Independent Films Featured on OPB's OREGON LENS
Posted Tue August 08, 2006
- Promotional Contact:
- Carol Howard
- 503-977-7751
OREGON LENS is back for its eighth season, and it's bigger and better than ever. Over five nights, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) will showcase some of the Pacific Northwest's most talented independent producers. Tune in to the stations of OPB TV August 21-25 at 10pm to see a diversity of work that surprises and challenges the viewer.
"I'm always excited about the opportunity to share the incredible work of these independent filmmakers," said Steve Amen, executive producer and host. "Their subject matter may be diverse, but they all share one common trait -- their passion for filmmaking.
"This series shows us why Portland has been mentioned as one of the top 10 cities for independent filmmakers in MovieMaker Magazine," said Amen.
"On Monday, August 21, our first film, "Scotland's Lighthouses," takes us on a beautiful coastal tour telling the stories of more than a dozen lighthouses. Portland producers Lyle and Wendy Morgan toured over 30 lighthouses to find the best stories.
"Next up, on Tuesday, August 22, "Bombhunters" is produced and directed by Skye Fitzgerald, another Portland filmmaker gaining national recognition for his work. It is a frightening, but compelling look at Cambodian people who risk their lives hunting for bombs. And they do it for 10 cents an hour," said Amen.
A collection of short films will air on Wednesday, August 23:
"Passage," by renowned Portland filmmaker Chel White, is part collage, part visual poem dealing with innocence and corruption. "Brother Boy" is the work of Jalal Jemison, an independent filmmaker from Portland who enjoyed working with local cast and crew to tell the haunting story of twin brothers making decisions about love and hate. The program ends with a half-hour documentary "Locally Owned, Locally Operated: A Western Oregon Story" by May Dargan, a recent grad from the University of Oregon.
Thursday night we return to the more conventional documentary format as we follow U.S. Navy veterans as they struggle to resurrect and restore one of World War II's legendary PT boats in "Devil Boat: The Saga of PT 658." With the use of some amazing archival film, Executive Producer Norm Anderson relates the role the PTs played in the war.
Friday night's finale features shorter work as well as a half-hour documentary "Coming Home Was Easy." Produced by Larry Johnson and Jim Bergeron, it explores the history and culture of salmon trolling through the honest, often funny recollections of 15 fishermen and women. "The Mustache," also by Larry Johnson, is a fun look at this particular facial feature and how it can change people. The last documentary short, "Martinis in the Bike Lane, " produced by Joe Biel, examines the unique characters that mark the lanes and how the city of Portland got so creative with them.
About OPB
OPB is the state's most powerful and accessible media resource, providing free access to programming for children and adults designed to give voice to community, connect Oregon and its neighbors and illuminate a wider world. Every week, over 5 million Oregonians and Southwest Washingtonians tune in to or log on to OPB’s television, radio and Internet-delivered services. As the hub of operations for the state's Emergency Broadcast and Amber Alert services, OPB serves as the backbone for the distribution of critical information to broadcasters and homes throughout Oregon. OPB's Web site is opb.org.
Last Modified Fri August 11 2006 11:31AM
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