Notes from November 2008

Documenting house project

I've been taking shots of the studio, and writing voice-over for what will become some kind of document of our house project. It's the first time I've shot color stock since college. It's a little foreign having to consider color temperature, but at the same time, nice to have the additional speed. The idea is to record our efforts to build a live/work space in North Portland, something which may in the end prove impossible. I do like the idea of working on something so close to what I do every day. The live-work space has occupied my thoughts daily for the last nine months.

November 24, 2008  –  permalink

Public funds for filmmaking in Oregon

In recent years, public funding opportunities for filmmaking in Oregon, those grant agencies awarding non-student projects, have consistently awarded individuals who work in the commercial field, many with long track records. In the case of non-commercial filmmakers being awarded, it appears that many are granted funds based on the individual's ability to finish a project, rather than the character of the work submitted.

It is nepotism and a perspective shaped by a commercial marketplace that is skewing the process. If a panel consists of people who do industry work (in some shape or form), how does the panel avoid the bias of projects needing to conform to market pressures in order to “gain an audience”, or take on a "professional look". Regarding grant funds, perhaps a lack of work that fits the criteria in a given grant cycle should allow funding agencies to retain funds and roll them into the next funding cycle, rather than throw money at projects that do not merit the support.

November 12, 2008  –  permalink