A Burns Adventure – “Lean On Pete”

Burns, Oregon. Photo: Talented Animals/Lauren Henry

By Mark “Sparky”Haleston  

When a film crew arrives at a location it’s like a small army moving in. The industry in the northwest is vibrant and crews now are well versed even with the small market that exists here.

Portland and Oregon in general have great locations. They look lush with color and diversity. Within a 90 mile radius or Portland, we find the Pacific Ocean, an a 11,000 foot mountain, urban cities, rural farm land and high desert. Continue reading... “A Burns Adventure – “Lean On Pete””

Oregon’s Top Trainer Talks To The Animals

 

Lauren Henry and partner Roland Sonnenburg started Talented Animals in 2005, and, if a film was made in Oregon and there was a live animal in it, chances are they were trained by Talented Animals.

Willamette Week’s Jay Horton profiled Henry and Talented Animals which are now, arguably, the most sought-after animal trainer in the Pacific Northwest. Remember the llama and rattlesnake in “Wild?” Yup, that was them. But make sure you check out the upcoming “Lean on Pete” (playing at Portland International Film Festival on Feb. Continue reading... “Oregon’s Top Trainer Talks To The Animals”

Spotlight On Location Professionals – Don Baldwin

Don Baldwin on location in the Oregon high desert

A native Oregonian, Don Baldwin is a location scout and manager with broad production experience over nearly three decades of work in the Pacific Northwest. Following six years of active duty as a naval officer, including three extended deployments to the Western Pacific, he returned to Portland and began work in film and video production. Working mainly in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho he’s built a varied resume including experience in major feature films, independent film, and episodic television, with extensive credits for commercial production companies and still photographers. Continue reading... “Spotlight On Location Professionals – Don Baldwin”

#OregonMade “Lean On Pete” Now In Theaters

ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER ANDREW HAIGH RETURNS WITH AMERICANA ODYSSEY IN FIRST TRAILER AND POSTER FOR LEAN ON PETE, STARRING CHARLIE PLUMMER, STEVE BUSCEMI AND CHLOЁ SEVIGNY.

The film premiered to exceptional reviews at The Venice Film Festival in competition and also played Telluride and Toronto earlier this year.

– NOW IN THEATERS –

From acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (Weekend; 45 Years), and based on the beloved novel by Willy Vlautin, comes Lean on Pete—a deeply moving story about love, loneliness, family, and friendship, told through the unique prism of one boy’s connection to a very special racehorse. Continue reading... “#OregonMade “Lean On Pete” Now In Theaters”

Oregon Locations Shine In “Lean on Pete”

Lean On Pete” has been collecting some great reviews, and has already premiered internationally in the Venice International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, and also screened in the US at Telluride.   Writer-Director, Andrew Haigh  (“45 Years”) adapted Willy Vlautin’s 2010 novel of the same name, that shot in Oregon last summer.  The #OregonMade feature made great use of locations, shooting in NE , and SE Portland, at the Portland Meadows race track, a family ranch in Molalla, and out in eastern Oregon in Burns, Hines, and at the Harney County fairgrounds.  Continue reading... “Oregon Locations Shine In “Lean on Pete””

“Lean on Pete” to Premiere at Venice Film Fest & TIFF

"Lean on Pete" , Charlie Plummer Writer-Director, Andrew Haigh  (“45 Years”) adapted Willy Vlautin’s 2010 novel, “Lean on Pete” that shot in Portland and Eastern Oregon Oregon last summer.

“Lean on Pete” follows the story of “fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Pummer) who,wants a home, food on the table and a high school he can attend for more than part of the year. As the son of a single father working in warehouses across the Pacific Northwest, stability is hard to find. Continue reading... ““Lean on Pete” to Premiere at Venice Film Fest & TIFF”

“Lean On Pete” Shooting In Oregon

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 4.19.44 PMLean On Pete“, Willy Vlautin’s novel, adapted into a screenplay by writer-director, Andrew Haigh (“Looking”)  will film in Oregon this summer.

 “Lean on Pete” tells the story of a 15-year-old boy named Charley Thompson, who, as Vlautin’s website explains, is “left to fend for himself by his wayward single father. Charley wanders to Portland Meadows racetrack one day and finds work with a surly, washed up horse trainer. He befriends an aging quarter horse named Lean on Pete, and before long, Charley and Pete find themselves alone in an unforgiving landscape scattered with a vivid cast of characters, desperate situations, and glimmers of hope.” Continue reading... ““Lean On Pete” Shooting In Oregon”