SOU’s Film School is a Rising Star, with Growing Ambitions

Andrew Gay, dean of the SOU School of Arts and Communications, talks about how the school’s Digital Cinema Department has grown to be one of the best in the country. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

Ashland News recently did a great story on the Digital Cinema Program at Southern Oregon University after it was was recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as a Top Film School in the US and Canada.

Alongside big-name schools such as the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles, SOU was chosen for its hands-on education and networking opportunities with Film Southern Oregon and the Ashland Independent Film Festival. Continue reading... “SOU’s Film School is a Rising Star, with Growing Ambitions”

The Hollywood Commission Presents “Creating a Welcoming, Inclusive and Accessible Production”

The 2022-2023 Entertainment Industry Survey revealed that workers with a disability experience discrimination more than any other population of entertainment workers. They are twice as likely to report they “often” or “very often” experience bullying, bias, and sexually harassing behaviors, compared to workers without a disability.

This training from Disability Belongs, a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, will walk organizations through building an environment of inclusion. Trainers will discuss small, easy-to-implement disability inclusion initiatives that will make production workplaces accessible to millions of people with disabilities. Continue reading... “The Hollywood Commission Presents “Creating a Welcoming, Inclusive and Accessible Production””

Confluence Filmmaker Fellows Opens for Submissions

Confluence is pleased to announce the second Confluence Filmmaker Fellows program.

Three Indigenous video artists will receive cash prizes to support a film project they are developing: one for $5,000 and two for $2,500. Three other Emerging Indigenous Filmmakers will receive full camera kits (or equivalent cost equipment, calculated at $800) so that they can take their craft to the next level.

Eligible projects would align broadly to Confluence’s mission to connect people to the history, living cultures, and ecology of our region through Indigenous voices. Continue reading... “Confluence Filmmaker Fellows Opens for Submissions”

Level Up: Filmmaker Career Advancement Toolkit Workshop

Join us and independent filmmaker Dawn Jones Redstone (www.dawnjonesredstone.com) for this fun and informative deep dive into what it takes to be an indie filmmaker in 2024. Space is limited so get your ticket today!

This introductory class will equip you with the knowledge you need to get your film out into the world, covering everything from project conception and funding to production and distribution, bios, pitch decks, websites and reels. Honing in on the power of intentional storytelling, we’ll focus on your personal values as an artist, taking risks, and fostering community connections. Continue reading... “Level Up: Filmmaker Career Advancement Toolkit Workshop”

SOU Digital Cinema Named as a Top Film School

It’s official: Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program makes SOU one of the best film schools in North America. The current edition of MovieMaker magazine, which bills itself as the world’s most widely read independent film magazine, includes SOU among its picks for the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada.”

“When we launched the Digital Cinema program in fall 2019, one of our big aspirations was to become a nationally-ranked film school,” said Andrew Gay, a professor of Digital Cinema and director of SOU’s School of Arts & Communication. Continue reading... “SOU Digital Cinema Named as a Top Film School”

BendFilm Announces: Basecamp

BendFilm, the nonprofit independent cinema organization, today announced BendFilm: Basecamp, a three-day immersive retreat for emerging creatives and their industry counterparts to connect, learn and collaborate. BendFilm: Basecamp will take place at Caldera Arts outside Sisters, Oregon, from October 7-10, 2024, and flow directly into the 21st annual Bend Film Festival (which takes place October 10-13, 2024, across venues throughout Bend and beyond). BendFilm: Basecamp’s inaugural year is made possible, in part, by the generosity of the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Continue reading... “BendFilm Announces: Basecamp”

Desert Island Studios Hosts First “Level Up” Workshop

Desert Island Studios in Portland hosted its first Level Up Workshop last weekend. According to the hosts and the attendees, the event was a tremendous success.

With these Level Up Workshops, DIS strives to provide educational content that will be relevant to a variety of experience levels, accompanied by targeted outreach meant to entice participants for whom the material is most appropriate.

In the wake of the pandemic and recent strikes, DIS feels it’s an important time to equip future generations of media makers with the invaluable tools and knowledge they will need to be successful in their careers. Continue reading... “Desert Island Studios Hosts First “Level Up” Workshop”

Inspiring the New Generation of Filmmakers

George Fox University is hosting a Film Production Institute for high school students this summer at its campus in Newberg. Oregon Film community members are entitled to a $500 scholarship for their children and dependents. This is in appreciation for Oregon Film’s collaboration with George Fox to use the Newberg campus as a regular filming location.

Professor Alex Chung, an alumnus of the Sundance Film Festival, who has written, directed and produced numerous projects, optioned several screenplays, and has crewed on dozens of features and short films in varying capacities, will lead the institute. Continue reading... “Inspiring the New Generation of Filmmakers”

Portland Community College Plans Animation Degree, Backed by Laika

In an exciting development for the Oregon animation community, Portland Community College announced plans to offer an animation degree beginning in 2025, partly funded by a $60,000 donation from Oregon film studio Laika.

Laika announced Tuesday that it will give $30,000 to the PCC Foundation in each of the next two years to help fund three new classes in animation and stop-motion filmmaking, and the new degree in animation and motion graphics.

In addition, Oregon Film supports a paid placement at Laika for a PCC student each year through the Creative Opportunity Program. Continue reading... “Portland Community College Plans Animation Degree, Backed by Laika”

Desert Island Studios Launches the DAMN Good People List

Damn Good People is a DEI-focused concierge staffing service facilitated by Desert Island Studios that matches mid to advanced-level production creatives and technicians to production jobs in Oregon. When a project partners with us, we work with their production team to facilitate the sourcing and hiring of talent from our roster based on their project needs. The DAMN list is vetted and can fulfill a variety of crew needs across all departments. Our roster represents a talented community of mid-level professionals from traditionally underrepresented communities within the film/tv/commercial industry. Continue reading... “Desert Island Studios Launches the DAMN Good People List”