The Confluence – Page 35 – The Oregon film community's official blog.

#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.

PSU & LAIKA Announce Partnership

Portland State University and award-winning Portland-based animation studio LAIKA — known for groundbreaking Oscar®-nominated animated feature films such as Coraline, ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings — today announced an industry partnership to help develop and diversify the region’s creative workforce.

“This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to nurture the creative talent that will enhance Portland’s vibrant arts and cultural landscape,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “We believe diversity of thought and experience is the spark of creativity and innovation.

#OregonMade “Raging Midlife” Secures Distribution

The #OregonMade feature film “Raging Midlife” has secured distribution.

Level 33 Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the feature from director Rob Taylor (Evil Cult). Taylor and Nic Costa penned the script, and the pair star alongside Paula Abdul, Eddie Griffin and Star Trek mainstay Walter Koenig.

Raging Midlife follows two friends who are obsessed with a 1980s wrestler named Raging Abraham Lincoln and set out to acquire his tank top. Their plan takes a turn when a grieving daughter outbids them for the item to fulfill her dad’s dying wish.

#OregonMade “Brim Broome Boulevard” is Hitting the Fests

House Special’s epic stop motion short film “Brim Broome Boulevard” is hitting the festival circuit! Watch this space to find out more about this delightful short film they produced with Elizabeth Kline Murphy and kArLy Richter for innovative Director PJ Magerko Liquorice.

‘The Evergreen’: All about Oregon’s Animation Magic

OPB’s “Evergreen” podcast recently explored all about Oregon’s award-winning animation scene. Just think of “Coraline,” “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” and Will Vinton Studio’s California Raisins ad from 1986.

OPB’s Oregon Art Beat producer Eric Slade helped make a documentary about that state’s animation industry, and he’s here to break down how creators have established the state as a reigning animation powerhouse that’s influencing the art form’s legacy and future.

Listen to the episode here.

#OregonMade “Breakup Season” Special Screening at The Hollywood Theatre

On Monday December 2nd, Oregon Film and the Hollywood Theatre present a special screening with Q&A of Eastern Oregon shot “Breakup Season.”

A young man brings his girlfriend to his rural Oregon hometown for Christmas and to meet his family, but upon arriving, things do not go as planned and an argument leads to a breakup. However, because of the winter weather, his newly minted ex is now stuck with him and his family for the rest of the holiday season.

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