Desert Island Studios

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Portland, OR
Desert Island Studios

Desert Island Studios is part co-working space, part film/photography studio for rent.
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12/30/2023

2023 was a big year for Desert Island Studios, not only with our move but also for new projects.
We wanted to share a 2023 wrap up to celebrate some of our favorite in house and partnered productions of the year. All made with our in house creatives/producers + our wider production community.

1. We produced two photo/video spots with director/photog , producer David Cress, and for

2. The three part music video directed by for produced by .mmoreno

3. We ran the high stakes high stress A/V live stage que and video documentation team for ’s 48 hour Dragathon that helped them beat the .

4. Produced a video short for sneaker drop directed by

5. We supported writer/director and his new short narrative film , coming to the festival circuit in 2024

6. We produced a music video directed by featuring for their new song Say It Like You Mean It, out now.

7. We co-produced the 2023 script to screen short narrative film . co-directed by and

8. We produced 7 in house studio shoots for various clients with some very cool set builds and top notch teams.

9. We produced 3 socials spots for directed/edited by ._jane_._ and AP’d by

10. .theories.film moved into the final phase of post production and is set for the 2024 festival circuit. written/directed by ._jane_._ and produced by

We also provided production support to projects and teams we really believed in- new film Chispa, feature film , Comedy in the Park, Elena Gaby’s documentary film “Cousins”, and webseries .

…but wait til you hear about what our studio members have been up to in our next post🤯

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OUR CLIENTS & COLLEAGUES!! We are beyond grateful for every opportunity. & we can’t wait to see what 2024 brings🔮🎉

11/09/2023

On Monday November 13th from 6 PM to 8:30 PM join us at Desert Island Studios to celebrate the conclusion of Top Secret Club 2023 with a wrap party and the grant award announcements!

1316 SE 12th Avenue
Free to attend. Snacks and drinks provided.

6 PM to 8:30 PM
7:30 PM Grant Award Announcement
8:30 PM Conclusion

As always, thank you to our partners Oregon Film and Artist Repertory Theatre whose support of this program made it possible for us to host these events 🤗

11/08/2023

Check out the new -Kinney music video directed by for their song “Say it Like you Mean It” starring 💥

Linked in our stories!

Produced by Desert Island Studios and filmed in Portland, OR 🫶

Thanks to the whole cast and crew for making this video come to life, and big thanks to for hosting us in your incredible space!

Lead: J. Smith-Cameron
Director: Carrie Brownstein
Director of Photography: Tim Orr
Producer/Production Design: Karen Murphy
Producer: Devin Jane Febbroriello ._jane_._
Editor: Stephanie Kasnocha
Locations/Associate Producer: Vincent Pham
Production Manager: Ellena Rosenthal
Playback/Audio Corin Tucker

Wardrobe Erin Orr
Makeup Anne Sellery
Hair Jennifer Serio
Key Grip: Sean Devine
Gaffer: Chris Purkiss
1st AC: Jerry Turner
DIT: Olivia Bayer
Transport Dustin Gluvna
Production Assistant Liam Burns

Locations Dame
Assistant Editor: Raul Toledo
Colorist: Steve Picano
Caterer: Meals 4 Heels

Production Company: Desert Island Studios

Background Extras: @celinefauve -collective

Thank you to and Koerner 🫶

11/08/2023

We had a fun visit with and their Film & Identity students from Pacific Crest yesterday!

Thanks for coming by to check out our studio and for all of insightful questions about the industry.

Thank you to members

For covering all things from Art Department to G&E to Steadicam to Producing… and beyond!

10/07/2023

We'll have available at our upcoming launch party. 🍕 We've been long-time fans of Boxcar - they do vegan pizzas (with amazing gluten free options!) and they're freaking delicious. They're also a great morale booster when you've had a long day on set and want something fun and delicious that can cater to different dietary restrictions. 😉 Anytime we've brought Boxcar to our crew, it's always a huge hit.

Looking forward to seeing you next Saturday from 6-9pm in our new space - 1316 SE 12th Ave.

08/31/2023

Top Secret Club is TONIGHT, August 31st from 6-9pm (doors at 5:30pm), and will also feature the work of Nick Assunto! Join us at 1316 SE 12th Ave and support two incredible local writers 🎭🎬 Free snacks and drinks, including beers from 🍻

Nick will be sharing a section of his comedy screenplay "FUNNY BOY!" 🤪

We will need readers for tonight's event! If you're interested, we will have open sign ups to read - Nick's screenplay features some really fun and interesting characters, including Mel Brooks (yes, THAT Mel Brooks), Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn. 😆

Logline: Wanting to prove himself to the world, Mel Brooks mounts a poorly thought out Hamlet musical on Broadway in 1963, but contends with a chaotic cast, the creepy theater owner, and the loan sharks who'll kill him if the show fails, all while falling for Anne Bancroft.

08/30/2023

Our next Top Secret Club event is this Thursday, August 31st, from 6-9pm at 1316 SE 12th Ave. We are so pleased to feature the work of playwright+dramaturg Kamilah Bush ✍️ We will be reading a cut from her full length play, "Nick & the Prizefighter" 🥊, followed by a facilitated feedback session and time for networking. We hope to see you there!

Synopsis: Selah Thompson is the caregiver for her famous playwright father, Forest Thompson. Nick Beerman, a young writer and dramaturg, is tasked with helping Forest complete his life's work before the clock runs out. Selah must fight for control of her father's work and legacy, and find her own rhythm as she prepares to face the world without him.

Top Secret Club is supported by our partners and

Event design by .carlo

08/17/2023

It's time for our next Top Secret Club!
Come to our next table read - free and open to the public w/beers from and snacks! 🍻🍿📖

The event is on August 31st from 6-9pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. This month's featured writers are and Nick Assunto. Feedback session afterwards facilitated by 🤓💁🏻‍♀️

06/27/2023

The June 29th Top Secret Club from 6 to 9 PM will also feature the work of Linda Alper! Join us at 1316 SE 12th Ave and support two incredible local writers 🎉

Linda Alper will be workshopping a section of her stage play “Shanghai"

LINDA ALPER is an actress in Portland, Linda has played leading roles in The Children, A Doll’s House Part 2, The Importance of Being Earnest, Marjorie Prime, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Price, Tribes, The Quality of Life, Ten Chimneys, Superior Donuts and The Cherry Orchard, all at Artists Rep. She was a leading company member at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 24 seasons, acting in over fifty plays. She also appeared as Prospera in The Tempest for Portland Shakespeare Project, and at Portland Center Stage, Off Broadway, Seattle Rep, Baltimore Center Stage and other theatres. For Wit, at OSF, she won a Dramalogue Best Actress award. She was also awarded an Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship for contribution to the arts.
As a playwright, Linda has written and co-written plays and adaptations produced by OSF, ACT in San Francisco, Denver Theatre Center, as well as Santa Cruz, Colorado, Idaho and UK Shakespeare festivals, and The Acting Company. She has co-translated plays from Italian, produced by OSF, Virginia Rep, and many universities. Shanghai, her current play about Jewish refugees in China, was commissioned by Luan Schooler at Artists Rep’s Table/Room/Stage, had a reading with Portland Shakespeare Project and a pre-production with LAUNCH PAD at UC Santa Barbara.Passionate about international work, Linda is a Fulbright Senior Scholar. She was a Fulbright Specialist Grantee in Pakistan, Fulbright Travel Grantee in Beijing, Visiting Artist in Taiwan and Guest Artist at The American Academy in Rome. Supported by a US Embassy Cultural Affairs Grant, she was script deviser/producer for On Common Ground which brought fourteen Pakistani theatre artists to perform at Artists Rep and OSF. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

06/22/2023

At our next Top Secret Club event June 29th from 6-9 PM at 1316 SE 12th Ave we are so pleased to feature the work of screenwriter + director Aaron Vazquez ! We will be reading a cut from his feature length script Unforgiven Road! Followed by a facilitated feedback session and networking. We hope to see you there!

Logline - While on a road trip from Texas to California, a group of friends faces a deadly pursuit by a deranged state trooper after he kills one of them in cold blood, leaving a young woman fighting to survive long enough to share their side of the story.

Aaron Vasquez is an award-winning Latino Writer/Director with over 16 years of experience. He's Directed, Shot worked on crews, and Produced multiple Short Films, Commercials, and indie feature films. His genre space is Thriller, Horror, Western, and occasionally Sci-Fi, with mostly female-driven stories. He currently has 4 unproduced feature films a few short films and is working on developing more. Aaron’s goal is to make films that feature underrepresented leads in front and behind the camera. He’s a firm believer in helping others in any way he can by being active in the film community.

Top Secret Club is supported by our partners and

Event design by .carlo

06/09/2023

The next Top Secret Club is coming up June 29th! We are thrilled to host a table read of new works by playwright and screenwriter 💥💥

Join us at our new studio 1316 SE 12th Avenue for an evening of networking and connecting with some excellent new works by local writers from 6 PM to 9 PM.

This program is supported in partnership with and .

06/06/2023

The Desert Island Studios logo is going up in Studio A! ❤️

Thank you for helping us paint it.

06/04/2023

We are looking for volunteers to help us in the new space. Do you have building skills? Got some time on your hands and want to help with any of the following tasks?

- Installing security cages
- Numbering doors
- Stripping the floor
- Installing a dimmer switch (basic electrical skills needed)
- Installing a c*c wall

has taken the lion's share of buildout duties so far. Shoutout to studio member who's been helping him a ton in Studio B!

*cwall

06/02/2023

As we wrap up our fundraising campaign for our relocation, we are pleased to once again express our gratitude for all of your support! We're officially moved into our new studio - please visit the link in our bio to make any last minute donations between today and tomorrow.

Check back in for continued updates on the renovations and buildout! Here's a photo from shot at our old space, featuring a (no longer dusty, I promise) plant. 🌱

05/27/2023

Some BTS shots from the promo shoot for upcoming comedy horror feature "Rat Problem".

We're still in the process of building out the new space, but that doesn't mean the creativity has to stop! 📸💡🎬

Cast/ Crew
Production:
Director/ Writer/ Talent: Ashton Livingston .c0rpse
AD: Alicia Tinoco
DP: Elias Lunsford
AC: Andrew Cairns
G & E: Jeff T Smith, Christopher Alley
Ryan Ansen .ansen
Art Direction: Lucy Rick
Art Assistants:
Michelle Zender .zender
Ellie Skinner .skinner
BTS Photographer: Grant Benesh
Studio: Desert Island Studios
Production Company: M Films, LLC
Producer: Mikyla Bordner

05/17/2023

Apply for the Damn Good People 2023 pilot program!

Are you a mid-level to advanced production professional that identifies as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ ad/or a Woman? Are you interested in being pitched for production jobs this summer with built in mentorship and HR mediation support? If so, apply to be part of our new program initiative launched in partnership with Oregon Film Creative Foundation .

More information in our linktree and on our website under “staffing”. Applications close the first week of June. Interviews happen immediately after. We would love to hear from you!

BTS photo of 1st AC by .cinematica on the set of MV

05/13/2023

Old Space Party is happening tonight, starting at 5pm! Pics, in order, are:

• Phone Call, who will be playing at 9pm
• Kevin's Gate (from Seance Crasher), who will be DJ-ing from 5pm-8pm
• Luvjones w/original music starting at 10pm
• Owners Joe and Ashley modeling the tie-dye shirts, which will be getting raffled off at the event
• Not the shirts we're wearing obviously (unless you'd want those specifically?)

Beat the heat and keep cool with slushie margaritas and a sweet AC unit from

05/10/2023

We are having our sweet little rager, the Old Space Party, this Saturday May 13th!

We've got live music including DJ sets from and and a performance from local band 🎶🎧

There will be space, drinks, cosmic vibes, and aliens! We'll also have info on other opportunities to support the studio. A reminder that our gofundme is extended to June 1st and any donation gets you a ticket to the party!

05/08/2023

Sharing some favorite stills from the three part MV for new record Lucha. We worked with a tremendous crew that put SO much into bringing this vision to life.

Thank you to the entire team! And , for working with our production company.

Director/editor - Jesse Bettis (.media)
Executive Producer-
Executive Producer - Devin Febbroriello (.jane_._)
Producer - Maria Jose Moreno (.mmoreno)
Production Coordinator/Assistant Director - Roberta Cumbianchera ()
Director of Photography - Joe Bowden ()
1st Assistant Camera - Sam Sanchez ()
Gaffer - Nathan Miles ()
Key Grip - Armando Navarro ()
Production Designer/Wardrobe Stylist - Tanya Arguelles ()
Art Director - Ethan Barela ()
Art Department Assist - Jasmin Sierra Vasquez ()
HMU - Angela Foster ()
Choreographer/Dancer - Vivian Vu ()
Co-Choreographer/Dancer - Gwen Mindoro (.mindoro)
TV Installation Artist - Garrett Hudson ()
Production Assistant - Anahi Ortiz (.s)
Production Assistant - Mahad Mohammad ()
BTS Photographer - Jason Lee (.cinematica)

Drums - Papi Fimbres ()
Congas - Antonio Montanez ()
Guitar - Ryan Oxford ()
Bass - Edna Vasquez ()
Singer - Isabeau Waia'u Walker ()
Singer - Margaret Wehr ()

05/08/2023

Music video for "Dibjuos de mi Alma" featured on 💙🎸

We're stoked that the music video we worked on with Y La Bamba premiered on RollingStone's website 🤩

Singer-songwriter talks about transforming their pain and trauma into soft reflections of identity and healing on their new LP. ✨💿

05/04/2023

🎥👩‍🎤Announcing a new program we're launching at Desert Island Studios with help from and 🧑‍🎤

Don't worry, we'll be updating you on our move soon too. But an emergency relocation doesn't mean our work goes on pause! Damn Good Prople is a DEI focused concierge staffing service that matches mid to advanced level production creatives and technicians with production jobs in Oregon.🌲

We are currently taking applicants who would like to be represented on the Damn Good People list. You can learn more about the program under "Staffing" on our website. Email application materials to [email protected] through May 15th! 💃🏻👍🏼

04/29/2023

Top Secret Club is today at 2 PM at our new studio!! Free to attend. 1316 SE 12th Ave

Featuring a table read of scripts in development by writers and .

We hope to see you there!

04/28/2023

Some of the Desert Island Studios members got a chance to hang out on the coast together before the big move 🌊🏝️

We are three days out from move in date. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far as we launch into this huge endeavor. Desert Island is all about building community and it has been inspiring to see the community come through for us these past few weeks. Please continue to donate (link in bio), share the campaign, and reach out with contacts and funding advice - we are deeply appreciative of all the help!

New studio, let's goooooo!

Address

1316 SE 12th Avenue
Portland, OR
97214

Telephone

(503) 841-6437

Website

https://www.desertislandstudiospdx.com/

Alerts

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Videos

Today is the final day to pledge support to Color Theories film. Every little bit helps the cast and crew make this movie. You do not have to donate money- even a campaign follow and share helps the team unlock perks! Pledge, follow, share today! This is the last chance! Link in profile and @color.theories.film Thank you for supporting Color Theories, Desert Island Studios, and DEI focused indie film production.

Desert Island Studios History Part 1 Long ago in 2016, filmmaker @bowden_joe started a small studio space on SE Ash Street. His vision was to create a collective art/film space where affordable rent and shared access to tools could help people take risks and make projects they might not otherwise be able to. From the beginning, he wanted to support making film and art possible for everyone, and he recognized that most people are limited by access to resources, space, and community support. His first studio members were media artists Rachel Wolf and @rels_color_crush and screenwriter Chantil Harley. Soon after that, Joe and filmmaker @devin_._jane_._ met and, along with filmmaker @melkiyomi the trio embarked on a unique 2 year endeavor between @xrayfm and @opensignalpdx called the @xray.tv project. At this time, Devin and several other people joined the Ash Street space, bringing the collective to a total of 7. In 2017, Joe broke the wall down between the studio and the neighboring room and expanded the space to create a much larger facility. At this time a couple major things happened - the studio was now capable of supporting the larger community beyond the collective, and Joe met actor/producer @ashleysongmellinger (his life partner and business partner) who would fiercely inspire him to lead the studio toward bigger things…which we will cover in Parts 2+3. #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #supportsmallbusiness #portland #portlandbusiness #oregonbusiness #filmmaker #filmmakers #smallbysinessowners #bipocbusinessowner #pnw

Today is the day! The birth of a new era! We are pleased to officially announce that Desert Island Studios is expanding into a full service video production company and creative agency🎉🎬 That’s right. Desert Island Studios is stepping up our original film production steez, and stepping into serving clients, partners, and brands with our equity and inclusion mission central to everything we do. Watch out gatekeepers, we are coming in hot🔥 • Please help us spread the word by sharing this video with your community! And stay tuned as we share about our history, and why we are a mission driven production company & studio. • #productioncompany #filmstudio #filmproductions #portland #portlandoregon #oregon #madeinoregon #portlandfilm #oregonfilm #desertisland #pdxfilm

BIG things are coming in 2022 for our community! Desert Island Studios has spent the last several months developing something we are very excited to announce. SOON! • #film #indiefilmproduction #indiefilmmaking #indiefilmmaker #follow #production #giveityourall #oregonian #portland #portlandfilm #studiolife #newchapter #growth #surprise

Desert Island Studios presents “This Vast and Mysterious Ocean”, a psychological thriller infused with surreal imagery and an immersive soundtrack by filmmaker John Bergstrom. • Jason returns from distant places unknown to find his home in ruins, his wife Leah disturbed, and his daughter Chloe missing. He searches desperately for a way to return his family to the life they once knew, but his spiraling path is illuminated only by fractured memories of a drive to the ocean, where he and Leah fell in love a very long time ago. • Follow @vastmysterious www.vastmysterious.com “Jason” Chris Harder @ontheriver22 “Leah” Sonya Davis @thesonyadavis “Chloe” Vivian Hunter @vivian_joy.hunter Producers Ashley Song @ashleysongmellinger, Charlie LaTourette Director of Photography @devin.tolman Gaffer Caitlin Callahan @caitcallahan 1st AC Asia Brown @_asia_brown, Nathan Coltrane @nathancoltrane 2nd AC DJ Scott @deejuliano_, Eliot Foster, Antonio Ramon Key Grip Daniel Harvey @themanwithnonamedaniel G&E Swing Kanon Havens @wonderkanon Location Sound Phil Garrison @philly_g_sound, Igor Ramos Production Design @bowden_joe Production Assistants Benja Barker @barkerbenja, Shannon Camarra @_shann_marie Makeup & Wardrobe Katherine Palmer @palmer_katherine Editor John Bergstrom Assistant Editor Joe X. Jiang Colorist Darren Hartman at Alkemic Color @alkemiccolor Music & Sound Design John Bergstrom Cellist Diane Chaplin @cellochaplin 1st AD Carson Wright @carsonwrightdop 2nd AD Ashley Knotts @ghosttownstopmotion Production Assistants Chris Serra, Eliot Foster • • #vastmysterious #shortfilm

@japhyriddle explains his creative approach for the music video “All I Want Is You” by Marmalade Mountain. “The animation setup was very basic. The camera was pointed down at an upward-facing TV, and then a piece of glass was placed on top, for objects to be placed on…Other than the edit, I didn’t want to use computers for the video.” . “It’s such a simple and direct song. I wanted to make a fittingly simple and direct video. There’s a great honesty to the visuals. It is exactly what it looks like—objects of nature, dry erase drawings, and paper cut-outs in front of an old TV screen, shot one frame at a time." -Japhy Riddle . “All I Want Is You” is the 4th single off the upcoming album Strange Angels by Marmalade Mountain. The music video was directed and animated by Japhy Riddle and filmed at our studio. . Featuring: @marmalade__mountain Filmed, edited and animated by: @japhyriddle & @croulie Bass + background vocals: @rachelgooodrich Mix: @dandestiny Master: @timothystollenwerk Studio: @desertislandstudiospdx Portraits: @tannermccardle . #analogmusicvideo #marmalademountain #desertislandstudiospdx #strangeangels #alliwantisyou

#throwback to “Bee the Change” filmed at our studio in 2021. 🐝🌻 ・・・ It’s here!! @makingearthcool ‘s first PSA for the earth, “Bee the Change”, written and directed by @nocturnaluniform . “Bee the Change” is now up on our YouTube channel, smash that link in our bio to watch it and other great vids for the Earth. If you like what we are up to, please share with your friends! Bee the change you want to see! “Bee The Change is a buzzworthy PSA swarming with un-BEE-lievably simple tips on how BEE-nevolent gardeners can make their yards more BEE-uatiful and welcoming to our precious honey bee neighbors. Don’t be buggin’!” - Alberta Poon 🌼💚🌸💚🐝💚🌏 This production wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of this incredible cast and crew: Gardener @juliamorizawa Honey Bee @nathanlukemiles Dandelion @yojaxko Red Clover Suzie Kassouf VO @motikifreaki Director/Writer/Editor @nocturnaluniform Cinematographer @matthewhayesiii Creative producer @sarahrbaker Producer @johnnystuartcolie Production Designer @category56 Set Dresser @plntdddidathing Set Dresser @salamimami MHUA @heartbeat_tiger First AC Amanda Kulmac Second AC Makayla Caldwell Gaffer @loganonthelens Grip Craig Greunwald Audio Mixer/Boom Dickie Dahl Bee costume @thingsrosemakes Flower costumes @hot_and_cold_food Stylist @sarahrbaker Colorist @jazzyvazquez Original music @lukewyland Sound Designer @chugsbysaysrelax Craft Services @lekadiammattson. 🐝🐝🐝🐝 #savethebees #bees #beesofinstagram #bee #beethechange