Glowing review of "Meeks Cutoff" from Variety

Meeks Cutoff

Variety film critic Justin Chang gave a rave review of Kelly Reichardt’s film “Meeks Cutoff” last week in Variety.  He saw the film at the Venice film festival.  Among the things he praised were the locations credited to location scout Roger Faires.  How often does a location person get credit in a review? Here’s an excerpt from the review.

“Reichardt’s decision to shoot in the 1.33 aspect ratio enhances the docu-like feel and yields one majestic composition after another, the nearly square frame capturing the wide-openness of these harshly beautiful desert vistas (Roger Faires is credited for the film’s Oregon locations, which look utterly of the period). Continue reading... “Glowing review of "Meeks Cutoff" from Variety”

Update from Oregon Film trip to Los Angeles

OK so you can't see anything but I had this photo to share
Fireworks!

On Friday we were able to take advantage of a unique marketing opportunity thanks to the support of the Portland Based band Pink Martini, a few donated bottles of Oregon Pinot from the Willamette Valley Winery Association and the coordination efforts of Jennifer Yocom from Portland Mayor Sam Adams’ office.  Thanks to Jennifer’s relationship with the band and the band’s willingness to help market Oregon, we were able to obtain twelve tickets to the Pink Martini concert friday night which was the first of three performances this weekend at the bowl.  Continue reading... “Update from Oregon Film trip to Los Angeles”

Oregon Film and TV Union Members Celebrate Labor Day

If you’re a Twitter or Facebook user, you’ve probably seen a number of posts on those services celebrating union membership, and the contributions union members have made to the entertainment industry.  This “Labor Day Tweet-a-thon” is a coordinated effort by the Screen Actor’s Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actor’s Equity, the Major League Baseball Players Association, and American Rights At Work (to find out more about the Labor Day Tweet-a-thon, click here!) Continue reading... “Oregon Film and TV Union Members Celebrate Labor Day”

Extreme Makeover shows up in Salem, OR to help School for the Deaf

Courtesy of the Statesman Journal
Courtesy of The Oregonian

Today in Salem the long running ABC show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” showed up at the Oregon School for the Deaf.  This season the show is focusing on community projects and they picked the school this year for their Halloween episode as they will be remaking the school’s dorm and a new haunted house.  Construction on the project began today and the project is slated to be completed by next Sunday.  All of the students from the school are traveling to Minnesota to visit the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Continue reading... “Extreme Makeover shows up in Salem, OR to help School for the Deaf”

Portland Printing Company Creates a New England Wonderland for 'Leverage'

The Intern Report: How Oregon Businesses Profit From Local Productions

This is the final installment of the “Intern Report”, a series of 4 articles about the Oregon businesses that work with the production industry. This last segment takes us to a printing company in Southeast Portland called OBP Digital. Thanks for reading!

Michal Orczyk

Oregon Governor’s Office of Film and Television
Continue reading... “Portland Printing Company Creates a New England Wonderland for 'Leverage'”

MOPAN helps with broadcast from Oregon State Fair

When the bulk of the high profile and higher budget film and video work happens in the Portland metro area, we at the film office naturally get caught up with detailing all the good work happening in the Portland area.  But there is plenty of interesting work happening outside the Portland area and we would be remiss not to mention it.  Recently the Eugene based MOPAN redesigned their website and added a blog feature.  I’m not sure how much credit should go to new President Erik Talbert but I wanted to highlight one posting Erik put up today regarding the national broadcast shoot that happened at the Oregon State Fair.  Continue reading... “MOPAN helps with broadcast from Oregon State Fair”

Aimee Mann in "Portlandia"?

I was just scanning the twitter universe and picked up on a tweet from Aimee Mann (thanks PA Wilhelm!).  Apparently she just left Portland after doing a bit on the show “Portlandia”.  Here’s her tweet –

aimeemann

I had a great time shooting my thing in “Portlandia.” Fred and Carrie are so hilarious together. It was very fun! But weirdly exhausting!

Although “Portlandia” is not due out on IFC until next year, I’m guessing it’s going to build it’s own audience before anyone sees a frame of footage.  Continue reading... “Aimee Mann in "Portlandia"?”

"Coraline" among the top grossing indie films of the decade

NY Film producer Ted Hope is one of the most prolific “tweeters” I know.  All of his tweets focus on either NYC or indie film.  Most of the indie film stuff is pretty insightful as Ted is well known as one of the top indie film producers in the U.S..  Anyway he posted the list of the top grossing indie films with the question – “What Do the Top Grossing Indie Films of the 2000s Reveal?”  I’m not sure I know the answer but I did notice LAIKA’s Oregon made “Coraline” made it in at #11. Continue reading... “"Coraline" among the top grossing indie films of the decade”

Security Expert Keeps Intruders Out and Secrets In for 'Leverage'

The Intern Report: How Oregon Businesses Profit From Local Productions

A short and sweet interview with Larry, owner and founder of KnightHawk Security and man of zen-like silence and mystery… Next week the fourth and final installment of this project will go live, thanks for reading!

Michal Orczyk

Oregon Governor’s Office of Film and Television Continue reading... “Security Expert Keeps Intruders Out and Secrets In for 'Leverage'”

The City of Portland "gets it"

I was sent this blog posting from Jennifer Yocom today and I have to give the city of Portland some props.  Not because Jennifer mentioned my name but because she crystalized the argument for supporting the film and video industry.  Thanks Jennifer and thank you to the city of Portland and the Portland Development Commission for all your help over the years.

For those of you who live outside Portland, I encourage you to engage with your local officials as well.  Continue reading... “The City of Portland "gets it"”