The Confluence

Winter Season Grant – “Wish You Were Here” – Blue Chalk Media

Blue Chalk Media were the winners the 2019 $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” based on the brief to make a film series that would “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.

Local Story, National Impact: Living An American Dream Film

The first official trailer opening title card

New director, Clare McKay graduated with a bachelors in Communications Media from a University in San Diego County and moved back to her home in Juntura, Oregon to pursue her dream as a filmmaker. Though Oregon seemed an unlikely area for making movies she understood the basic idea behind “supply and demand”. Clare wanted to use her skills and knowledge in a way that was meaningful not only to herself but to her community as well.

Day 1 At PLAYA!

Day 1 at the PLAYA Scree nwriting Residency. So honored to be here. Thank you Oregon Made and NW Film!

Mostly off the grid until 1/31, will post from time to time, see you in February!

#screenwritingresidency #filmresidency #playasummerlake

#OregonMade “The Phone Dead” Attack Amazon Prime & Troma Now! Playing Jan. 19 At The Portland Underground Film Festival

Bloated Cat Productions introduces a new short film… THE PHONE DEAD

Phone Zombies Attack!! Shot on location in Portland, Oregon.

The film plays in a fun block of comedy shorts as part of the Portland Underground Film Festival at the historic Clinton Street Theater on Sunday, January 19th at 5pm. The film will be followed by a Q and A with Director Josh Hoffman.

“The Phone Dead” was featured in the sixth edition of the wild, Japanese anthology TETSUDON and World Premiered at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival.

New Doc in the Works, “Learn No Evil: Catlin Gabel’s #MeToo Reckoning”

Learn No Evil is an upcoming documentary about a #MeToo reckoning for one of Oregon’s most prestigious schools. In this explosive, and still-unfolding story, former students uncover decades of teacher abuse at Catlin Gabel.

Since my initial posts about the inappropriate conduct I experienced at Catlin Gabel, there’s been a perpetual flow of victims coming forward. The severity of offense ranges from disturbing and gross, to shocking and horrific. There was physical abuse, emotional abuse, molestation, rape and even incest – all at the hands of TEACHERS, some of whom were seen (by many) as God-like at the school.

Sneak Peek For Shrill S2 – Premiering January 24th

Hulu released a new trailer for the second season of “Shrill” (based on Lindy West’s bestselling 2016 memoir, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman). You can watch the premiere January 24th for this 8 episode season. Aidy Bryant stars as Annie, “a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body.”

“Annie starts the season on a high. She has faced her demons head on—her mom, her boss and her troll—and she’s feeling pretty good.

Laika’s “Missing Link” – Oscar Nominated For “Best Animated Feature”

The 92nd Academy Awards nominees were announced this morning in Los Angeles. Congratulations to Laika and Annapurna Pictures on their Oscar nomination for, “Best Animated Feature” for the studio’s 5th feature, “Missing Link.”

Coming off their recent Golden Globe win for, “Best Animated Feature” (also for “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”, so it will be exciting to see how they fare at the Oscars.

Kelly Reichardt’s #OregonMade “First Cow” – In Theaters March 6th

“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.

First Look At Disney’s #OregonMade, “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made”

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.

#OregonMade And Travel Oregon Present Blue Chalk Media’s Winter Season Grant Winner – “Wish You Were 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.”

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