Oscar Nomination Adds Golden Glow to Oregon’s Film Scene

Oscar Nomination Adds Golden Glow to Oregon’s Film Scene

by | Feb 8, 2020 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. Will the crew from Oregon based Laika studios take home an Oscar? The Yeti-themed, global-trotting adventure, Missing Link has been the front runner since it won the Golden Globe in early January. The film was written and directed by Chris Butler and produced by Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight. Laika, the stop-animation studio located in Hillsboro has been nominated six times, but this would be a first Oscar win. The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9th, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC starting at 5 p.m. on the West Coast. Missing Link features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Emma Thompson, and Zach Galifianakis.

Arianne Sutner was a recent guest speaker at a program about the Oregon Film industry presented at the Multnomah Athletic Club. She’s pictured with the Head of Marketing for Lika, David Burke.

Here’s a video about the creation of the Missing Link:

Oregon film reports steady growth in both local productions and projects coming in from outside the state. This includes the second seasons of; SHRILL (Hulu), TRINKETS (Netflix) as well as the Emmy nominated third season of DOCUMENTARY NOW! New projects included THE BIRCH (Facebook), FIRST COW from director Kelly Reichardt, THE WATER MAN from director David Oyelowo and the Nicolas Cage project called PIG.

Speakers at the program on Oregon film included: the project manager at Portland Film Office Brian Lord, Arianne Sutner from Laika. Back row: Lisa Cicala, Executive Director of OMPA Lisa Cicala, Executive Director of Oregon film Tim Williams and president of SAG-AFTRA Michelle Damis.

For over a century, largely due to the variety of landscapes it offers and its proximity to California, Oregon has been a popular location for the film and entertainment industry, lending sites to some of Hollywood’s iconic movies. Oregon’s popularity continues to grow, with an increasing number of shows produced for television and the big screen being filmed in the state.

About Oregon Film:

Oregon Film, a state agency, has a mission to promote, support and advance the film, video, interactive, animation and creative content industries within the state by fostering connections between production, business and public sectors and strengthening this industry’s profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally.

 

Concordia University Gala Featuring “Common” Raises Over $355,000

Concordia University Gala Featuring “Common” Raises Over $355,000

by | Feb 8, 2020 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. The Concordia University gala that was anything but common, even though the keynote speaker uses “Common” as his moniker. He posed for a photo with interim president Rev. Dr. Tom Ries, event honoree Swati Adarkar, (Keynote speaker Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., better known as Common) and emcee Kimberely Dixon. The event drew 530 supporters and raised more than $355,000. The ninth annual Governor Victor Atiyeh Leadership in Education Awards Gala was held on February 4th at the new Hyatt Hotel in Portland. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)
Portland-Set Disney+ Original Film “Timmy Failure” Premieres at Sundance

Portland-Set Disney+ Original Film “Timmy Failure” Premieres at Sundance

by | Feb 1, 2020 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. Disney Plus held the premiere of “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” at the 10-day Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The festival wraps on February 2nd. Directed by Tom McCarthy, a filmmaker known for “Spotlight,” the best picture winner at the 2016 Academy Awards, “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made” was included as part of the festival’s children’s slate and was filmed in Portland. (Photo credit, Susan Young.)

From naked cyclists to an imaginary 1,500-pound polar bear roaming the streets, Portland’s quirks are getting more screen time in a new original Disney+ movie. Here’s a trailer for the new film which will be available February 7th  on the Disney Plus paid streaming service which costs about $7-per month.

The first trailer for Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made shows various parts of Portland like the Fremont Bridge, and downtown’s twin ornamental street lights.

Reviewers note: “Portland also fits with the story setting. Timmy’s mother has a hipster vibe. Some characters, who conceivably could have been extras in a show such as Portlandia, appear in the film as incidental cheerleaders to the young boy’s efforts.”

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, directed by Tom McCarthy, starring WInslow Fegley as Timmy Failure, Disney Enterprises, Inc.

The film is based on the first book in a popular series by Stephan Pastis, who also created the comic strip Pearls Before Swine. The plot focuses on a self-confident boy detective who tools around town on his mother’s Segway.

Stephan Pastis is the creator of Pearls Before Swine, an acclaimed comic strip that appears in more than six hundred newspapers and boasts a devoted following.

In 2013, Pastis was inspired to break out of the comic-strip box, penning his first children’s book, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, which became an instant New York Times bestseller. Mistakes Were Made was quickly followed by three other installments in the popular middle-grade series starring a brilliantly bad detective with a sidekick polar bear. Critics have praised the author for appealing to young readers with his knack for comic timing and the interplay between cartoons, text, and elements of the absurd in his storytelling.

About Timmy Failure, Stephan says, “For me as a kid, I liked to laugh. And I’m hoping these books do that for both kids and their parents. I just really want to give them stories that have something humorous in every chapter.”“Timmy is a detective who can take any mystery and make it more mysterious.”– Stephan Pastis

Here’s a blurb about the film, it’s recommended for ages 8 and up:

Timmy Failure is the president, founder, and CEO of Total Failure, Inc., detective agency. With his partner, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear, Timmy strives to keep the streets of Portland safe by solving seemingly unsolvable mysteries like finding missing backpacks and thwarting the plans of a nefarious criminal gang. Though he is focused on finding a new global headquarters, he endures school, where he must contend with his fellow students and his teacher and nemesis, Mr. Crocus. While he is on a case, the “Failure Mobile,” his mother’s off-limits Segway scooter and his main source of transportation, disappears. Interpreting the theft as part of a secret plan devised by his adversaries, he begins a search that leads him through a series of misadventures that ultimately threaten the existence of his agency. Based on the best-selling books by Stephan Pastis, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and directed by award-winning Sundance Film Festival alumnus Tom McCarthy, this heartwarming and entertaining film celebrates the idea that being different isn’t a bad thing.
About Sundance 2020: The winners have been named.
After 10 days and 128 feature films, the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s Awards Ceremony took place, with jurors presenting 28 prizes for feature filmmaking. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with Grand Jury Prizes awarded to Minari (U.S. Dramatic), Boys State (U.S. Documentary), Epicentro (World Cinema Documentary) and Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness (World Cinema Dramatic). 
Brides for a Cause Raises Funds for Local Charities With Annual Dress Dash

Brides for a Cause Raises Funds for Local Charities With Annual Dress Dash

by | Jan 26, 2020 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. Once a year the nonprofit Brides for a Cause offers wedding dresses for just $150. Brides started lining up at 4:00 am on Saturday morning and by the end of the day, hundreds had found their dream dresses. The sale featured more than 500 wedding dresses. Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for a variety of women-focused charities.

There was a long line for the 7th annual Dress Dash. The event took place on January 25th at the Exchange Ballroom.

Brides for a Cause raised $350,000 last year which was twice the amount from the previous year. In total, the organization has raised $1,000,000 for nonprofits.

Thousands of wedding dresses are donated each year by individuals, bridal stores, manufacturers and designers, which are resold at discounted prices to local brides.

Brides for a Cause also teams up with Brides Across America every July and November to offer free wedding dresses to local military brides and first responders during their annual “Operation Wedding Gown” events, which are held at over 60 bridal salons around the country.

Brides Across America gives away dresses for brides who are on active duty, a veteran of the military within the past 5 years, a first responder – or is marrying someone who is.

From Brides for a Cause:

Brides for a Cause has three locations:

Portland Boutique:
Brides for a Cause
2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 120
Portland, OR 97202

Tacoma Boutique:
Brides for a Cause
2711 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406

Seattle Boutique
Brides for a Cause
6514 Roosevelt Way
NE Seattle, WA 98115

If you are interested in donating a dress you can do that. Brides for a Cause is currently accepting wedding gowns from the past 5 years. 

Please mail your gown to:
Brides for a Cause
2505 SE 11th Ave, Suite 120
Portland, OR 97202

In 2019, we have given away a record-breaking $350,000 for the year! This is DOUBLE the amount we gave away in 2018! We also reached our $1,000,000 milestone of total money given away! Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way!

Our 2019 Gifts:

Past Gifts

Read about our 2018 Gifts!
Read about our 2017 Gifts!

Support Our Cause.

Have a charity you want us to consider supporting?  Nominate a Charity!

Arlene Schnitzer Donates Record-Breaking $10 Million to Portland Art Museum

Arlene Schnitzer Donates Record-Breaking $10 Million to Portland Art Museum

by | Jan 23, 2020 | Events, Features, News

Portland, OR. The Portland Art Museum announced a landmark gift of $10 million from philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer. This represents the largest contribution from an individual donor in the 127-year history of the institution.

The gift was announced at the Museum by her son, Jordan Schnitzer. Gov. Kate Brown spoke of Mrs. Schnitzer’s extraordinary leadership to approximately 200 invitees, underscoring the importance of investing in the arts in our state.

Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer in 2015 at the PNCA Grand Opening

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici also announced a $750,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of the Museum’s Connections Campaign. Through that campaign, the Museum will transform its campus by connecting its two buildings via the new Mark Rothko Pavilion and by growing its endowment in support of access, exhibitions, and programs.

The Schnitzer gift now represents the lead gift in the Museum’s ongoing Connection Campaign, which is currently in the quiet phase. An official announcement of the public campaign is anticipated in 2021.

“This extraordinary gift is a profound investment in our role as Portland’s museum for art and film, but also in the future of the arts in our region,” said Brian Ferriso, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum. “We are so grateful to the Schnitzer family for their leadership in continually reinforcing that the arts are essential for vibrant, equitable communities. This gift, and the gifts it will inspire, will shape the future of the arts in this community in ways we cannot foresee today.”

The Portland Art Museum released the video below to thank Arlene Schnitzer:

Arlene Schnitzer’s relationship with the Portland Art Museum began when she enrolled as a student at the Museum Art School.

Harold and Arlene Schnitzer in the Japanese Garden in 2010

Harold and Arlene Schnitzer are pictured in the Japanese Garden in 2010. Arlene Schnitzer and her late husband, Harold Schnitzer (1923–2011) have been close partners of the Museum for almost half a century.

Their passion for art, and our city, led to leadership roles at the Museum. The Schnitzers have provided financial support of important acquisitions, exhibitions, and capital campaigns; donated their Chinese Han Dynasty collection and other works to the Museum’s collection; and made significant investments in furthering the scholarship of the curatorial team through endowments of Northwest and Asian art, whose curatorial positions are named in their honor. The Schnitzers’ vision and generosity led to the creation of the Museum’s Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, celebrating the creative vitality of the region.

When asked about what drives her philanthropy, Mrs. Schnitzer said, “Enough is never enough giving back. And Harold felt it as strongly as I do. And that’s it.”

In recognition of their commitment and contributions, in 2007 Harold and Arlene Schnitzer were named the first-ever Life Trustees of the Museum. In 2014, the Museum showcased Arlene and Harold’s distinguished collection with the exhibition and publication In Passionate Pursuit: The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Collection and Legacy. That exhibition displayed artwork by many of the Northwest artists whose careers Mrs. Schnitzer nurtured through her Fountain Gallery, including Robert Colescott, the focus of the special exhibition Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott, opening February 15 at the Museum. The Schnitzers’ legacy and impact on the arts in Portland and throughout the Northwest are undeniable.

“It has been very exciting to see the Museum change and grow, and to watch interest in the art of the Northwest region blossom,” Mrs. Schnitzer said. “It’s what Harold and I envisioned.”

“I am so proud of my mother, Arlene, and my late father, Harold,” said Jordan Schnitzer. “My mother recently said the reason they have given to the art museum was ‘You either put up, or shut up!’ It doesn’t get any more succinct than that!

“While their financial contributions have been important, I believe their leadership and lifelong effort to enlist many others to support the arts is their greatest legacy,” Mr. Schnitzer continued. “My late father often said, ‘You can’t have too many yellow school buses in front of the Museum!’”

About Portland Art Museum:

Mission

The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations.

PHILOSOPHY AND CORE VALUES

The Portland Art Museum strives to be an inclusive institution that facilitates respectful dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas.  With a deep commitment to artists – past and present – and freedom of expression, the Museum and Northwest Film Center’s collections, programs and staff aspire to reveal the beauty and complexities of the world, and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.  We are a Museum for all, inviting everyone to connect with art through their own experiences, voices, and personal journeys.  The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum:

Creativity
The arts are at the core of our humanity, representing a timeless human impulse.

Connection
The arts touch us and connect us across time, geography, and cultural differences, shedding light on how humans interact with their world.

Learning
The arts open us to diverse ideas and ways of knowing ourselves, our community, and our world.

Accessibility
The arts must be economically, intellectually, and physically accessible to everyone.

Accountability
Transparency and careful stewardship of resources—including collections, staff, facilities, and investments – are essential for mission fulfillment now and in the future.

More info at: https://portlandartmuseum.org/