Oregon Indie Film

This episode features storyteller and high school principal, Derek Garrison.

We talk about his success as a screenwriter, giving yourself the permission to make a film, his reasons for producing and directing his feature film Van Damned and how he has already measured the success of this project. You’ll also hear about his inspiration for this story and how it was the ultimate father-son project. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Derek Garrison.

SHOW NOTES:

Derek Garrison on facebook

Van Damned Tickets

Instagram

Tik Tok

Mentioned in this episode:

Nick Stout

Logan Cannon

Lincoln’s Beard

Portland Stumps

This episode features Jon Meyer, a full time musician, filmmaker, director, and editor. We chat about van life, being a working filmmaker in Portland, his award winning documentary Tipping Point, filmed during the 2020 protests in Portland, and pickleball.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

SHOW NOTES:

Website

Music Videos by Jon Meyer ⁨@JonMeyer5150⁩

Instagram: Jon James Meyer

Facebook

Portland Stumps

[email protected]

I finally caught up with Logan in between his many film projects to chat about those projects, his path to acting, his advice for actors, how networking in the local Portland film industry has helped him book so many gigs, and how he is helping others do the same.

I hope you enjoy this episode with Logan Cannon.

Instagram

Facebook

Portland Stumps

Actors Tank – Sasha Santiago

POV Filmmakers

Winters, Nebraska

Getting Back

Van Damned

Inspired by her son, River, Haven started River Wild Films to write, produce and direct films that are family friendly and all about human connection. The first feature film, Getting Back, has universal themes of grief, fear, hope, family and love. There are deep emotional struggles balanced with lightness and imagination. It explores how we all deal with grief differently, while trying to hold on to the bonds we have.

Show Notes:

RiverWildFilms.com

Instagram: @GettingBackFilm

Facebook: Getting Back: A River Wild Film

YouTube: @Rivers_Wonder

Watch the Getting Back Trailer:

This episode features author, screenwriter, and director Jennifer Wolfe. We talk about Jennifer’s transition from being an author of young adult fiction to her true love of horror and how to get started in film. Jennifer shares her experience producing and directing her first film during the pandemic which went on to win several awards in the film festival circuit. How she had to let go of being a perfectionist, writing to budget, and the challenge of not only directing an indie feature, but filming it in nine days.

Show Notes:

Jennifer Wolfe's Website

IMDb

Instagram

Facebook

Linked In

Oregon Indie Film is a video podcast that shines the light on Oregon's independent film industry. Host Dawn Sellers interviews Oregon’s independent filmmakers who offer insights into the creative process, challenges, and triumphs of making movies in Oregon. If you would like to support this podcast by becoming a sponsor or a guest reach out [email protected]

I have been following the progress of Anna Campbell and her film NORA for a while. This is a film that walks the line of film, musical theatre, and music videos. But it is about much more than the music, it explores the struggle many women face. We are told we can have it all, but can we really? NORA navigates this path with a current day narrative many of us will relate to, infused with flashbacks that are big, beautiful, emotional, and reminiscent of when we all thought our lives could best be explained in a flashy music video.

Anna Campbell, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer

NORA

https://norathemovie.com/

streaming now: https://veeps.com/nora

Soundtrack available on Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1469230/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-campbell-875458123/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/annawillgram

In this episode Kristina shares her thoughts on Oregon’s independent filmmaking industry, the creative talent that she has witnessed over the last decade as a successful acting coach in Portland, her own film, Miss Ethnic Non-Specific, currently in pre-production, other films she is working on, and the nonprofit she founded, Brett’s Bass Fund which honors her late husband, renowned Bass player, Brett Rothfeld by providing resources to aspiring bass players who may not have the resources to support or learn.

SHOW NOTES:

Website

https://kristinahaddad.net/

IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0352659/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1

The Actor’s Lab https://theactorslab.com/portland-oregon/

The Great Divide – Upcoming screening at The Clinton Theater June 8th

https://thegreatdividemovie.org/

Fertile Ground – Portland’s Festival of New Works

https://fertilegroundpdx.org/

Miss Ethnic Non-Specific

https://missethnicnonspecific.com/

https://www.instagram.com/missethnicnonspecificfilm/

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-haddad/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krissy1407/

https://brettsbassfund.org/

Agegroupwinner.com

Find Alexadra Helgerson:

Listen to her music on Spotify

https://www.youtube.com/@alexandrahelgerson

https://www.patreon.com/lexhelgerson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-helgerson-baaa76a/

https://www.instagram.com/alexandrahelgerson/

Ryan Graves, Hibernation Films https://www.hibernationfilms.com/

Drew Crosby

https://ghoulcaponepicture.wixsite.com/ghoulcapone

www.youtube.com/@ghoulcapone

https://www.instagram.com/ghoulcapone/

https://www.instagram.com/forsakenremainsfilm/

https://www.instagram.com/artdrewcrosby/

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-crosby-744299132/

Portland State University Film Program: https://www.pdx.edu/film/

Sub Basement Studios:

https://subbasementstudios.com/

PSU Viking Film Festival: https://filmfreeway.com/PSUVikingFilmFestival

Welcome to Oregon Indie Film, a video podcast that shines the light on Oregon's independent film industry. I’m your host, Dawn Sellers. I interview Oregon’s independent filmmakers who offer insights into the creative process, challenges, and triumphs of making movies in Oregon.

I had the pleasure of sitting down in the studio with Portland screenwriter-turned-filmmaker, Mike Caron. Mike and I first met last year when he cast my husband, Doug, in his western Strike the Wind. Since then, we've become friends and collaborators—working together on Strike the Wind and other exciting projects.

In this episode, we explore how indie filmmakers not only get their films made, but also how the landscape of independent film is evolving—especially when it comes to distribution and financing. Mike shares his journey into filmmaking after careers in other fields, how he’s written so many screenplays, his early creative experiments, and how he continues to grow as a filmmaker.

You’ll also pick up screenwriting tips and hear what to do when a deal falls apart—because, as every filmmaker knows, it’s all part of the process.

SHOW NOTES:

Mike Caron Films:

Someday: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25363256/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_2

Outer Darkness: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29402418/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_t_1

Strike The Wind: Watch the Trailer -

Contact Mike Caron – [email protected] or on Facebook @mike.caron.75

7th Street Productions: 7thstreetfilms.com

* Calvin McCarthy

* Chyna Rae Shurts

POV Filmmakers monthly meetups – POVFilmmakers.org

Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to learn more about Mike’s current project, Strike the Wind, check out the trailer above.

You can also connect with Mike directly to keep the conversation going or explore more of his work.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave a five-star review and share it with your friends—it really helps us reach more indie film lovers.

Want to support the podcast? Reach out at [email protected].

You can find Oregon Indie Film wherever you listen to podcasts—and on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Substack.

Big thanks to NedSpace for sponsoring this episode.