Tag Archives: Grimm

A Very Grimm Happy Hour (Job Mixer!) 3/20 @ CENTRL

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Monday, March 20th from 5-7pm
, at co-working space CENTRL (Eastside), VFX/PDX is hosting a VFX+CG job fair done up Portland style – with the following companies and studios in attendance:

Please, only turn into a Blutbad AFTER your interviews.

LAIKA
W+K Motion
Joint
ShadowMachine
HouseSpecial
SuperGenius
Hinge Digital
Deep Sky
Sprocketship
9iFX
Juliet Zulu
Cinco Design
Funnelbox
Bent Image Lab
…and more TBA

 

The setup is simple – upstairs:  interviews.  Individual, private meetings with the above.
Downstairs:
-networking over snacks/drinks (graciously provided by CENTRL + World Foods)
-shop talk and advice/resources on returning to freelancing by nuevo staffing platform Scopic
-tours of the CENTRL space for anyone interested in co-working opportunities and what that sort of setup might entail.  CENTRL is offering a free week of co-working time for anyone interested.

For interview purposes, please fill out the form below now to register your interest and add your info to the database shared with the companies in attendance.  Please note – although Grimm was the catalyst for this event, it is open to all and all levels are encouraged to submit their info – from Lead/Supervisor down to students nearing graduation.  In addition to Compositors, CG artists and the like – Producers, Production Coordinators, Editors, IT, support staff are also encouraged.  Note: if your browser hates this embedded form, go to it directly at this link.

If selected for an interview, the user group staff here will be in touch shortly to help coordinate your interview times between the companies who show interest.

I look forward to you all taking advantage of this rare opportunity, and at the very least let’s all step out and raise a glass to keeping this energy and momentum going!  Keep the dream alive, as they say.

Again, the pertinent details:

“A Very Grimm Happy Hour” (aka:  a Portland style VFX+CG job fair)
Monday March 20, 5-7pm
CENTRL Eastside
329 NE MLK, Portland, OR 97232
Note: that’s essentially between 3rd Ave & MLK at NE Couch
Inside The Slate Building (around the corner from Cosube)

Parking:  Street spots start to clear up around then, or consider the Eastside Exchange building (home of the Oregon Film office) across the street to the west, who’s parking lot has recently been minted with parking meters.  Not free but convenient!

If you’ve not signed up for the VFX/PDX email list, please do so now as there will be last minute updates on this event.

If you are a company that would like to participate, please get in touch.

[Full disclosure:  in addition to running the user group, I also own/operate Sprocketship and will be actively recruiting.]

Grimm Fades to Black

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All good things come to an end, and today was Grimm’s day.

It was a good run. Time to raise a well deserved glass.

Four score (er, well, 6 years) and precisely 123 episodes ago, Portland got it’s shot.  Rather than take the easy out and ship the work off to our neighbors to the North (BC) or South (CA) as so many have done, the forward thinking Producers of the NBC/Universal show Grimm did something unique.  They looked at our raw ingredients here in Portland, and saw a spark.

Coordinated through the office of Oregon Film and masterminded by then-Executive Director, Vince Porter, the team behind Grimm agreed to a “Pepsi Challenge” of sorts.  Several prospective companies, near and far, submitted Grimm like transformation (Woge) pitches done without logos or branding of any kind.  Portland went up against more established vendors in larger VFX markets.

The taste test proved without a doubt that the Portland shops were ready.  Hungry.  And that solid VFX work could be done right here, alongside production, at a stone’s throw away.

And work we did.  Grimm was the gift that kept on giving, and as they teed up challenge after challenge, you all rose to the occasion and proved time and time again that you have what it takes to knock it out of the park.   Finally- a show not afraid of (but that actually embraced, and designed for) our clouds and rain!  Ha.  And VFX heavy, too?  Amazing.  It’s the role Portland was born to play!  Ripples of the creatures, characters, and shots of all types continue to permeate and pervade the demo reels of the shops and artists involved, and it’s been a source Portland pride to say the least.  Dare I say it’s given us an identity.

But yes…  all good things come to an end.  By my (unofficial) estimate, about 40 CG/VFX/Post Production artists between the two Portland vendors on the show are being “rolled off.”  Does this compare to, for example, a recent Intel layoff of 800?  That day when a key account broke ties with W+K, an account that had employed 400+ on it’s own?  Perhaps not in raw numbers, but certainly in spirit – consider another unofficial estimate:  1/3 of Portland’s working, studio based artists primarily doing VFX are now out of a job.  I don’t care if you’re a glass half full or half empty type:  that stat is Hexenbiest scary on several levels.

In many ways, forming this user group was a response to the momentum Grimm brought to the table as we elevated above being labeled a “one shop town” in the press and industry circles.  And it’s been great to show off each other’s work, talk shop over a beer/coffee/what have you, and mix it up occasionally.  But – for better or for worse, as they say…   just as we did when this thing started – right now we need to step up, pull together as a community, and take action.

We’re organizing a night of networking and interviews with local companies and studios on the rise, that can put your skills and experience to work.  Take advantage.  Details here.

OMSI: After Dark

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This month’s OMSI: After Dark is all about Hollywood Tech!

 https://www.omsi.edu/afterdark

omsi_after_dark

Just in time for the Oscars, OMSI brings us the science at work both behind and in front of (and INSIDE of) the camera.  Anyone who’s ever been to an After Dark session knows that it’s always a guaranteed good time, with lots of “21 and over” treats and a lineup and experiments that never fail to impress.

This one has the makings of a special night.  While working with them on putting things together, I’ve heard so many names dropped and a whirlwind of attendees that I’m a little overwhelmed and not sure who is official or unofficial at this point, so I should probably just defer you over to the OMSI page for the latest details.  I believe Portlandia will be well represented, and Fred Ruff will be presenting Grimm, and rounding things out – I (J Bills) will be digging into my archives and fishing out some feature film tech and behind the scenes you’ll never see on any DVD extra!  Rounding out the list, we have word that Christina from Ravenous Studios will be showing off makeup & prosthetic skills that constantly elevate the horror movies and TV shows she works on to another level.  And like I said, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Be sure to check out OMSI’s new theater screen while you’re there.  The Empirical screen is 4 stories, dual 4k 3D projectors…  I’m drooling at the stats.  VFX Oscar-lock Gravity will be on the big screen – feel free to take it in one last time before it rolls off into the Blu-Ray sunset (it releases this week).

Come on out – everyone loves a sure thing!

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Cost: After Dark $13 Non-Members, $7 Members, FREE OAD Members
Time: 6-10pm
Access: 21+ Only, ID Required
1945 SE Water Ave

more info: https://www.omsi.edu/afterdark

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