The Confluence

“Hasaan Hates Portland” Garners Accolades

Two years ago, in the thick of winter, Mischa Webley filmed the first episode of what would become “Hasaan Hates Portland,” an eight-episode web series starring Hasaan Thomas as its titular character. The show premiered Oct. 3 and has since garnered hundreds of thousands of views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

The series is Webley’s first venture into comedy, a genre choice that felt necessary given the material, he said.

Race, Thomas said, is an issue inundated with shame, guilt and negativity, truths that make open conversation difficult.

Short Film Shooting in Ashland

A local production team led by New York University graduate-turned-Ashland-based screenwriter Monica Lynn Cortez is shooting a film placing Ashland’s sister city of Guanajuato, Mexico, at center stage. The project also has help from SOU’s Digital Cinema students and a star-studded local cast featuring Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors.

Filming started Friday morning at the Lithia Park pickleball courts, continuing Saturday, including at Hannon Library, with plans to shoot at SOU’s Digital Media Center over the weekend. Filming is slated to wrap up by mid-November.

OCF Community Grants Spring Cycle Opens Dec. 3

Oregon Community Foundation is pleased to announce our Community Grants program will open applications for its 2025 Spring Cycle between Dec. 3, 2024 – Jan. 14, 2025. This cycle’s grants will provide general operating support.

Key dates and program guidelines for the 2025 Spring Cycle are now available on the Community Grants website. This information includes:

Funding priorities
Application questions
Sample answers for a competitive application
Review criteria

Funding for the Spring Cycle of Community Grants will prioritize small rural organizations, culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive organizations.

“Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail” Raised $244,000 For OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital!

Last week an auction of all 31 “Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail” sculptures took place at The Judy and raised a total $244,000 for OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

LAIKA, the Visit Downtown Campaign, Wild in Art, and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital joined forces to bring Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail to the Rose City last August in celebration of “Coraline’s” 15th anniversary.

Donations can still be made on the dedicated site for the trail: OHSU Foundation – Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail.

Gorge Impact Film Festival Coming November 9 & 10

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at the Gorge Impact Film Festival. Based in Hood River the Gorge Impact Film Festival is a place to experience the celebration of creativity and resilience through powerful films that inspire joy, hope and optimism.

Find out more at www.gorgefilm.org

#OregonMade “Cellar Door” Out Now

The Portland shot thriller “Cellar Door” is out now in select theaters and on streaming platforms. In this suspenseful thriller, a city-dwelling couple (Jordana Brewster, Scott Speedman) is looking to relocate to the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. While visiting the grandiose home of Emmett (Laurence Fishburne), a mysterious man with a talent for pairing the right property with the right people, the couple is suddenly gifted the house of their dreams with one nonnegotiable condition — they must never open the cellar door.

Women in Film Portland Announce Vision Grant Finalists

Congratulations to the Women in Film Portland 2024 Vision Grant Finalists. This year the Vision Grant will include two post-production grants – one for short docs and one for short narratives.

The finalists for the documentaries are:

Nisha Burton and Jessica Daughtery with “Over the Kitchen Table”

Jean Herbold with “The Pumpkin Lady of Fond du Lac”

Carrie Lederer with “Wild Horses at the Door”

The short narrative finalists are:

Fuschia Lin with “Future Cosmos Flow”

Eva Moss with “Controlling the Narrative”

Evlana Vergara with “Orgullo”

Finalists will be pitching their projects to the WIF PDX community panel and the winners will be announced at the WIF PDX Holiday Party & Fundraiser on November 15.

“Inward” w/ Michi Meko & Chad Brown

On November 21 PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater presents a screening and an event featuring Portland-based environmental activist, documentarian, and non-profit founder, Chad Brown and the Portland premiere of his gorgeous short film Inward about renowned painter and explorer Michi Meko, who will be in attendance for this special screening.

A self-described explorer, cartographer, and abstractionist, Michi’s work seeks to capture the wild beauty of nature through the eyes of a “lone black man reporting back from the new world.” There will be a post-film discussion with Chad and Michi moderated by a special guest.

“Black Friday” Returns to The Hollywood Theatre on November 8

“Home” transcends mere walls and roofs. Two short films explore the changing landscape of “home” through the eyes of Black Portlanders with the premiere of episode 2 of the award-winning series Where We Goin’ and the continuation of our Elder Anthologies series which features a moving letter from past Portland NAACP president Sharon Gary-Smith to the youth of the Rose City.

Where We Goin’ Episode II: The Power of Place follows art producer Intisar Abioto (Black Portlanders, Black Artists of Oregon) and Winta Yohannes of Albina Vision Trust the largest restorative redevelopment project in the country, we journey into the heart of neighborhoods once vibrant and thriving, now shadowed by a history of displacement and loss.

Gearhead Hosts New Classes

Gearhead Grip & Electric is hosting two new classes in November & December. Signup via the embedded Eventbrite links below.

Intermediate Grip & Electric

This 6-week class is on Thursdays, starting Thursday NOV 7th until Thursday DEC 19, 6:00pm – 9:00pm. NO CLASS THANKSGIVING

In this course you will continue to develop your lighting and grip skills through lectures and hands-on workshops. Our experienced instructor will guide you through as you continue to develop techniques to feel confident on set. This class will go deeper into the specialized tools of the Grip and Electric departments.

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