Aimee Mann in "Portlandia"?

I was just scanning the twitter universe and picked up on a tweet from Aimee Mann (thanks PA Wilhelm!).  Apparently she just left Portland after doing a bit on the show “Portlandia”.  Here’s her tweet –

aimeemann

I had a great time shooting my thing in “Portlandia.” Fred and Carrie are so hilarious together. It was very fun! But weirdly exhausting!

Although “Portlandia” is not due out on IFC until next year, I’m guessing it’s going to build it’s own audience before anyone sees a frame of footage.  Continue reading... “Aimee Mann in "Portlandia"?”

Like "The Simpsons" and Portland? – Bill Oakley is your guy on Twitter

As is the case when you do a little digging, it’s amazing how many talented writers, directors, actors, and other creative professionals living in Oregon slightly under the radar. A few months ago I met such a talented individual – Bill Oakley. Bill was the show runner for the sixth and seventh seasons of “The Simpsons” as well as many other credits and now he calls Portland his home.

Recently I picked up on Twitter that Bill has started up a Twitter account and I found several of the postings to be pretty funny. Continue reading... “Like "The Simpsons" and Portland? – Bill Oakley is your guy on Twitter”

IFC Takes Comedy Journey to ‘Portlandia’

‘SNL’ vet Armisen co-created, co-stars in sketch series

IFC has given a greenlight to a Lorne Michaels-exec produced sketch comedy half-hour, “Portlandia,” co-created by and starring Fred Armisen of “Saturday Night Live.”

The series, which begins production of six episodes in Portland, Ore., this month, is scheduled to premiere on IFC in early 2011. Former Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein co-created “Portlandia” with Armisen and co-stars in the series, which will be directed by fellow creator Jonathan Krisel of “SNL.” Continue reading... “IFC Takes Comedy Journey to ‘Portlandia’”

Extras Casting Call: TNT's "Leverage"

Casting Company, EXTRAS ONLY, announces FINAL EXTRAS CASTING CALL FOR SEASON 3 of the hit TV show, “LEVERAGE.”

EXTRAS ONLY, Portland’s busiest extras casting company with recent credits that include “Extraordinary Measures” with Harrison Ford and “Twilight”, is still casting real people to be paid extras in episodes of LEVERAGE Season 3, still filming in Portland!

Casting Director, Danny Stoltz, says in general his company is “always looking for real people of all types who are interested in working as extras. Continue reading... “Extras Casting Call: TNT's "Leverage"”

La Grande Summer Film Project: Community Filmmaking Opportunity

La  Grande Summer Film Project

Eastern Oregon Film Festival in conjunction with Crossing the Blues: La Grande Summer Festival is pleased to present the 3rd annual La Grande Summer Film Project. The project will kick off on Friday August 13th, with a Night Life social event at White House Coffee (1702 Fourth Street). Teams will be identified, organized, and specific criteria for their film will be given. After the participants have had a chance to “schmooze”, ACTION will be called at 9:00pm – and the filmmakers have 48 hours to deliver their final project. Continue reading... “La Grande Summer Film Project: Community Filmmaking Opportunity”

Old Spice Guy in Portland

Weiden + Kennedy are taking their Old Spice Campaign to the web – in real time!  The past few days they have been recording personalized messages and posting the videos on YouTube and it’s become quite the phenomenon!  Read Write Web got the low down on what W+K is up to.  If you type in  “Old Spice” on YouTube, you’ll see all the videos.  My personal favorite is the message to Alyssa Milano which has already had 72,000 posts.

P.S. Continue reading... “Old Spice Guy in Portland”

Oregon's Diverse Talent Base – its Greatest Strength

Oregon Talent

Whether it’s the thriving independent music scene, live theater, or a combination of multiple creative disciplines, there is no doubt Oregon is a thriving base of creative expression.   According to the Oregon Arts Commission over 60,000 jobs in Oregon are directly related to the creative economy.  That may not sound like a lot of jobs but when you figure that Oregon has about 1/10 of the population of California, it’s a large section of the total workforce in Oregon.  So when a film or television project comes to Oregon, there is a rich and diverse depth of talent to pull from. Continue reading... “Oregon's Diverse Talent Base – its Greatest Strength”

Solid Local Training Helps Oregon Talent Succeed

Contributor – Karen LaVoie, Acting Coach

As more productions roll into Oregon, doors will be opening up for Oregon-based acting talent to make connections and start a career in Los Angeles. But making the move isn’t easy! To make sure Oregon actors are competitive with their rivals, Karen LaVoie provides top-notch coaching to actors in Portland and LA. Using classic techniques alongside new ones, Karen gives her students a thorough training in convincing acting. Her coaching includes on-camera training, location shooting, and one-on-one auditions, as well as industry skills and services like self-marketing techniques, headshots, resumes, and acting reels.  Continue reading... “Solid Local Training Helps Oregon Talent Succeed”

Oregon has Talent! – from an Agency Perspective

Arthouse

Contributor – Kaili Canfield

What do you think of when someone says “Oregon”? Do you think of mountains and rivers and cool coffee shops? Hipsters on bicycles riding in the rain? You wouldn’t be alone if you did! What I think about when someone says “Oregon” is quite different – I think of TALENT. Continue reading... “Oregon has Talent! – from an Agency Perspective”

Portland has been Hiding a Hotbed of Comedic Talent

"The 3rd Floor" photo by Tracey Wilson Photography

Article by Ted Douglass

It’s taken a while, but Portland is finally starting to wake up to the fact that it has its very own exciting comedy scene right under its nose. Sure, there have been a few stand-ups, improv performers and sketch-comedy troupes that have been toiling away long enough to be considered Rose City institutions (nationally renowned acts like Lonnie Bruhn, Dax Jordan, The Bridgetown Comedy Festival, ComedySportz, The Brody Theater, The Liberators, The 3rd Floor, etc…), but it hasn’t been until this year, that members of these niche operations have begun stepping outside of their own brands to co-mingle on various projects. Continue reading... “Portland has been Hiding a Hotbed of Comedic Talent”