desert Island Studios Hosts First “Level Up” Workshop”
George Fox University is hosting a Film Production Institute for high school students this summer at its campus in Newberg. Oregon Film community members are entitled to a $500 scholarship for their children and dependents. This is in appreciation for Oregon Film’s collaboration with George Fox to use the Newberg campus as a regular filming location.
Professor Alex Chung, an alumnus of the Sundance Film Festival, who has written, directed and produced numerous projects, optioned several screenplays, and has crewed on dozens of features and short films in varying capacities, will lead the institute. Continue reading... “Inspiring the New Generation of Filmmakers”
In an exciting development for the Oregon animation community, Portland Community College announced plans to offer an animation degree beginning in 2025, partly funded by a $60,000 donation from Oregon film studio Laika.
Laika announced Tuesday that it will give $30,000 to the PCC Foundation in each of the next two years to help fund three new classes in animation and stop-motion filmmaking, and the new degree in animation and motion graphics.
In addition, Oregon Film supports a paid placement at Laika for a PCC student each year through the Creative Opportunity Program. Continue reading... “Portland Community College Plans Animation Degree, Backed by Laika”
Last week The Astorian reported on OFM’s new look and expanded size and mission.
The Clatsop County Historical Society has detailed plans to expand the Oregon Film Museum, an estimated $10.1 million project that would involve the construction of a new, two-story, 13,000-square-foot building.
The addition is proposed at Seventh and Duane streets on the site of the former Morris Glass building, a property the historical society acquired several years ago.
Plans for the new building include a 50-seat theater, a projection room, classroom space, an expanded gift shop and several new exhibits. Continue reading... “Oregon Film Museum Details Expansion Project in Astoria”
Making your film is one thing, however, getting it out into the world, bought and seen by audiences around the globe is a whole different animal. What is a release plan, TVOD, SVOD, digital, theatrical, non-theatrical, educational, impact, and more, and how do they all coincide and work together to support film distribution? Come learn the basics from creative distribution consultant Mia Bruno whose recent campaigns include Oscar-winning documentary, Navalny, Sundance doc King Coal, and the upcoming documentary on “Reading Rainbow,” Butterfly in the Sky, as she discusses the importance of early planning for your project. Continue reading... “PAM CUT Professional Development Workshops: Creative Distribution Strategies”
Women in Film Portland (WIF-PDX) is proud to announce the launch of a new program, Educate/Incubate, designed to advance the careers of local women and nonbinary filmmakers in the Portland film community. The program will be one of the largest in scope ever run by WIF-PDX. It will include public educational events, a cohort of hand-picked resident filmmakers, and a community screening. The organization is hiring a part-time coordinator position to assist with the program.
“We were thinking about ways to make an impact in the community and what the needs are,” said Stephanie Hough, board president of WIF PDX, “Through the Educate/Incubate program we’ll be able to activate the amazing sense of community that exists in Portland around filmmaking, and connect incredible emerging talent with the resources they need.” Continue reading... “WIF-PDX Launches Innovative Educate/Incubate Program”
Tuesday was the first day of production for an independent film being shot in southern Oregon.
In this artist talk and workshop on June 5 at PAM CUT, Ariel Baska, multiple disabled horror filmmaker and disability advocate, shares their experiences using accessibility tools as a uniquely creative layer. They are joined by Cheryl Green, of the Social Audio Description Collective, to talk through how captions and audio description can intertwine aesthetically with the work. By working in this way, artists can provide access that is both integral to the art and opens up new artistic worlds to audiences they have never reached before. 
George Fox University is hosting a Film Production Institute for high school students this summer at its campus in Newberg. Oregon Film community members are entitled to a $500 scholarship for their children and dependents. This is in appreciation for Oregon Film’s collaboration with George Fox to use the Newberg campus as a regular filming location.
In an exciting development for the Oregon animation community, Portland Community College announced plans to offer an animation degree beginning in 2025, partly funded by a $60,000 donation from Oregon film studio Laika.
Last week The Astorian reported on OFM’s new look and expanded size and mission.
Making your film is one thing, however, getting it out into the world, bought and seen by audiences around the globe is a whole different animal. What is a release plan, TVOD, SVOD, digital, theatrical, non-theatrical, educational, impact, and more, and how do they all coincide and work together to support film distribution? Come learn the basics from creative distribution consultant Mia Bruno whose recent campaigns include Oscar-winning documentary, Navalny, Sundance doc King Coal, and the upcoming documentary on “Reading Rainbow,” Butterfly in the Sky, as she discusses the importance of early planning for your project. 