If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area and you want to work in the video and film field, there are many different ways you can position yourself whether you have little experience or a great deal of experience.
Listed below are some resources and tips to get you started.
Networking & Memberships
- Practice telling people who you are and what you do (even non-industry people).
- Be ready with 9 cards.
- Go to networking events (Portland Film Festival has a major annual one, Jerry Bell has a monthly one where he showcases filmmakers’ short films/trailers, OMPA has networking events).
- Join organizations: OMPA, Women in Film PDX (wifpdx.com).
- Look for Meetup groups, like The Portland Independent Film Networking Meetup.
Put Yourself Out There
- Have a good website.
- Join OMPA and get listed in their directory Source Oregon.
- Make a Facebook page for your services and post regularly.
- Work toward creating a reel that showcases your talents.
- Send your resume to film and video companies you want to work with.
- Have a complete LinkedIn profile.
Join Facebook Groups
- People are always posting “I need a DP, gaffer, P.A., etc. via these groups.
- You can also share your work and Kickstarter projects on these pages.
- You can browse members and see what they do and find people to work with.
Local:
Indie Oregon Films – 2,390 members
Oregon Media & Film Group – 1,947
Portland Film Community – 2,220
PDX Film Collective – 4,057
Portland Film & Video Networking – 4,490
Film & Media Community of Oregon – 1,887Global:
Film Industry Network – 76,716
More… probably not as effective as localAlternative:
Portland Casting Hub (for casting only) – 5,537
& other niches within filmmaking (ex. MUA groups, groups for producers/investors, etc.)
(List compiled and accurate as of October 2016)
Festivals & Competitions
- Portland has several festivals every year: Portland Film Festival, Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival, Portland International Film Festival, etc.
- Submit work to festivals to be seen.
- If you receive recognition at a festival or via a competition, it boosts your credibility and can be added to your resume.
- If you’re just starting out, join or start a team for the 48-Hour Film Project (annual).
Education
- Portland Community College Multimedia offers degree and certificate program
- Portland Community Media
- NW Film Center takes applications for students and for teachers to teach film-related classes.
- The Art Institute of Portland
- Volunteer for NW Documentary
- Portland State University Film degree program
- Take occasional workshops to stay current on the industry and meet other people.
- Consider taking acting classes if you plan to direct actors for fictional projects.