The Confluence

17th Edition of The Archaeology Channel International Film Festival Goes Online

Eugene, OR – Organized by Eugene nonprofit, Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI), Lane County’s longest-running film festival, The Archaeology Channel (TAC) International Film Festival, opens its 17th annual edition on May 13 and runs through May 17. However, instead of the normal array of public activities, this year’s Festival has moved to an online-only format. This involves online streaming of selected films for the competition as well a virtual awards announcement, whose results will be decided by the festival jury. While we at ALI regret the elimination of so much of our event, this special edition of TAC Festival is another step in its growth and a furtherance of the international recognition that the Festival brings to the Lane County community.

Small Business Resources and Links

From Congresswoman Bonamici:

Resources for Business Owners

Find contact information here for the Small Business Development Center near you.

If you live in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, or Seaside, you can find support at the City level.

Business Oregon’s Small Business Navigator is another helpful resource. This is available in other languages. You can call the state hotline for businesses at 1-833-604-0880.

Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE counselors are available to help guide small businesses with their specific questions about their eligibility and the application process.

“Project 88” – A “Back to the Future” Fan Film – Launches

This week a fan-made remake of “Back to the Future (Part II)” premiered on YouTube. It’s called “Project 88 – Back to the Future Too”, and more than 300 people across nine countries contributed to the DIY remake while abiding by social distancing and quarantine guidelines that were in place due to the coronavirus.

And it originated out of Bend by Taylor Morden.

So make sure your time circuits are on and your flux capacitor is fluxing, and let the creativity on display in this remake put a smile on your face.

“Inspiration Oregon” – Winning Submissions

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest. We had many great submissions and we very much enjoyed watching and sharing all of them.

Because we had a few technical and process glitches at the launch of the viewing period we have decided to expand our awards to include not only the top 10 winning videos that garnered the most combined likes and views, but also a further 8 videos as “honorable mentions” that excelled in one or the other category.

LAIKA Committed To Keeping Staff On Payroll Through Studio’s Temporary Closure

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Travis Knight, (CEO, LAIKA) has committed to keeping staff on the company payroll through the temporary closure of the animation studio that is due to the spread of Covid-19. Knight said, in a memo obtained and published by the Hollywood Reporter that, “When this ends, and it will end, the world will need storytellers more than ever,” “The world will need hope and inspiration and empathy and high-spirited joy. The world will need beauty and poetry and restorative works of art.

Soma Games Releases Game “Wind Up Robots Classic”

In just a couple of days, Wind Up Robots Classic will be available for any mobile Apple or Android device. This is an updated release of one of our first mobile games.

Back in 2011, Wind Up Robots was the second game Soma Games published. The basic story is that a kid named Zach is understandably afraid of the dark. His grandfather, both a veteran and inventor, creates small robots to protect Zach while he sleeps. It’s y-o-u-r job to direct the robots and make sure they attack the monsters before they attack Zach’s dreams.

#OregonMade, “The Rental” Sells US Rights To IFC

#OregonMade, horror-thriller, “The Rental,” recently sold the US film rights to IFC. This is the first feature directed by Dave Franco, (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” “The Disaster Artist”) and was shot on location in the seaside town of Bandon. Starring, Alison Brie (“Community,” “GLOW,”) Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey,” FX series, “Legion”) Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless”) and Sheila Vand (“24: Legacy,”) the story takes place at the coast when two couples “rent a vacation home for what should be a celebratory weekend get-away” but descends into something much more sinister.

Tomorrow: Virtual Southern Oregon Cameras & Cocktails

OMPA is hosting a virtual Cameras & Cocktails for Southern Oregon production professionals tomorrow night (April 8) from 5-7pm.

Join us and share what you’ve been doing to keep up your creativity, learning, or work. Also, bring your questions about CARES Act benefits for Oregon Film Executive Director Tim Williams, IATSE Local 488 Southern Business Agent cdavid cottrill, and OMPA Executive Director Lisa Cicala. If we can’t answer your question at the meeting, we’ll send the relevant info in a follow-up email to everyone.

Adventures On Set – Bruce Lawson On “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey”

Bruce Lawson, at the summit of Mount Howard with the canine co-stars of “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” – “Shadow” and “Chance.”

Disney’s, “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” has become a solid family favorite – it tells the story of three pets, two dogs and cat, “Shadow”, “Chance” and “Sassy,” who escape from a California ranch and travel together for miles over rough terrain in order to find their owners who had recently moved to San Francisco. Production started in 1992 and this feature shot most of its scenes at locations such as; Joseph, Eagle Cap, the Deschutes River, the Gorge, Portland and Central Oregon among others – all doing an admirable job standing in for the California Sierras and San Fransico.

Soma Games Staff Bio – Level Designer Brandon Simonds

Hello!

Soma Games LLC is an indie video game developer located in Newberg, Oregon. We believe video games can be far more than time-wasters. Video games hold the potential to showcase beauty, reward adventure and excellence, and challenge thinking. Our goal is to passionately and dutifully craft the games that elevate humanity rather than waste it. To learn more, check out our website.

BRANDON SIMONDS

Brandon is one of our level designers — he self-describes his job as, “to find the fun and be the player’s advocate.”

Recent Posts