The Confluence

Documentary Chooses Ashland for Easy Shooting

: Southern Oregon – Shawn Adams flying an auto-gyro for the shot. Jamie Lusch / Daily Tidings

It’s always great to hear of projects choosing to shoot in Oregon and when we heard about the producers of the documentary, Half Way Home, choosing the Ashland area over their native LA for some of it’s scenes, we learned the reasons in this case were threefold; less expensive, less red tape and solid talent. Gary Kout, producer and executive director of the Southern Oregon Film and Television organization, connected the producers with talented auto-giro pilot, Shawn Adams (Rotor-Head) in southern Oregon to get their tricky arial scenes.

Extreme Makeover Reveals………..

The crew at Extreme Makeover have been working around the clock for the past few weeks to get ready for the big reveal of the School for the Deaf in Salem today. As well as the school, they have also overhauled their haunted house that acts as an annual school fundraiser.

salem — Paige Hemmis and Michael Moloney of Extreme Makeover in Salem, Oregon

For more information read the article in the Statesman Journal.com.

Eugene, OR Telecommuncations program has $$$ for you!

I just heard from Pam Berrian, Eugene’s Telecommunications & Cable Program Manager that she still has $20,000 available in their filmmaker equipment fund. Please note that this pool of money must go towards the purchase of telecommunications equipment. Pam and her department are big supporters of the film industry and it would be a shame to see this money not get spent on a film or TV project. All remaining funds will go back into the city of Eugene’s reserve fund July 1, 2011.

Glowing review of "Meeks Cutoff" from Variety

Variety film critic Justin Chang gave a rave review of Kelly Reichardt’s film “Meeks Cutoff” last week in Variety. He saw the film at the Venice film festival. Among the things he praised were the locations credited to location scout Roger Faires. How often does a location person get credit in a review? Here’s an excerpt from the review.

“Reichardt’s decision to shoot in the 1.33 aspect ratio enhances the docu-like feel and yields one majestic composition after another, the nearly square frame capturing the wide-openness of these harshly beautiful desert vistas (Roger Faires is credited for the film’s Oregon locations, which look utterly of the period).

Update from Oregon Film trip to Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl — OK so you can't see anything but I had this photo to share

On Friday we were able to take advantage of a unique marketing opportunity thanks to the support of the Portland Based band Pink Martini, a few donated bottles of Oregon Pinot from the Willamette Valley Winery Association and the coordination efforts of Jennifer Yocom from Portland Mayor Sam Adams’ office. Thanks to Jennifer’s relationship with the band and the band’s willingness to help market Oregon, we were able to obtain twelve tickets to the Pink Martini concert friday night which was the first of three performances this weekend at the bowl.

Portlandia Appearing at Musicfest NW?

4975245158_6e2f8fa1cb — Photo from ThunderAnt Website - Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen

Just picked this up from Kristi Turnquit’s article in The Oregonian and Willamette Week blog. Sounds like the IFC show “Portlandia” will be able to use the popular Musicfest Northwest to its benefit. According to the report in the blog, the show will be shooting part of its series at the Festival next week. Also in the article is the mention of several guest appearances in the show – band members from the Shins and Decemberists, Gus Van Sant, Selma Blair, Kyle MacLachlan and Steve Buscemi.

Filmmaker Michael Bartlett Begins Shooting "House of Last Things" in Portland, OR

Starring Actors from “True Blood” and “Breaking Bad” and Portland Area Actors

Portland, OR—September 9, 2010—On September 13th, award-winning Portland-based filmmaker Michael Bartlett commences principle photography on HOUSE OF LAST THINGS the supernatural thriller screenplay he wrote. The film stars actors from “True Blood” and “Breaking Bad” as well as Portland Area Actors.

The film, which will be lensed by veteran cinematographer Ken Kelsch, ASC (known for “Big Night” and his collaborations with Abel Ferrara including “Bad Lieutenant” and “The Funeral”) and shot entirely on location in Portland for five weeks, stars LINDSEY HAUN (“True Blood”), RJ MITTE (“Breaking Bad”), and BLAKE BERRIS (“Days of Our Lives”), as well as local actors Randy Schulman, and Diane Dalton in lead roles.

Fluid Images Honored by OSU

history_2008beijing_triathlon — Fluid Images' (Central Oregon) Strada Crane facilitating TV coverage at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Fluid Images, based in Sisters, Central Oregon, is being honored by OSU in receiving the “Orange Spotlight” award. (The award singles out companies that, amongst other things, are innovative, stimulate and support the local economy as well as hire skilled and talented OSU alums).

Fluid Images was founded in 1990 when Bob Johnson (OSU graduate) and his son Rick, built the 72 foot Akela Crane in their barn.

“The Roads of Oregon” – a New Addition to the Oregon Film Website

by Bob Schmaling, Senior Project Manager

I was very happy to get an opportunity to work with Nathan to put together a website about Oregon roads. With a landscape that includes deserts, mountains, forests, prairies and an ocean, there’s ample opportunity for engaging vistas. Oregon roads have played roles in feature films, TV series, documentaries, travelogues, but most often car commercials.

Fuji TV films Geiser Grand Hotel

“Unbelievable” TV Show is one of the highest rated TV shows in Japan, now in its 11th season. More than 15 million people watch every show. We’re thrilled here that they chose the Geiser Grand for a special show on the ten most interesting spots on the planet! Director and crew arrived last night, joined by a translater/producer out of LA (only one stop from Tokyo to Baker City, Oregon!)

This is Director Nakayama’s second trip to the Geiser Grand Hotel.

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