“The Wilderness of James” to World Premiere at SXSW

The Wilderness of James

The iOPIF feature, “The Wilderness of James“, that shot in Portland in 2012, is to have it’s world premiere at SXSW this year.  Michael Johnson (formerly from Kamp Grizzly), wrote and directed the feature,  it stars Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Road”, voice of Norman Babcock in “ParaNorman”), Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”), Isabelle Fuhrman (“Orphan”), Evan Ross (“Jeff Who Lives At home”), and Danny Devito (“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”).
Johnson grew up in Portland and graduated from the University of Oregon before moving to Los Angeles to start his career.  Continue reading... ““The Wilderness of James” to World Premiere at SXSW”

Moviemaker Magazine Awards Two Oregon Cities With Honors For “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2014”!

Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 12.30.33 PM

In years gone by, Moviemaker Magazine lumped together big city and small town to compete for the sought after title of, “Best Places To Live and Work as a Moviemaker”.  This year, the magazine has split their list into three components:

  • Top Big Cities (they define as more than 50,000 residents)
  • Top Small Cities (100,000)
  • Top Towns (under 100,000)

We are excited to see that two Oregon cities took honors in the Big City and Town categories – Portland and Ashland! Continue reading... “Moviemaker Magazine Awards Two Oregon Cities With Honors For “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2014”!”

FiLMLaB’s 2014 Script to Screen Competition Now Open

Alis Volat Propriis stars Katie Michels and Randall Jahnson, and writer Haley Isleib at the 2013 OIFF Awards Ceremony
Alis Volat Propriis stars Katie Michels and Randall Jahnson, and writer Haley Isleib at the 2013 OIFF Awards Ceremony

Willamette Writers is soliciting entries for the 2014 FiLMLaB Script to Screen short film scriptwriting competition. We seek writers with the ability to tell a compelling story quickly and cinematically, while adhering to a theme and a practical eye towards real-life movie production. Unique to scriptwriting contests, the Script to Screen Competition grand prize is this: we will produce a short film based on the winning script! Continue reading... “FiLMLaB’s 2014 Script to Screen Competition Now Open”

Portland Writer, Lidia Yuknavitch’s Novel Optioned by Hollywood Director Katherine Brooks

Portland writer Lidia Yuknavitch‘s novel ‘Dora: A Headcase‘ was just
optioned by MTV director Katherine BrooksBrooks’ credits include “The Osbournes,” “The Real World,” and the feature films“Loving Annabelle”and “Waking Madison.” ‘Dora’ is a modern retelling of Sigmund Freud’s famous case study of a young girl.

 
Continue reading... “Portland Writer, Lidia Yuknavitch’s Novel Optioned by Hollywood Director Katherine Brooks”

Hollywood Theatre Spreading the Good Word on Hope For Film

I don’t know what’s appropriate when it comes to blogging about a blog, but it was brought to my attention that the good works at the Hollywood Theatre made it on Ted Hope’s “Hope For Film” blog this week and I needed to help spread the word.  Justen Harn is the Director of Programs and Community Engagement at the Hollywood Theatre and his work along with Executive Director Doug Whyte continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a movie theatre in the 21st Century.  Continue reading... “Hollywood Theatre Spreading the Good Word on Hope For Film”

Reese Witherspoon’s “Wild” Shot More Locations In Oregon Than Any Other Project To Date

(All these great Oregon pictures were taken by Reese Witherspoon while on location for “Wild”)

It was gratifying that “Wild” shot in more places in our state than any other feature film to date.  Reese Witherspoon (“Walk The Line, Mud”) traveled the entire length of Oregon from southern and central regions, up to the Gorge and Portland metro while shooting (author), Cheryl Strayed’s, NY Times best-seller novel, “Wild”.  Witherspoon is not only starring in this Fox Searchlight feature, but producing with business partner Bruna Papandrea (“Warm Bodies”, “all Good Things”) under their Pacific Standard banner, and River Road’s, Bill Pohland (“The Tree of Life”, “Twelve Years A Slave”). Continue reading... “Reese Witherspoon’s “Wild” Shot More Locations In Oregon Than Any Other Project To Date”

Oregon Story Board Appoints Nicholas de Wolff Executive Director

December 6, 2013 – Portland, Oregon – Oregon Story Board, launched earlier this year by a consortium of research, private, and state groups, today welcomes its inaugural Executive Director Nicholas de Wolff, after a comprehensive national search. Nicholas will be responsible for developing and overseeing the organization’s strategic and operational mission.

“We were incredibly impressed with the quality of candidates that applied for this position,” said Vince Porter, Executive Director of the Oregon Governor’s Office of Film and Television, one of the groups involved with the initiative, “and it became clear early on that Nicholas was at the top of the list. Continue reading... “Oregon Story Board Appoints Nicholas de Wolff Executive Director”

“Wild” Has Been Attracting Public Interest As Well As Local And National Press

Reese Witherspoon’s caption to go along with her picture, “Good morning from deepest Oregon”.

“Wild” has been getting a lot of public and press attention in Ashland and Crater Lake in the last two weeks.  Reese Witherspoon has been adding interest by posting daily pictures from the film’s locations in southern Oregon.

Below is a recent round up of some local, national and international news pieces on “Wild”:

KDRV and KTVL had some video coverage, and the Herald, Mail Tribune and The Daily Tidings also covered the story. Continue reading... ““Wild” Has Been Attracting Public Interest As Well As Local And National Press”

Polluted Pictures premieres new film online

Director of last year’s Cell Count makes new short film “M is for Marriage” to be considered as part of the ABC’s of Death 2 anthology film.


PORTLAND, Oregon (October 28, 2013)  Polluted Pictures (Cell Count) and Lyon Films (The Tell) are proud to announce their new film “M is for Marriage” is now available for viewing on the ABC’s of Death 2 search for the 26th Director competition page.  The film is currently in 4th place in over 250+ entries from around the world. Continue reading... “Polluted Pictures premieres new film online”

Official “Start of Production” Release for “Wild” is Out – New Cast Revealed

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

A UNIT OF 21ST CENTURY FOX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES BEGINS PRODUCTION ON “WILD”

 JEAN-MARC VALLÉE DIRECTS ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER REESE WITHERSPOON
IN NICK HORNBY’S ADAPTATION OF CHERYL STRAYED BEST-SELLING BOOK

LOS ANGELES, CA  October 11, 2013Fox Searchlight Pictures announced that director Jean-Marc Valléebegan principal photography in Oregon this week on WILD. The film stars Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (WALK THE LINE, MUD).  The screenplay is adapted by Oscar nominated writer Nick Hornby (AN EDUCATION, High Fidelity) from author Cheryl Strayed’s NY Times #1 best-seller Wild, the book that re-launched Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. Continue reading... “Official “Start of Production” Release for “Wild” is Out – New Cast Revealed”