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”

MOPAN helps with broadcast from Oregon State Fair

When the bulk of the high profile and higher budget film and video work happens in the Portland metro area, we at the film office naturally get caught up with detailing all the good work happening in the Portland area.  But there is plenty of interesting work happening outside the Portland area and we would be remiss not to mention it.  Recently the Eugene based MOPAN redesigned their website and added a blog feature.  I’m not sure how much credit should go to new President Erik Talbert but I wanted to highlight one posting Erik put up today regarding the national broadcast shoot that happened at the Oregon State Fair.  Continue reading... “MOPAN helps with broadcast from Oregon State Fair”

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”

The Intern Report: Film Industry a Budding Market for Portland Florist

How Oregon Businesses Profit From Local Productions

Over the next few weeks, just as I wrap up my internship at the Governor’s Office of Film and Television, I’ll be delivering the fruits of my labor in this four-part series on the media industry’s effects on the local economy. Since late June I’ve been interviewing Oregon businesses that work with production companies to see how the presence of the film and media industry has affected the local economy. Florists, hardware store owners – these people might seem to have little connection to the film industry. Continue reading... “The Intern Report: Film Industry a Budding Market for Portland Florist”

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’”

OREGON LENS Spotlights Northwest Independent Filmmakers

OPB Press Release:

Oregon Public Broadcasting brings indie-theater directly into your home over five nights in August as the work of some of the Pacific Northwest’s most talented independent producers is showcased on OREGON LENS August 16-20 at 10pm.

“We’ve some exceptional films in season 12,” said Steve Amen, executive producer and host of OREGON LENS. “Oregon is rising fast on the independent filmmaking scene. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching a course in filmmaking at PSU over the past couple of years, and I continue to be amazed by the talent in our community,” said Amen. Continue reading... “OREGON LENS Spotlights Northwest Independent Filmmakers”

Interesting Trend in Box Office Receipts

I was reading this post from Deadline Hollywood today that predicts that the U.S. box office receipts will only account for 30% of the total worldwide box office receipts by 2014.  That’s an amazing number.  Why?  Because it will most likely change the way films are developed.  If you’ve already noticed that there are more and more films out there that require less dialogue (think all of the comic book films and “Transformers”) it’s probably because the studios are looking to appeal to the world wide market more than before. Continue reading... “Interesting Trend in Box Office Receipts”

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"”