More Screenwriting Workshops Start July 7

Hi all.

I’m going to be teaching my usual two screenwriting workshops starting July 7 and July 8.

Both remote/virtual.

You can find out more and sign up here: https://www.jeffsrutherford.com/workshops

All are welcome!

We’ve been building a great community through these and some great projects have been developing. Many folks that have taken both Essential Screenwriting and Feature Writing + Development now have a solid full draft of a feature script.

You can read some testimonials here: https://www.jeffsrutherford.com/wkshptestimonials

You can reach out to me directly too: [email protected] Continue reading... “More Screenwriting Workshops Start July 7”

#OregonMade “Horsegirls” Producer Talks Production on The Industry Podcast

Blair Skinner

Tribeca Festival – “Horsegirls” Co-Producer Blair Skinner

The Industry recently had a chat with producer and line producer Blair Skinner (“Duster,” “Transparent”) on her latest film, “Horsegirls,” which shot in Oregon and recently premiered at Tribeca.

You can watch the whole interview here.

“Horsegirls” tells the story of Margarita (a revelatory Lillian Carrier) who must reluctantly grow up as her mother, Sandy (Gretchen Mol), grapples with an uncertain diagnosis.

They do a deep dive into how she put together the budget for the film, shooting in Oregon and her approach to line producing. Continue reading... “#OregonMade “Horsegirls” Producer Talks Production on The Industry Podcast”

Case Study: Making Indie Movies in Oregon

“So, Why Make Movies in Rural Oregon? And Why La Grande?”

It’s a perfectly fair question for H. Nelson Tracey, whose directorial debut Breakup Season was shot entirely in La Grande, Oregon. Especially considering Nelson’s background: he’s from Denver, Colorado, and has lived in Los Angeles since graduating college.

“I was going to find a way to direct my first feature one way or another. It’s so hard to make a movie to begin with, and I was looking everywhere for pathways to plausibility. Continue reading... “Case Study: Making Indie Movies in Oregon”

Who We Are and What We Do (June 2025)

Every year around this time we take a moment to reflect on the work we do and why we do it.

First of all, the basics: Oregon Film (a/k/a The Oregon Film & Video Office) is a four person semi-independent state agency that is focused on fostering the economic development potential of the film and media industry in Oregon. Established by Gov. Tom McCall in 1968 to aid the permitting process for “Paint Your Wagon,” Oregon Film, as far as we know, is the oldest state film commission in the US. Continue reading... “Who We Are and What We Do (June 2025)”

New Podcast: Oregon Indie Film

Oregon is the Indie Film Capital

Oregon Indie Film is a video podcast shining the light on Oregon’s independent film industry.

Interviews with filmmakers, producers, directors, actors, film crew, festival coordinators, and the many other industry professionals, offering insights into the creative process, challenges, and triumphs of making independent movies in Oregon.

Hosted by Dawn Sellers and produced by Broken Toe Productions.

Find it on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Interested in being a featured filmmaker or filmmaking organization? Continue reading... “New Podcast: Oregon Indie Film”

Portland Post Production Grant Awardees

The Portland Events and Film Office, in partnership with Travel Portland, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Post Production Grant to four feature films.  The funding is designed to encourage the completion of a local feature-length film and position local producers to build toward larger, more resourced productions. Past recipients of the Post-Production Grant include Trash Baby, directed by Jacy Mairs (which premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival), and G. Chesler’s documentary Connection Isolation (which will be hosting several upcoming screenings with interactive programming nationwide). Continue reading... “Portland Post Production Grant Awardees”

“Make it Here” – Bring Your Next Creative Production to Oregon

There’s something very special about the creative community here in Oregon. You can see it in everything we do. Because of that, we recently partnered with CineRent West and director Devin Boss to create “Make it Here,” a short film that shows the talent, landscapes, passion and joy that creating work in our state entails.

You can see it in the people, you can see it in the places and you can see it in the product – Oregon is a special place and if you come here to make your next creative project, you’ll want to come back. Continue reading... ““Make it Here” – Bring Your Next Creative Production to Oregon”

#OregonMade “Why Dig…” Nominated by NewFilmmakers LA

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has released the nominees and jury for its 14th annual awards that recognize the top rising talent in independent film globally. Oregon filmmaker Cambria Matlow’s “Why Dig When You Can Pluck” was nominated.

The awards will recognize 130 nominees spanning 16 award categories, encompassing directors, writers, producers, performers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and composers. These outstanding nominees were chosen from NFMLA’s most recent programming year, which took place in 2024 and reflect some of the most promising emerging independent filmmakers globally. Continue reading... “#OregonMade “Why Dig…” Nominated by NewFilmmakers LA”

Destination Oregon Hightlights “Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary

Central Oregon Daily News’ “Destination Oregon” recently traveled to Salem to highlight the 50th anniversary of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The film that won five Academy Awards was set at Oregon State Hospital in Salem.

Author Ken Kesey’s book about the institutional overreach and the dehumanization of the mentally ill was kryptonite to many mental institutions who did not want to be associated with this controversial cultural issue. So when Hollywood came looking for a place to make the movie, there were no takers. Continue reading... “Destination Oregon Hightlights “Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary”

Motion Picture Association Highlights the OFT

The Motion Picture Association highlighted the Oregon Film Trail with a well rounded interview with SetJetters. Appearing in The Credits section of their website and MPA and SJ highlight the power of Film Tourism and just some of the ways that Oregon Fil has led the way in qualifying that power into economic spending.

If you haven’t seen it yet, please check out the animated graphic we’ve done with our partners at SJ illustrating how Film Tourism impacts the Oregon economy. Continue reading... “Motion Picture Association Highlights the OFT”