“Wild” Set to Film Throughout Oregon in October

Film stars Reese Witherspoon with Jean-Marc Valée directing

A few months back it was announced that Portland based author Cheryl Strayed’s successful memoir “Wild” was being made into a feature film with Fox Searchlight producing and distributing the film.  Reese Witherspoon’s company Pacific Standard originally optioned the theatrical rights.  Acclaimed director Jean-Marc Vallée (recently directed “Dallas Buyers Club) is directing.  Now with just a few weeks to go before principal photography, it appears that the film will cover more parts of Oregon than any other project of recent memory. Continue reading... ““Wild” Set to Film Throughout Oregon in October”

The Certificate Program in Film: Now accepting applications for Fall term

The Northwest Film Center School of Film is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for its Certificate Program in Film–a non-degree track for individuals aspiring to make films. Applications for the Program can be downloaded from the School of Film’s website, nwfilm.org/school.

The hands-on Certificate Program in Film provides a structure within which individuals can advance from the beginning to advanced level of filmmaking, while creating works that showcase them as emerging filmmaker. Through a Core Sequence, the program teaches the concepts and techniques of cinematic storytelling, while developing the vision of participants as media artists. Continue reading... “The Certificate Program in Film: Now accepting applications for Fall term”

“Little Leaks” a Big Deal for Local Animation Company

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/71132793[/vimeo]

CMD and Hinge Digital teamed up to deliver a fun, informative and engaging campaign for NW Natural. “Little Leaks” was conceived as a collaboration between CMD and the Hinge creative team. Hinge created four unique 3D egg characters. The eggs are lighthearted and fun visual storytellers in a spot that educates viewers on how to recognize and react to a gas leak. Continue reading... ““Little Leaks” a Big Deal for Local Animation Company”

“Portlandia” Nominated for Two Emmys

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in the Season 3 finale episode of "Portlandia." (Frank DiMarco/IFC)
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in the Season 3 finale episode of “Portlandia.” (Frank DiMarco/IFC)

It’s exciting to see IFC’s season 3 “Portlandia” sketch comedy show nominated once again for two Emmys for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series” (writers, Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel and Bill Oakley) and “Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series” (Jonathan Krisel).  Oregonian reporter, Kristi Turnquist’s report is here.  The 65th Emmys award show takes place at CBS, Sunday September 22nd. Continue reading... ““Portlandia” Nominated for Two Emmys”

New workshop at the Film Center: GRANTWRITING FOR FILM

The Northwest Film Center School of Film announces an upcoming workshop for filmmakers:

GRANTWRITING FOR FILM

THURSDAYS, JUN 20 & 27
Taught by Courtney Hermann
Register now 

Develop the components needed for a competitive grant application.

Topics: how to prepare a one-page treatment, artist statement, budget, and filmography; tips for selecting and preparing work samples and reels; traits of an effective promotional video; see and discuss samples, then bring what you’re working on to the second class meeting for feedback and critique. Continue reading... “New workshop at the Film Center: GRANTWRITING FOR FILM”

Portland’s Stillmotion Wins Emmy Award


Stillmotion
, a team of filmmakers based in Portland, Oregon, won their fourth Emmy Award at the 34th Annual Sports Emmy Award Ceremony on May 7th, 2013.

Stillmotion worked alongside CBS Sports’ Pete Radovich Jr., Stephen Karsik, and Gareth Hughes to produce the film “One Heartbeat” which garnered the award as the most Outstanding Edited Sports Special.

The winning piece tells the story of the Chardon High School shooting on February 27, 2012 in Chardon, Ohio, and how basketball helped the spirit of the community prevail through such a horrific event. Continue reading... “Portland’s Stillmotion Wins Emmy Award”

How “Collider” Aims To Make DIY Science Cool

When someone undertakes a do-it-yourself project, it doesn’t usually involve the risk of destroying planet Earth. That is a very real possibility for the characters in local filmmaker Leo Jackson’s upcoming project Collider, the story of a group of friends who decide to use plans they find on the Internet to build a miniature particle accelerator in their garage.

“I hear about young people making huge leaps in physics, chemistry, even medicine, because they are given access to facilities that allow for this kind of discovery,” Jackson said. Continue reading... “How “Collider” Aims To Make DIY Science Cool”

Celebrate Earth Day! See Oregon’s First Lady, Cylvia Hayes’ Earth Hour Challenge Monster Makeover!

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/64423471[/vimeo]

(Video was shot by Clackamas Community College Digital Media students)

We blogged recently about the “I Will If You Will” challenge campaign that the World Wildlife Fund and Earth Hour created.  It was a way for them to encourage conversation and positive action for the environment.  Many high profile companies and individuals around the world created their own challenges, including Cylvia Hayes, Oregon’s First Lady. Ms. Hayes agreed to be made-up into a “Wesen” monster (by the special effects make-up artists from the NBC Universal show, “Grimm”) if one thousand people agreed to take a stand against the haunting of the “phantom load” in homes and offices everywhere, by unplugging unused electronics!   Continue reading... “Celebrate Earth Day! See Oregon’s First Lady, Cylvia Hayes’ Earth Hour Challenge Monster Makeover!”

Cinema Pacific & Northwest Film Center to Screen “The Burning Plain” with director Guillermo Arriaga

Director Guillermo Arriaga is returning to Oregon, where he filmed “The Burning Plain” in Portland and Coos Bay in 2008. The film featured Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence in her first starring role, alongside Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger. At the Bijou Cinemas and Northwest Film Center, Arriaga will present The Burning Plain and, only at the Bijou, the film he wrote and Tommy Lee Jones directed, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005). While in Oregon, Arriaga will also give the Bartolomé de las Casas Lecture in Latin American Studies at the UO and a public talk at the Oak Hill School. Continue reading... “Cinema Pacific & Northwest Film Center to Screen “The Burning Plain” with director Guillermo Arriaga”

Upcoming Workshop: Film Composing

spring13-composing-event-banner

The NW Film Center School of Film presents a new workshop:

INSIDE THE WORLD OF FILM COMPOSING
Saturday, April 20th, 2013 from 10am to 4pm

 

Taught by Mark Orton, founding member of the Tin Hat acoustic chamber ensemble, who has written music for films such as EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, THE GOOD GIRL, and BUCK. Orton also composes for dance, circus, and radio drama, giving him a well-rounded wisdom that he is eager to share.

Topics: overview of the instructor’s film palette and style; types of film scores (original, licensed, public domain, live captured, sound design); the film music department staff (who does what); film music budgeting; what happens before a composer is hired (the temp score, the cue sheet, demos, typical contracts, and budgets); how to work with a composer (the spotting session, what a composer needs technically, the adjusted cue sheet, giving notes, film music vocabulary, the illusive locked picture); licensing music (different types of licenses, understanding publishing, obtaining a license, different types of rights scenarios, how to avoid “the man,” re-purposing non-film music, filing a finalized cue sheet); clips from a variety of films will be used throughout to illustrate the material; interaction with the instructor is highly encouraged.

Continue reading... “Upcoming Workshop: Film Composing”