Author: Alyssa Roehrenbeck

Grit and grace may be my new life keywords, motto, mantra, whatever. After production on Mama’s Eggnog, a fun little holiday film made with friends and C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, ET) I had a series of epiphanies about how we were able to make this film possible. We’re currently in Post Production and excited to share it with the world. Speaking From Personal Experience Shortly before pre-production on Mama’s Eggnog I was unexpectedly dumped by a person I thought was my life partner and was 100% committed to. Simultaneously, the Director of Photography for the film left the project.…

I am not crazy. Okay, maybe a little. Anyone who produces indie films has a tinge of crazy. Otherwise, they would work at a bank instead, right? It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s really fine.  I have accepted my lot in life to attempt many impossible things and succeed at maybe a couple of them. It’s a challenge I willingly accept. The adventure in making a story come to life is something that will never get old. One of the things I love about indie filmmaking is the creative teamwork. I am knee deep in production on Mama’s Eggnog right now…

There are a few words that give me Producer PTSD. Anamorphics*. Horse. Underwater. The list has grown over time. I have found that choosing a script that is producible is the first step to success with an indie project. So, what makes a film producible vs. not producible? Well, that is a loaded question and something that every Producer is going to have a different answer to. In this post, I am going to give what I look for in a script I might consider taking on an indie budget. Nothing Trumps a Good Story. First things first, you should…

Up in Portland, there are only a few places to rent cameras and really, only one camera house. That’s it. One. And boy are we lucky to call Koerner Camera part of our filmmaking industry. Most of us know what a gem this place is and are grateful for the gear, endless knowledge and community that Koerner Camera has helped to build over the years. IMHO, here are some darn good reasons to love them. 5+ Reasons to Get Excited About Koerner Camera in Portland Shop dogs. Need I say more? Dogs are a part of every visit to Koerner…

Aren’t money and resources the biggest roadblocks when it comes to making your indie film? Undoubtedly. That’s what makes the following statement so mind boggling to me. I’m not sure why, but the words “Fiscal Sponsor” are often a mystery to many indie filmmakers. And that is really, well, unfortunate. Fiscal sponsorship is a great way to tap into new pockets of money and resources. Almost all of my feature films have involved a fiscal sponsor, and today, I’ll give you all the deets on why. What is a fiscal sponsorship anyways? Fiscal sponsorship is essentially a partnership between you…

SEASIDE, which I began work on in 2015 is finally making its’ way out there! Near and dear to me, this film has had a long journey from script to screen and I couldn’t be more excited to tell you about it. What got me from the start was that this indie thriller script was full of twists and turns – you really CANNOT predict what is about to happen next.

Production Assistants. Every show has them. Every show needs them. Not all are created equal. Whether you are a struggling PA, just out of film school or brand new to the industry, here are the things that make me ADORE a good Production Assistant. 10 Rules to Rocking It as a Production Assistant 1. Be organized and diligent. No matter the task, be organized about it. Parking signs? Make a list and map. Seven errands? Plan a route that is headed in one direction. Setting up crafty? Make it look presentable, be sure to ice chilled foods and rotate as…

The #MeToo movement is sweeping every corner of our culture, so it’s no surprise to find new conversations around sex on camera and how that should be treated in a work environment. Let’s get real – the amount of shows with sexual content has grown at an explosive rate – just think about your top three favorite shows. How many have some pretty elicit sex scenes? Yah, that is what I thought. (We all know Game of Thrones was on your list! 😁 ) But what sex looks like on TV and what it’s like to make couldn’t be more…

In my last article, I blabbed a lot about post-production and the golden rule of indie filmmaking that everyone should abide by, “Beggars can’t be choosers”. I looked up the origins of this because it seems to me that there should be some tall tale involving a loaf of bread and a peasant. Perhaps that is true, but I couldn’t prove it in 5 minutes or less. However, the phrase does date all the way back to 1546. But, then I clicked the Urban Dictionary link which gave me a much cooler way to phrase the entire thing, “B’s can’t…

Here are two words that will never let you down: patience and persistence. The average movie takes several years from fundraising to release. If you don’t have what it takes to weather that sort of timeline, I suggest finding another medium to express yourself. Maybe you are the next super-duper Snapchat story sensation. Can you tell I’m into alliteration today? I love alliteration. Okay, I’ll stop. Maybe. No promises. The Bermuda Triangle of the Creative Process – Good, Fast, Cheap Whether you’re making a movie or another creative project, an album, a video game, literally, anything – there is one…

There is no denying that tax incentives are the backbone of several smaller markets around the country and even the globe. This was on full display at the American Film Market this past fall where states and countries set up vivid booths, threw outlandish and amazing parties (I went to one with a Thai Princess!), and touted their tax incentives and other cost-saving mechanisms. Likewise, the Portland film market is also reliant on a solid tax incentive plan. Today, I am gonna blab about how indie films fit into the tax incentive mix in one of my favorites states, you…

Trust is hard. Here’s how not to do it. Some words to describe me: witty, weird, bossy, curious, energetic, anxious, loyal and last but not least, trusting. While some of those words are what I consider positives, not all are, and many of them have come back to bite me in the butt on more than one occasion. For the last two years, that word has been trust. In the past, trust is something that I have given freely. I am a firm believer in the idealistic principle that most people are good. I believe everyone is just waiting to…

It rains in Portland. For most of the year. And here are a few things you should know about the city’s soggy scene. Whatever you do, leave your umbrella at home. Bring a hood or hat instead. Portlanders have perfected hat fashion and spend three days there and you’ll understand why. Umbrellas are pesky, not that great at keeping you dry anyways and make it really hard to actually get anything done. Using an umbrella is the easiest way to identify yourself as an outsider. There aren’t really downpours, just lots of gray, drizzle. For lots of days in a…

There are a lot of reasons that so many successful indie films have shot in Portland. In addition to things I’ve covered previously like the tax incentives and impressive locations, there’s also something that just makes it feel right. Let’s call it the “it” factor – if a city were to have that sort of thing. Which it does. Just saying. Gus Van Sant opened the door for indie film in the area and since, Portland has become a mecca for many highly regarded independent films. In the last couple years alone, films shot in Oregon like Lean on Pete,…