Oregon Humanities releases first in series of short films on the power of new ideas
To mark the culmination of a two-year-long strategic planning and branding process, Oregon Humanities has released the first in a series of short films, “The Power of a New Idea,” produced by Jelly Helm and Grow Film. Film #1 features Jon Broderick, Andrew Proctor, Julia Oh, Norma Paulus, Randy Gragg, Carolezoom, Dave Allen, Sharnissa Clemons, Tonisha Toler, Tom Spanbauer, and Pancho Savery.
Filmmakers talked to thirty-two Oregonians about why new ideas are frightening, powerful, and, ultimately, necessary in creating change and moving communities forward. Though not all of the interviewees appear in the film series, they are listed below to illustrate what one of the filmmakers described as “the best dinner party in town.”
The films are part of a name change and rebranding process that Oregon Humanities (formerly Oregon Council for the Humanities) embarked upon under the direction of Jelly Helm, former creative director of Wieden + Kennedy and currently an independent branding consultant for Imperial Woodpecker, Infectious Diseases Research Institute, and Wikipedia. Helm assembled a team of creatives, including filmmakers Sarah Marcus and Reed Harkness of Grow Film, to evaluate Oregon Humanities’ mission, goals, and programs, and help the organization better tell its story. Helm worked closely with the Oregon Humanities’ staff and board to come up with a new name and outreach materials that were rolled out in mid-September 2009.
The remaining films will be released over the coming months. Sign up for the Oregon Humanities newsletter to be the first to see them.
15 September 2009 | Permalink | Comments? (8 so far)
Participants
- Dave Allen
Dave Allen is the co-founder of Fight, the president and co-founder of Pampelmoose, and the bass player of Gang of Four.
- Jesse Beason
Jesse Beason is the executive director of Proud Ground.
- Jon Broderick
Jon Broderick is a commercial fisherman, the cofounder of the Fisher Poets Gathering, and an English teacher at Seaside High School.
- CaroleZoom
CaroleZoom is a printmaker, photographer, and community organizer, and serves as the board co-chair for the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation for social justice.
- Sharnissa Clemons
Sharnissa Clemons is a graduate of Oregon Humanities’ Humanity in Perspective program.
- Toody and Fred Cole
Toody & Fred Cole are musicians in the bands Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows.
- Lyn Craig
Lyn Craig is the executive director of Libraries of Eastern Oregon.
- Katherine Deumling
Katherine Deumling is the Northwest regional governor of Slow Food.
- Randy Gragg
Randy Gragg is the editor of Portland Monthly.
- David Gutterman
David Gutterman is professor of politics at Willamette University and an Oregon Humanities board member.
- Shayla Hason
Shayla Hason is Portland-based artist, photographer and musician.
- Lawson Inada
Lawson Inada is the Poet Laureate of Oregon.
- Ian Jaquiss
Ian Jaquiss is Basketball Outreach Director for the Portland Trail Blazers.
- John Jay
John Jay is executive creative director of Wieden + Kennedy and principal of Studio J.
- Kristan Kennedy
Kristan Kennedy is the visual art program director for the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art.
- Thomas Lauderdale
Thomas Lauderdale is a pianist, and founder and artistic director of Pink Martini.
- Paloma Medina
Paloma Medina is an artist, activist and health worker who most recently was clinic administrator for Outside In.
- Julia Oh
Julia Oh is a copywriter at Wieden + Kennedy.
- Norma Paulus
Norma Paulus is a former Oregon secretary of state, superintendent of public schools, and director of the Oregon Historical Society.
- Andrew Proctor
Andrew Proctor is the executive director of Literary Arts.
- Peter Rock
Peter Rock is the author of five novels and a collection of stories; he teaches writing at Reed College.
- Pancho Savery
Pancho Savery is professor of English and humanities at Reed College, and teaches in Oregon Humanities’ Humanity in Perspective program.
- Robyn Tenenbaum & Kate Sokoloff
Robyn Tenenbaum and Kate Sokoloff are co-creators and producers of Live Wire! Radio.
- Tom Spanbauer
Tom Spanbauer is a teacher and the author of four novels.
- Sika Stanton
Sika Stanton is a photographer and artist, though she hesitates to call herself that.
- Tonisha Toler
Tonisha Toler works in the grants program for the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
- Thom Walters
Thom Walters is a Portland-based organizational strategist and catalyst working at the intersection of business, art, and culture.
- Rich Wandschneider
Rich Wandschneider is the founding director of Fishtrap and an Oregon Humanities board member.
- Wim Wiewel
Wim Wiewel is the president of Portland State University.
- Elizabeth Woody
Elizabeth Woody is an artist and author of three books.
- Elliot Young
Elliot Young is a professor of history at Lewis & Clark College and Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project scholar-facilitator.
Commentary
This is one of the more exciting things I’ve read about in Portland in a while. The Conversation Project is a new idea to me and reminds me of being in college—the way ideas would flow from people of different disciplines and combine and spark a new conversation.
Kathryn Hathaway | Portland | 27 Sep at 03:09 PM
If you have “released” this film, how do I get a copy of it to show in McMinnville? That info was missing.
Pat Myers | McMinnville | 05 Oct at 12:29 PM
Instead of discussing things you did in 2003 and 2004, how about some news on upcoming events? There was only one that I recall.
Pat Myers | McMinnville | 05 Oct at 12:36 PM
Pat, you should check out our home page for all of our latest program news and events:
http://oregonhumanities.org
Kathleen | Portland | 05 Oct at 01:55 PM
I’m really glad to see that you are incorporating film into your Website! Not too long ago I contacted Oregon Humanities to see if you accepted video/film submissions in response to calls for entries on selected topics, I was told that you did not and was disappointed! So, I hope that in addition to the short film series you will be featuring that you will open up your submission acceptance to include film and video as well. Telling stories can go far beyond the written word.
Thanks!
Bridget McGinn
Bridget McGinn | Bend, Oregon | 06 Oct at 03:00 PM
I have the same question as Pat above . . . can we get a copy of the “New Idea” video to show in local communities?
Todd Kepple | Klamath Falls | 06 Oct at 04:28 PM
Todd and Pat, we’re in the process of putting the next two films online. Once we have a set of all three available (by the end of the month), we’ll have DVDs produced. Check back on this once our store is up and running (again, we hope, by the end of the month).
Thanks for your interest!
Kathleen Holt, Communications Director/Editor
Kathleen | Portland | 08 Oct at 12:26 PM
Bridget,
These film were commissioned as part of our branding process, so we’re still not accepting film submissions for our magazine themes because we’re just not set up to handle and vet such submissions right now—but check back: that may change in the future. If you’re on Facebook, you could join our fan page and I think would then have the ability to post a link for other fans to view.
Best,
Kathleen Holt, Communications Director/Editor
Kathleen | Portland | 08 Oct at 12:32 PM
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