The Confluence

“First Cow,” shot entirely on location in Oregon last year.  “A taciturn loner and skilled cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) also seeking his fortune; soon the two collaborate on a successful business, although its longevity is reliant upon the clandestine participation of a nearby wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.”

Writer-director, Kelly Reichardt, has used Oregon for the backdrop of many of her features and indeed many of the production team (such as producers, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani and Vincent Savino) have worked together on other #OregonMade projects such as; “Wendy and Lucy,” “Night Moves,”  “Meek’s Cutoff” and “Certain Women” among others.  Johnathan Raymond (“Mildred Pierce”, “Meek’s Cutoff”, “Wendy and Lucy”) authored the novel on which “First Cow” was inspired.  Raymond and Reichardt co-wrote the “First Cow” screenplay and indie studio, A24, produced this feature.

“First Cow” previously played at the Telluride and New York Film festivals.

Opens March 6th, 2020.

Disney’s first look trailer is now out showcasing their latest feature, shot partly in the Portland Metro area last year, “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.” The film will begin streaming on Disney + February 7th. Timmy and his polar-bear partner, Total, start a detective agency to solve neighborhood crime – adapted from the children’s best selling series written by Stephan Pastis.

Read more here.

Last year Blue Chalk Media won the $15,000 “Winter Season Grant” – provided by the OregonMade Creative Foundation and Travel Oregon – and have now successfully created two short films of moving “postcard stories” (one of which is available above) that were designed to, “captivate and encourage people to experience the winter season for themselves.”

“We pitched a series of short narrative pieces that highlighted different, often overlooked, winter areas of Oregon. The resulting films are a love letter to Oregon’s Alvord Desert and the Suttle Lake near Sisters. For this project, we were given the freedom to create something that we personally found compelling which resulted in some of our team’s favorite moments of the year.” – Blue Chalk Media

The purpose of this grant was to support local content creators who are producing high-quality, innovative multimedia content about Oregon that inspires travel to or around the state.

Congratulations to Laika on their first Golden Globe win for “Best Animated Feature” with “Missing Link“.  Laika beat out Disney’s, “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King”, DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4”.

The stop-motion feature was written and directed by Chris Butler and features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Dabid Williams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia, Emma Thompson and Zach Galifinakis.

Read more.

#OregonMade

It is with sadness and a deep sense of loss that we reflect on the work of two #OregonMade artists – cinematographer John J. Campbell and actor Robert Blanche – who we have recently lost from our community.

We know how much our work depends on the talent and experience of the community we serve, and John and Robert are exemplary examples of what makes this place so special. Their accomplishments and their connections to all of us are too numerous to list and it goes without saying that we will miss them every day and on every set.

Thank you John and Robert for lending us your talent and your light.

Cinematographer John J. Campbell with Director Gus Van Sant on the set of Mala Noche

Actor Robert Blanche

For believing in art and artists, for finding solutions, for fighting for what was right, for helping us find a better way to do things, thank you.

For all of the handwritten notes, for all of the visits to sets and attendance at premieres, for pushing us to increase opportunities for everyone, thank you.

For being passionate about people and stories and causes, for being accessible and constructive, for standing up for friends and strangers alike, thank you.

For dedicating a street, a sign and a bike rack, for always calling with ideas and helping us enact them, for speaking out when many of us wouldn’t, thank you.

For making us passionate about the Thorns, the Timbers, dance, film, theatre and documentaries, for attending events, gatherings, celebrations and remembrances, for addressing crowds and individuals with insight and understanding.

For being a friend, a confidant, a creator, a supporter and a constant presence.

We will remember.

We will miss you.

Always.

Scott Vanderpool, welding design and fabrication specialist for Portland Parks & Recreation and owner of Iron Stone Forge, LLC, has been designing and fabricating for business and pleasure in Portland for many years.  “I prefer to do artwork and technical/precision fabrications but I bring the artistic side whenever I can. Even something as simple as the welding itself.”  Vanderpool’s background is in aerospace and military, he has built critical aircraft, helicopters, rockets and assault boats made from steels to aluminum and titanium alloys.  Currently, he is, “building a 1930 model A, which I am Tig welding a chopped and channeled frame…I really just like making whatever I do look as natural and as nice as I can. I also try to imitate nature as close as I can in my work.”  Vanderpool has done some incredible work designing and installing a few signs stops on the #OregonFilmTrail at Ecola State Park, Pier Park and most recently Depoe Bay.

Come embrace the hedge maze of winter when the next #OregonMade installment brings Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING on 35mm print to The Hollywood!

Admittedly, Oregon’s claim to ownership of this film is a little stretched (most of the film was shot in the UK and The Overlook is scripted as being in Colorado) but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and it’s hard to ignore the place that Mt. Hood’s iconic lodge has in the massive zeitgeist of this film.  So come embrace it with us. After all, you’ve always been the caretaker here, Mr. Torrence.

February 10, 2020, 730 pm.

Book your tickets here.

SOLE DOCTOR

Coming off a successful festival run that included screenings at BendFilm Festival, Portland International Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest and Napa Valley Film Festival, SOLE DOCTOR, directed by Portland filmmaker and journalist Paula Bernstein, is now available on Amazon Prime.

The five minute cut of SOLE DOCTOR has qualified for 2020 Academy Award consideration (for documentary short subject) after screening theatrically in New York and Los Angeles alongside Gene Graham’s “This One’s for the Ladies.” The full 11 ½ minute version of the film is available online at www.soledoctorfilm.com.

SOLE DOCTOR is a short documentary set at George’s Shoe Repair, a family-run business in Portland, Oregon that has served the community for over 50 years. Approaching retirement, George is preparing to pass the store on to his son, Joshua, a former modern dancer. Mia, Josh’s young daughter, also learns the family trade.

SOLE DOCTOR

Bernstein says: “Inspired by my favorite documentary filmmakers and my local Portland filmmaking community, in summer 2016 I set out to capture what made this small family-run cobbler business special. I loved the rapport between George and Josh – and wanted the viewer to get a sense of what it felt like to spend time with them at the shop. Instead of going in with a specific narrative in mind, I let the ‘story’ unfold naturally – over the course of two years. It was important for me to make a hopeful film that focused on craftmanship, family bonds, and community.”

Watch SOLE DOCTOR now at Amazon Prime OR www.soledoctorfilm.com.

Paula Bernstein is a Portland-based filmmaker and journalist who regularly contributes to Fortune Magazine, where she reports on the entertainment business. She is the co-author of Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited. SOLE DOCTOR is her first film. Visit her at www.paulabernstein.com.