"Making movies is a privilege to be earned through an understanding of filmmaking craft and style, not a right that comes with the purchase of a Canon GL-1." David Walker wweek.com |
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Oregon Ranks High for Filmmakers. (Oregon Film and Video Office) Portland has been listed in third place in a prominent listing of top film markets in the United States. Every year MovieMaker Magazine ranks the cities it considers as the best places for independent filmmakers to live and work according to the production benefits offered, and based on feedback from writers, directors, crew people and film office representatives.
This is the fourth year in a row Portland has made the list, beginning in 2003 at number nine, then to number eight in 2004, number 5 last year and this year rose to third place, following New York (1st) and Austin, Texas (2nd). |
Portland is considered the "Best Unkept Secret" by the magazine. In addition to the Oregon Production Investment Fund, qualified productions also have a 6.2% labor rebate available to them. Portland has been so busy that Mayor Potter recently hired "one-stop film permit" person, Michael Fine to help facilitate permit requests.
The article also touts the supportive environment found in Portland which includes film festivals such as The Northwest Film & Video Festival, PDX Festival, PISS! Fest, Portland International Film Festival, POW! Fest and the 48 Hour Film Project. Educational and professional resources include The Art Institute of Portland, the NW Film Center, Portland State University and organizations such as NW Documentary Arts & Media, Portland AIVF Salon and Portland Community Media.
"Portland is a great place where filmmakers find support and encouragement for all genres. You'll find not only some of the best resources here, but also the best filmmakers and audiences, too! We're so lucky to be in a place that appreciates it all - from narrative to experimental films, along with an understanding of the business and art of filmmaking." says Susan Haley, Marketing Manager of the Oregon Film & Video Office.
Call For Articles. Each edition of this newsletter provides an opportunity to prepare and put online news, information, and items of interest to our cadre of readers. However, we believe that this publication would benefit by contributing authors who would like to add to and enrich the content we offer. This is a call for contributions.
If you are interested in writing an article, or submitting material for the Random Links, DeskTop, Lighter Side, Site Visit, or Opportunities sections, please contact us at newsletter@proscenia.net
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This month:
Feature Article: Writing for interactive media requires more than the mastery of a language. A knowledge of hyper-text and the basics of multimedia production are also necessary skills as author Ken Loge explores in this informative article.
Random Links: Twenty short OneMinute Jr films made by youth ages 11 and 23 from a November workshop in the Maldives. These are produced in special UNICEF encouraged workshops for youth.
Site Visit: San Francisco Earthquake - 1906 is featured in this collaborative site to present visitors with historical photographs and documentary material on this nearly 100 year-ago event.
Lighter Side: World Heritage VR Tour provides the opportunity to visit UNESCO registered World Heritage sites through 360 degree virtual reality movies.
On The Desktop: News from world sources about film, video, multimedia, and technology in society.
NW JOBS: Current postings of career opportunities in: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and other nearby states. Updated weekly
Commentary:Know Thy Neighbor
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One might not give much credence to gossip that a neighbor down the street is a screenwriter or film director. One's silent response might be, "Sure he is and I'm the next host of the Tonight Show."
The truth is that regardless of where you live there are creative people producing work that those around them might not know about. One such individual is Neal Miller who lives in my home town of Eugene. His film, "Raising Flagg", is making its way to festivals and theaters with positive audience response.
In "Raising Flagg", Oscar-nominee and Tony Award-winner Alan Arkin plays Flagg Purdy, a lovable but stubborn handyman in a small rural Oregon town. |
When Flagg escalates a minor disagreement with his oldest friend into a legal battle, he not only incurs the wrath of his entire community but he stirs up long-simmering family conflicts with his six grown children.
"Raising Flagg" co-stars an ensemble cast including Glenne Headly, Lauren Holly, Austin Pendleton and Richard Kind.
The film was written, directed, and produced by Neal and Nancy Miller of Rubicon Films, and co-written with playwright Dorothy Velasco - all of whom have made the Pacific Northwest home.
Miller produced his first film in 1978, a series pilot starring Darryl Hannah. Over the next seven years, he wrote and produced six award-winning films originally aired on the PBS American Playhouse series. These "Who Am I This Time?" starring Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken, directed by Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme, "Come Along With Me" with Estelle Parsons, Sylvia Sidney and Barbara Baxley, directed by Joanne Woodward, "A Matter Of Principle" with Alan Arkin and Virginia Madsen, and "Under The Biltmore Clock", starring Sean Young (which Neal also directed). His film "The Roommate", adapted from a story by John Updike, has been featured in seven film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, won awards at the San Francisco and Dallas film festivals, and the Los Angeles International Film Festival Grand Prix Award.
In 1988, Walt Disney Pictures acquired Neal's screenplay, "Bicentennial Man", and Neal was a producer of this major motion picture directed by Chris Columbus and starring Robin Williams.
Communities often have talented individuals who quietly work unnoticed as neighbors and colleagues and are often more recognized outside the community than the one in which they live. Miller has become more visible lately in Eugene as his film is screened with popular response in many indie theaters and international festivals.
So, the next time someone tells you that the individual at the end of the cul-du-sace is a screenwriter or director you might want to inquire further. You just might be surprised who lives next door. |
Notes From Readers:
"I'm quite taken with the feature article this month (January) on Digital Story Telling. I'd like to incorporate it into my classes. Does this article have a more permanent URL I can pass to my students?" MH. Yes the article is archived online. You can bookmark Digital Stories for reference by students. Ed.
On Getting Older: "It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffeemaker. " |
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The Up Front, Feature and Random Links sections of this Newsletter are copyrighted by Proscenia Interactive ©2003 - 2006. This single phrase notice to be used when reproducing portions of the newsletter, in any format: From The Proscenia Newsletter - Copyright 2006. <http://www.proscenia.net/news.html>The use of all other quoted copyrighted material must be cleared with copyright owners.
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