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Recent Movies in Oregon

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you’re watching Direct TV Portland or your basic cable channels you may have noticed an influx of Oregon-looking sets as of late. Here are a few of the most recent movies shot in Oregon to look out for when you’re channel surfing
Cold Weather: This thriller was shot in and around Portland which gives it the dreary feel needed for that genre. It hasn’t come out yet but it will soon and this one, unfortunately may be a direct to DVD classic.
The Road: This film adaptation of the Cormick McCarthy classic was shot in Portland and though it didn’t get the best reviews it’s an Oregonians delight nonetheless. There are so many scenes that feature the woods and weather of Oregon which is something any resident can find value in.
Twilight: Perhaps the most famous movie to come out of the state, Twilight is supposed to be set in Washington but much of the film was shot here in Oregon. The vampire thriller has a lot of great outdoor shots, though, so watch it even if you can’t stand the thought.

David DeCoteau: Oregon’s Horror Film Director

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Before becoming the movie director that we have come to know and respect today; David Decoteau was born in Portland, Oregon on January 5, 1962. The famed director got his start in the film industry by taking on a job given to him by the legendary Roger Corman. Corman hired Decoteau to be a production assistant as the young age of 18 years old. In 1986, David got his chance to prove himself by directing his first film for another Hollywood legend Charles Band. After his first film, he later got the chance to progress forward and begin to dabble in the motion picture industry, as well as executive producing for various filmmakers.

For over twenty years, DeCoteau has created over eighty low budget films. Most of the movies that he has directed are soft-core horror movies for the production company Full Moon Pictures. After working for other companies, David decided to start his own production company eccentrically named Rapid Hearts Pictures. Seemingly, that may be a play on words because of that fact that horror movies do have a tendency to make the heart race. David’s movies never contain the standard buxom beauties, but very handsome male actors that are scantily dressed and behaving very erotically.

Ty Burrell of “Modern Family”: Grants Pass Native

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Ty Burrell of “Modern Family” is a Grants Pass Native. Burrell was born in Grants Pass in August of 1967 and grew up in Applegate. He currently plays the hilarious dad, Phil Dunphy, in the hit ABC show. Audiences enjoy tuning in to see what charade Phil is going to play on his family during that episode.

He began acting in 2001, but the success from “Modern Family” has made him a very notable actor. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series in 2010. He has also starred in “Dawn of the Dead” and “Fair Game.”

Burrell graduated high school from Hidden Valley High School. He went on to receive a degree from Southern Oregon University where he majored in theatre arts. His mother still lives in Ashland, so he said he visits Oregon several times a year. He has been quoted to say that he “loves Oregon” and that it is “the coolest place on Earth.”

There are many more acting projects in the works for Burrell. One of the biggest projects is shooting another season of “Modern Family.” The show also starts Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Keanu Reeves in Oregon: From “Point Break” to “My Own Private Idaho”

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It’s not unusual when certain Hollywood actors become identified with certain locations. Think John Wayne and the epic expanses of Monument Valley. Or Robert DeNiro and the mean streets of New York City. To that list you can add Keanu Reeves and the diverse landscapes of Oregon. To date, no less than five of the actor’s films have been made in Oregon beginning with 1988′s “Permanent Record”. 1991 was a watershed year for Reeves and Oregon with the action hit “Point Break” and the critically acclaimed “My Own Private Idaho”.I found some more information here. 1993 saw the release of “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues”, followed by “Thumbsucker” in 2005. Reeves’ Oregon-based films have brought the state notoriety and revenue while also boosting the actor’s career: “Point Break” helped establish Reeves as a viable mainstream action star. “Permanent Record” and “Private Idaho” showcased Reeves’ acting chops. “Cowgirls” was his second Oregon-based collaboration with director Gus Van Sant after “Idaho”. And “Thumbsucker” demonstrated the actor’s ability to play character parts in offbeat films. It’s obviously been a mutually beneficial relationship for the actor and Oregon. In fact, one could argue that the connection is so strong that Reeves’ “Point Break” character Johnny Utah should’ve been named Johnny Oregon.

Film Director Gus Van Sant Loves Oregon

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When you think of Oregon, what comes to mind most often are evergreen forests, “green” Portland, and breathtaking, sweeping landscapes. If you’re thinking about cinema, though, American director Gus Van Sant’s name should be the first name out of your mouth.

Gus Van Sant, one of the most influential contemporary American indie directors whose acclaimed films have garnered Oscars aplenty, was actually born in Kentucky, though you would never know it from his many movies set in Oregon. Van Sant was raised in the Beaver State and made it the setting for four of his feature films.Check out this link here. Just as the forests of Oregon can be dark, Van Sant’s films are often about grim, bleak happenings in and around Portland. In Elephant (2003) we find a high school dealing with a school shooting, and in Paranoid Park (2007) a teen accidentally kills a security guard when he hits him with a skateboard. Is Van Sant giving Oregon a bad rap? Not really. Even if the state seems to be the muse responsible for his most desolate work, we can still hope for him to churn out another uplifting Good Will Hunting (2007) or Milk (2008), only this time it’ll be Oregon-style.