Matt Groening is one of five judges who will select the Best Documentary at this year’s Sundance.

Meanwhile, Kim Morgan, former Oregonian and Willamette Week film critic, is judging the Short Films.

]]> http://www.talltalestruetales.com/2011/01/oregon-goes-to-sundance-2011-judges-division/feed/ 0 http://www.talltalestruetales.com/2010/06/aaron-mesh-wins-altweekly-film-critic-award/ http://www.talltalestruetales.com/2010/06/aaron-mesh-wins-altweekly-film-critic-award/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:39:30 +0000 Anne Richardson http://www.talltalestruetales.com/?p=8287

It would be pretty dreary covering all of Oregon’s film fabulousness by myself. So Aaron Mesh and I made a deal – he would cover writing brilliantly about current films playing in theaters. I would cover writing about Oregon connected films either a) too old to be playing in theaters or b) so new they haven’t yet played outside Portland.

The deal worked out beautifully for me, since Mesh consistently performed at a level far above and beyond the call of duty. Think I’m exaggerating?  Association of Alternative Newsweeklies just recognized the value of  Mesh’s work with a nomination for an award which places him alongside J. Hoberman of the Village Voice and Greg Cook of the Boston Phoenix.

Aaron Mesh has been consistently writing more thoughtful, original film criticism than any mid-sized city has reason to expect to find in its largest free weekly paper. The nomination makes a point of this – he was cited for his entire column, Screen Reviews, not for any one specific article.

Aaron Mesh has just been given the highest possible honor by a group of his peers — they are saying that his work is ALWAYS good.

Mesh has been running a marathon, all the while maintaining the wind and speed more usually found in a sprint.  I am sorry to report that he doesn’t locally get much credit for this, possibly since readers of Willamette Week have come to think of  brilliance as the norm,  as the list of Mesh’s predecessors includes David Walker and Kim Morgan.

Congratulations, Aaron!

It began with a bang. Andries Deinum arrived at PSU in 1957 from LA, and co-founded (long distance) the magazine Film Quarterly. He served on its editorial board until his death in 1995.

The following are the children of Andries. All have some Oregon connection: either they were born here, or moved here, or began their careers here before moving away.

Andries has other film addled children (Cinema Project, I’m looking at you!). These are the ones who write.

Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review

Jason Bellamy, The Cooler

Nick Bruno, The Rain Falls Down In Portlandtown

Dennis Cozzalio,  Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule

Erin Donovan, Steady Diet Of Film

Travis Ezell, No Time For Love, Mr. Jones!

Ryan Gallagher, The Criterion Cast

Stan Hall, Beyond The Multiplex

D. K. Holm, Cinemonkey

Brian Kellow, Kael: A Life After Dark

Shawn Levy, Mad About Movies

Jon Lewis, Oregon State University

Aaron Mesh, Willamette Week

Marc Mohan, Mohanthropy, Far From Hollyeood

Kim Morgan, Sunset Gun

Gary Morris, Bright Lights Film Journal, Bright Lights After Dark

Kevin J. Olson, Hugo Stiglitz Makes Films

Darleen Ortega, Opinionated Judge

Jamie S. Rich, Criterion Confessions, dvdtalk.com

Anne Richardson, Oregon Movies, A to Z

Bobby “Fatboy” Roberts, Damnit, Bobby, Nerd Puddle

Mike Russell, Culture Pulp

Eric Snider, Cinematical

Dawn Taylor, Cinematical

John Varley, varley.net

David Walker, Bad Azz Mo Fo, Indie Film Journal, The Missing Reel

Bill Warren, pioneering online film critic

Gary Wolcott, Mr. Movie

Kyle Yount, Kaijucast

Number of Oregon films with a Michael Jackson theme song: 1

Number of Oregon filmmakers who have directed Michael: 2

Number of Oregon filmmakers who directed Michael twice: 1

Number of pop critics with roots in Portland  who were chosen to write about Michael Jackson: 2

Number of Oregon filmmakers who danced with Michael at his Neverland Ranch: 1

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

Key for the Oregon/Michael Jackson challenged:

Michael Jackson sings the theme song Will You Be There in Free Willy (1993), which was shot on the Oregon coast and starred Medford resident  Jason James Richter.

Will Vinton directed Michael in the “Speed Demon” sequence of Moonwalker (1988).

Jim Blashfield directed Michael in the “Leave Me Alone” sequence of Moonwalker (1988).

Will Vinton directed Michael Jackson first as a California Raisin, in 1987.

Former Portland journalist Mikal Gilmore wrote the cover story for Rolling Stone’s memorial issue devoted entirely to Michael Jackson.

Former Portland journalist Kim Morgan has three chapters in the forthcoming “Official Michael Jackson Opus” book, which, at 38 pounds, serves dual purpose as a weight training system..

Will Vinton traveled to Neverland Ranch to co-create, in person, the choreography of the duet which ends the “Speed Demon” sequence. Just as experienced Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers fans know that Fred worked out his routines with Hermes Pan before shooting them with Ginger, the experienced Oregon movie buff can see that in the “Speed Demon” duet, Spike Rabbit stands in for Vinton himself. Vinton studied dance growing up in McMinnville, along with his sister, who later, as Mary Vinton Folberg, founded Portland’s Jefferson Dancers.

Kim Morgan checks out the decor at the Playboy Mansion.

Color me proud. Kim Morgan, the one time Portlander who now rules the blogosphere from LA, was asked to contribute not one, not two, but three chapters to a forthcoming book about Michael Jackson.

What the book like, Kim? From the Film In Focus interview:

……a beautiful Opus book (out this December) about Michael Jackson – the first one approved by the family and estate. I wrote three chapters – one about Michael Jackson the video visionary, one about his fashion, and one on Michael the dancer, which was actually emotional for me. Watching and studying all the things I love that inspired Michael, from Fred Astaire to James Brown to Bob Fosse, was profoundly moving. And sad.