The Confluence

Commercial Production Brings Value to the Community, the Environment and the Local Economy at the Same Time

Not uncommonly, we just had a major US retailer shoot a commercial here in Oregon but this one was different, they did it with a sustainable mandate that came from the client’s corporate office. The greening company, EcoSet was hired to oversee the process. EcoSet operate as an “environmental production resource committed to implementing customized, practical, and sustainable environmental solutions for commercial productions”. A relatively new breed of environmentalists are finding a way to green commercial and feature productions in creative and resourceful ways by plugging into what communities already offer.

New Behind the Scenes Footage of “Leverage” Premiere

As the Season 4 premiere of “Leverage” approaches, more and more photos and video footage is coming online to promote the premiere. This year the premiere episode takes place up on top of a mountain. The real mountain was Oregon’s Mt. Hood and in February, Mt. Hood gets A LOT of snow. During the shoot, the cast and crew endured an even bigger than normal snowfall but after enduring the elements, it’s apparent that they got a great premiere episode.

This week Entertainment Weekly’s website is featuring some behind the scenes footage from the show featuring Mt.

Wait, That Was Done In Oregon?

If you’ve ever watched IFC then you’ve seen their signature quirky-cool ad campaign. But did you know that it was designed and created by Oregon-based Feel Good Anyway? Or that the 40+ special effects in the NBC movie “A Walk in My Shoes” were done by Portland’s visual effects company Hive-FX? Or if you’ve been to Canada lately and seen Koodo Mobile’s adorable spokesman El Tabador, that he was produced by Bent Image Labs based in – you guessed it – Oregon?

Eastern Oregon Film Festival 2011: Open for Submissions

Now Accepting Submissions! The Eastern Oregon Film Festival is slated for October 20, 21, & 22 this year, right here in downtown La Grande, Oregon. If you missed last year’s event, or only got a small taste, be on the up and up to get info on participation in this years festival.

Eastern Oregon Film Festival has just launched a new website and are now accepting submission for films. Early bird-discount runs through the 16th so get you final cut wrapped up and get your film submitted.

Case Study: Hive FX brings VFX sizzle to “A Walk in My Shoes”

Filmed entirely in and around Portland, A Walk In My Shoes tells the story of a stressed-out high school teacher who wrecks her car and finds herself living in the shoes of the mother of one of her students – a woman she had previously judged and criticized. The movie features over 40 special effects sequences used to underscore the ‘magic’ in the storyline – all of which were created by www.hive-fx.com at its Portland-based headquarters.   “Our contribution to this great movie goes to prove that you don’t have to go to Hollywood to get Hollywood-grade VFX,” said HIVE-FX partner Jim Clark.

“Patrick’s Story” at Breckenridge Festival of Film

Breckenridge Festival of Film recognizes local filmmaker’s doc ‘Patrick’s Story’

Another Oregon documentary is making waves on the film-festival circuit.

Martin Vavra’s doc “Patrick’s Story” has been accepted into Colorado’s Breckenridge Festival of Film.

“Patrick’s Story” follows a gay man, Patrick, who was removed from a Portland hospital as his partner lay dying.

Vavra explores what the word “marriage” means in our culture — taking a powerful look at the social confusion associated with registered domestic partnership rights.

Oregonian Interviews “Leverage’s” Timothy Hutton

We’re lucky enough to have a local media community that by in large likes to write about the local projects. One journalist that stands out as a huge supporter of the local community is Kristi Turnquist. Yesterday the Oregonian published this interview with “Leverage” star Timothy Hutton. It was a nice interview and Timothy opened up about filming in Portland, this year’s premiere episode which was shot on Mount Hood, and the direction of Season 4.

For those of you who don’t know, “Leverage” is due to premiere season 4 on June 26.

Case Study: Feel Good Anyway IFC Rebrand

In early 2010, Oregon shop Feel Good Anyway began an intense journey into the heart of a network rebrand for IFC. IFC’s vision for the project was to extend the channel’s reach beyond indie film to include a wide selection of indie culture. Music, film, food, sex, gaming, internet shenanigans—all of these categories would be within IFC’s creative domain. They placed a particular emphasis on comedy as a focal point for the new brand, and everything from the logo to promos to the show packaging had to reflect the “Always On.

OregonAnimation.com blog premieres today, come help us celebrate

Following the successful effort to create a voice for the Oregon Film and Television community in the Oregon Confluence Blog, we recently convened a group of Oregon animation and visual effects professionals that we know, and asked them how a site dedicated to their segment of the industry might be received. After lots of lively conversation and great ideas, it became clear that there was great interest, and that it would be very helpful for drawing attention to the fact that Oregon has more than just great locations, amazing acting and crew talent, and not to mention, a terrific film incentive program.

Oregon Cartoon Institute Launches Mel Blanc Project

We love to report good news! Oregon Cartoon Institute recently reported that they with receive support from Miller Foundation and Kinsman Foundation for the first project for which had sought funding,The Mel Blanc Project. The Project officially begins on June 8, with the first lecture: “Now Cut That Out!”: Portland Theaters Educate Mel Blanc.

Oregon Cartoon Institute is a consortium of individuals and organizations working together to raise awareness of Oregon’s rich animation and cartooning history. Five organizations created the Mel Blanc Project: Oregon Cartoon Institute, Oregon Jewish Museum, Ethos Music Center, Oregon Historical Society and PSU’s School of Fine and Performing Arts.

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Breckenridge Festival of Film recognizes local filmmaker’s doc ‘Patrick’s Story’