Town Hall: A Film & TV Political Party

Ye Olde OMPA, One Man One DrinkThursday, October 21

@Large Films
807 NE Couch Street
Portland, OR

Hosted By OMPA

6:00 pm Doors
7:00 pm Presentation

Oregon’s commercial, film and TV workforce development programs are due to “sunset” on January 1, 2012 unless they are renewed by the 2011 state legislature. The candidates running for your state House and Senate seats today will be making difficult budget decisions for the state, and will decide which tax credits are renewed, including the Oregon Production Investment Fund and the equally important Greenlight Oregon Labor rebate. Continue reading... “Town Hall: A Film & TV Political Party”

A Shoe Company is creating a Record Label?

Photo of Geoff Cottrill from Converse (from NY Times Article)

I finally got around to reading the Sunday NY Times and noticed this article about Converse’s efforts in the music business.  Immediately I thought of my friend JT Griffith who works at Nike as their music licensing consultant.  These days music licensing is critical for nearly every marketing plan.  Previously he was a music supervisor for film and television projects.  So why am I writing about a shoe company and why am I interested in what’s happening in the music business? Continue reading... “A Shoe Company is creating a Record Label?”

"Meeks Cutoff" gets distribution

So I was doing the Oregon Film rounds Friday night (very rare for me).  I first stopped by OMPA’s “Oregon’s Got Talent” event which was literally packed with talent.  Then I headed over to a wrap party at the North Portland Chopsticks – equally fully with creative talent.  At the party I heard producer Neil Kopp was at the bar celebrating the news that “Meeks Cutoff” got a distribution deal with Oscilloscope Laboratories.  I went looking for Neil before my curfiew of 11:00 but could not find him to congratulate him on the news.  Continue reading... “"Meeks Cutoff" gets distribution”

Oregon's Celebrated Film Crew

Behind the Scenes of "Animal House" in Eugene

Someone has to sing their praises: You know, the guys and gals you never hear about on talk shows or blog sites: the grips and the gaffers and the extras casters, the craft services and painters and prop finders, the location scouts and managers, the production office runners and p.a.’s and the transportation providers. These Oregonians never know where their next pay-check is coming from, and sacrifice a normal lifestyle with steady wages in order to be available on a moment’s notice to Productions who want to film in Oregon, and whose professionalism keeps these productions coming back. Continue reading... “Oregon's Celebrated Film Crew”

Extreme Makeover Reveals………..

The crew at Extreme Makeover have been working around the clock for the past few weeks to get ready for the big reveal of the School for the Deaf in Salem today.  As well as the school, they have also overhauled their haunted house that acts as an annual school fundraiser.

Paige Hemmis and Michael Moloney of Extreme Makeover in Salem, Oregon

For more information read the article in the Statesman Journal.com. Continue reading... “Extreme Makeover Reveals………..”

Glowing review of "Meeks Cutoff" from Variety

Meeks Cutoff

Variety film critic Justin Chang gave a rave review of Kelly Reichardt’s film “Meeks Cutoff” last week in Variety.  He saw the film at the Venice film festival.  Among the things he praised were the locations credited to location scout Roger Faires.  How often does a location person get credit in a review? Here’s an excerpt from the review.

“Reichardt’s decision to shoot in the 1.33 aspect ratio enhances the docu-like feel and yields one majestic composition after another, the nearly square frame capturing the wide-openness of these harshly beautiful desert vistas (Roger Faires is credited for the film’s Oregon locations, which look utterly of the period). Continue reading... “Glowing review of "Meeks Cutoff" from Variety”

Portlandia Appearing at Musicfest NW?

Photo from ThunderAnt Website - Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen

Just picked this up from Kristi Turnquit’s article in The Oregonian and  Willamette Week blog.  Sounds like the IFC show “Portlandia” will be able to use the popular Musicfest Northwest to its benefit.  According to the report in the blog, the show will be shooting part of its series at the Festival next week.  Also in the article is the mention of several guest appearances in the show – band members from the Shins and Decemberists, Gus Van Sant, Selma Blair, Kyle MacLachlan and Steve Buscemi.  Continue reading... “Portlandia Appearing at Musicfest NW?”

Fluid Images Honored by OSU

Fluid Images' (Central Oregon) Strada Crane facilitating TV coverage at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Fluid Images, based in Sisters, Central Oregon, is being honored by OSU in receiving the “Orange Spotlight” award.   (The award singles out companies that, amongst other things, are innovative,  stimulate and support the local economy as well as hire skilled and talented OSU alums).

Fluid Images was founded in 1990 when Bob Johnson (OSU graduate) and his son Rick, built  the 72 foot Akela Crane in their barn.  Continue reading... “Fluid Images Honored by OSU”

Extreme Makeover shows up in Salem, OR to help School for the Deaf

Courtesy of the Statesman Journal
Courtesy of The Oregonian

Today in Salem the long running ABC show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” showed up at the Oregon School for the Deaf.  This season the show is focusing on community projects and they picked the school this year for their Halloween episode as they will be remaking the school’s dorm and a new haunted house.  Construction on the project began today and the project is slated to be completed by next Sunday.  All of the students from the school are traveling to Minnesota to visit the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Continue reading... “Extreme Makeover shows up in Salem, OR to help School for the Deaf”

Portland Printing Company Creates a New England Wonderland for 'Leverage'

The Intern Report: How Oregon Businesses Profit From Local Productions

This is the final installment of the “Intern Report”, a series of 4 articles about the Oregon businesses that work with the production industry. This last segment takes us to a printing company in Southeast Portland called OBP Digital. Thanks for reading!

Michal Orczyk

Oregon Governor’s Office of Film and Television
Continue reading... “Portland Printing Company Creates a New England Wonderland for 'Leverage'”