Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (POWFest) Announces 2012 Program Highlights

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/36804544[/vimeo]

Portland, Oregon – February 15, 2012 – The Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (a.k.a. POWFest) is excited to announce the programming highlights of our upcoming 5th Anniversary festival scheduled to take place March 8 – 11, 2012 at the Hollywood Theatre.

As the only film festival in Portland exclusively dedicated to showcasing films directed by women and encouraging women to take on the director’s chair; we are one of only a handful of festivals in the U.S. dedicated to women-directed film.  Continue reading... “Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival (POWFest) Announces 2012 Program Highlights”

Superbowl Ads Once Again Have an Oregon Connection

Last year Portland’s powerhouse ad agency Weiden + Kennedy made waves with their Chrysler commercial featuring Eminem.  This year it was Clint Eastwood.  (I can’t embed the clip so here’s the link) http://www.youtube.com/chrysler?sid=1037056&KWNM=chrysler+commercial&KWID=3179744957SB_2012&channel=paidsearch The spot which aired at halftime of the Superbowl was almost as much of a pep rally as it was a commercial.  It’s already received a lot of buzz and sure to continue through the week.  W+K also scored with several Coca Cola commercials featuring their animated Polar Bears.  Continue reading... “Superbowl Ads Once Again Have an Oregon Connection”

All Three Oregon Produced Shows Airing New Episdoes this Weekend!

Are you ready for a weekend full of Oregon produced Television?  Starting tonight on IFC “Portlandia” airs episode 2 of its second season.  Tonight’s episode includes guest stars Jeff Goldblum, Edward James Olmos, Eddie Vedder, and even an Eddie Vedder tatoo.  I had the chance to see the episode early and I have to say that the Portland Allergy Pride Parade is hilarious!  Season 2 got off to a great start last week and the ratings were greatly improved from Season 1. Continue reading... “All Three Oregon Produced Shows Airing New Episdoes this Weekend!”

Hollywood Trades in the City of Stars for the City of Roses

Posted by Carly Petrone, U of O Grad Student

Filmmakers begin to move film and television production up to the Pacific Northwest.

Portland, Ore. – Portland, Oregon is rapidly becoming the next production capital of the west thanks to the hit television show Portlandia, which debuted on the Independent Film Channel last January.

The wildly popular show, set to debut its second season in January 2012, stars comedians Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. Armisen, best known as a returning cast member of Saturday Night Live and Brownstein, a former band member of Portland-based Sleater Kinney, first grabbed viewers attention when the six-episode series aired earlier this year. Continue reading... “Hollywood Trades in the City of Stars for the City of Roses”

Official Trailer to the Feature Film “Cell Count.”

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/34222769[/vimeo]

Written and Directed By Todd E. Freeman
Produced By The Bros. Freeman and Lara Cuddy
Executive Producers: Roger and Jen Wood

Release Date:  2012
Genre:  Sci-Fi / Horror
Studio:  Polluted Pictures in association with Wooden Frame Productions

Description:  Feature film currently in Post Production.

Plot Outline:  Russell Carpenter reluctantly admits his wife Sadie into an experimental treatment facility for her life threatening disease. While locked in this prison like surrounding they, along with 6 others, are unknowingly subjected to a cure that might just be worse than the disease itself. Continue reading... “Official Trailer to the Feature Film “Cell Count.””

DIY Spirit Shines with People’s Portlandia

Last year the TV show Portlandia drew attention to some of the qualities that make our city unique.  Maybe for some of you those skits and characters paled in comparison to your own experiences living in Portland.  Alongside the second season of Portlandia, the Hollywood Theatre, in patnership with PSU’s MFA in Art and Social Practice program will host the first ever “People’s Portlandia,” a collection of Portlandia inspired skits made by Portland residents.

Entries will be accepted through www.peoplesportlandia.com beginning in early December.   Continue reading... “DIY Spirit Shines with People’s Portlandia”

Oregon Film “The Perception of Moving Targets” Selected to Screen at Sundance

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/27963192[/vimeo]

Local film maker Weston Currie’s film “The Perception of Moving Targets” will screen at the Sundance Film Festival as a part of the New Frontier series.  Here’s a link to more info on the film via the Sundance Website. The festival has featured quite a few films from Oregon in past years including last year’s award winning documentary “How to Die in Oregon”.  According to Weston’s bio on the Sundance site this is his first feature after several short form films.  Continue reading... “Oregon Film “The Perception of Moving Targets” Selected to Screen at Sundance”

Elemental Technologies receives award for Innovation in Media Arts

It sounds like a cliché but it’s very true.  Innovation is a key ingredient to future economic growth.  This is as true in the media industry as it is any other.   Over the past few years Oregon has seen several promising media technology companies start up.  One such company is Elemental Technologies, which is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.  Founded in 2006 by CEO Sam Blackman, Chief Technology Officer Jesse Rosenzweig, and Chief Architect Brian Lewis, Elemental has raised over $16 million in financing, which has directly resulted in Elemental’s rapid ascension to become one of the world’s leaders in software designed for video content creation.  Continue reading... “Elemental Technologies receives award for Innovation in Media Arts”

An New Way For Actors and Models To Promote Themselves.

Photo of Aris Juson by Levy Moroshan Photography

Do you have a reel?  Head shot?  Website?  I’m sure if you are, or want to be, a professional actor or model you’ve been asked these questions by filmmakers, casting directors, and agents.  Sometimes the answer can be long with explanations.  Other times you have everything you need but have a hard time getting them all tightly bundled for easy consumption.

So you might ask be asking yourself… “What is that strange looking black box on the picture above?”  Continue reading... “An New Way For Actors and Models To Promote Themselves.”

Stop Talking about your Film and Make It.

That’s what you keep telling yourself. Well, why wait another year or another day?

The Northwest Film Center School of Film is offering an array of weeknight and weekend hands-on classes, starting throughout January.  Write that romance you’re always thinking about, launch that documentary, meet other aspiring makers and creatives, get a leg up on entry level opportunities within the film scene, animate with an Oscar-winning director, or geek out with Super 8mm film (they still do that? YES!) and other technical workshops. Continue reading... “Stop Talking about your Film and Make It.”