The Confluence

The Oregon Story Board Announces Its Inaugural Accelerator Class

The Oregon Story Board announced its five early-stage companies that were selected for the first OSB Accelerator Class. There is a vibrant mix of film & video, digital media, animation, content, and gaming industries – all that “make up Oregon’s digital storytelling ecosystem”.* The companies are:

CHROMA Chroma makes high-design tools for the creative class. Their first product is Chroma Signal, a mobile app that allows users to create, share, and subscribe to YouTube playlists. Chroma makes it easier to create and distribute lo-fi TV content with great storylines.

Governor’s Office of Film & TV Has New Executive Director

The Oregon Governor’s Office of Film & Television Board announced today the appointment of Tim Williams as Executive Director. Williams comes to the job after a lengthy search by the Oregon Film Board and plans to officially start in Oregon Film’s Portland office by October 1st.

Previously based in London and New York, and now living in Los Angeles, Williams has a long history in film and TV production and finance throughout the US and internationally. He recently worked for Fox Searchlight during preparations for their upcoming film “Wild” – which shot on more locations throughout Oregon than any other feature film.

“Simpsons” Mural Unveiled In Springfield, Oregon

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24BDp6XHNLk&list=UURT4LEdCBC_Zxincl76B0yQ[/youtube]

Honoring the 25th Anniversary of “The Simpsons“, a mural went up on the side of the Emerald Arts Center in downtown Springfield with Matt Groenings’s blessing. It can finally be put to rest ,that the Springfield in the show is indeed the Springfield in Oregon!

Laika’s “The Boxtrolls” Screens At 71st Venice Film Festival

[youtube]http://youtu.be/z3eHd87dx6M[/youtube]

Laika’s third big, stop motion feature, “The Box Trolls” screened out of competition last Sunday at the 71st Venice Film Festival and in theatres later this month, (September 26th).

Based on Alan Snow’s “Here Be Monsters”, the cardboard wearing Boxtrolls live beneath the streets of Cheesborough, only coming up from underground at night to collect items they need to build machines for their underground city. Ben Kinglsey, Elle Fanning, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Richard Ayoade all star in feature, with Anthony Stacchi (“Open Season”) and Graham Annabel (story artist on “Coraline” and “ParaNorman“) co-directing, and produced by Travis Knight and David Ichioka.

“Brother In Laws” Currently Filming in Southern Oregon

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN_Ugujh77c[/youtube]

Bill Pullman (“Independence Day”, “While You Were Sleeping”) and Rita Wilson (“Jingle All The Way”, “Runaway Bride”) are currently starring in “Brother In Laws” (working title) shooting in and around Klamath Falls this month and next. Downtown Klamath Falls, a rural cabin, and Lake of Woods are some of a number of locations being used. Line Producer, Jenny Hinkey, told NBC 2 News, that she expects at least $700,000 will be spent in the local economy. Hinkey said, “In a very brief amount of time we can have a have a great impact on an area, and it’s a lot of fun for the community”.

Fox Searchlight’s “Wild” Premieres In Telluride

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2-GSqPyl0[/youtube]

The 41st Telluride Film Festival announced it’s lineup today. Fox Searchlight Picture’s “Wild” will be premiering at the festival. “Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon, and produced by her production company, Pacific Standard, shot in more locations throughout Oregon than any other project filmed in the state to date. From southern Oregon; Crater Lake and Ashland; to the Badlands, Smith Rock and Bend in Central Oregon; and also the Portland metro area, Timberline and Bridge of The Gods in the Columbia River Gorge, to name a few.

Roy W. Dean Fall Filmmaker Grant Now Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the Roy W. Dean Fall Grant. The grant gives filmmakers a chance to get their films going or completed with an award of $2,500 in cash and $30,000 in film products and services. Films can be documentaries, short films, and features and must be unique and contribute to society. Deadline for submission is September 30th, 2014

New this year for the grant is the Britt Penrod Audience Award. Twenty finalists chosen for the grant will have the opportunity to enter their trailers in competition for a $250 cash prize.

Stop-Motion Series in Eastern Oregon Needs Your Help

Chuck Peters, a small town filmmaker and LEGO stop-motion animator has launched his Kickstarter campaign for his latest project Hak and Gnasher. The campaign’s aim is to raise $1350.00 for acquiring the necessary LEGO bricks, animation software, and a DSLR camera to allow him to produce his web series Hak and Gnasher in house. The campaign is over half over, with only 25 days left, and he has raised 67% of the goal so far.

Boinx Software, developer of the popular stop-motion animation apps iStopMotion for iPad and iStopMotion for Mac, recently published a story to their blog to help raise awareness for the Hak & Gnasher Kickstarter campaign.

VFX/PDX and OMSI Science Pub present: Cardboard Castle + Live MoCap with CCC, 8/19 @ Crystal Ballroom

Join us for a night dedicated to all things imagination as Cooper Johnson & his crew at Cardboard Castle will guide us through inspiration laden breakdowns of their recent work. Also on hand will be Damon Redmond (Art Director at SuperGenius by day/instructor at CCC by night) and DMC department Director Andy Mingo from Clackamas Community College, both strapped with a loaded Motion Capture setup, with intent to demo it! There are some lively things happening down at CCC, which will be undeniably clear after seeing the tech in action.

Oregon Girl Turns Web-series into Major Hollywood Deal

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK8R94SDijg[/youtube]

This is one of those local success stories that we love to hear. If you haven’t already read the recent story in Willamette Week, “80 Million Paige Views: How an Oregon girl, her mother and a struggling local director turned their YouTube series into a major Hollywood deal,” we definitely suggest taking a look at the full article.

Paige McKenzie, who lives in rural Oregon, about an hour outside Portland started her YouTube ghost series, The Haunting of Sunshine Girl, in 2010.

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