4AS Film Production Club
Film is the most powerful artistic medium, and by far the most collaborative, which is why 4ARTSAKE is proud to sponsor the 4AS Film Production Club.
Film is the only medium that incorporates:
- Writing (story / script)
- Illustration (storyboarding / props)
- Interior / Exterior Design (set-dressing)
- Performance (acting / dance / fight choreography)
- Costuming (wardrobe)
- Makeup (glamour / special effects)
- Music (score / soundtrack)
. . . as well as a variety of disciplines unique to film, such as Cinematography, and Editing. Film is the ideal art form for collaboration and collective output.
Building Community Through Art
Through the 4AS Film Production Club, we provide artists from across a wide variety of mediums and disciplines the chance to collaborate and create unique, interesting, and community-driven pieces of original art. Through this process, participating creatives are able to put into practice their unique set of artistic skills, while collectively creating a body of work that will showcase the contributions of individual artists, potentially opening doors to further creative opportunities.
Most importantly, by bringing artists together around a single goal, the 4AS Film Production Club fosters teamwork, community, and creative problem-solving skills that will last long after the film has wrapped.
“…filmmaking combines everything… In films, painting and literature, theatre and music come together. But a film is still a film.
- Akira Kurosawa
OUR CURRENT PROJECTS
SUSPIRIORUM
Inspired by classic Italian supernatural slashers, SUSPIRIORUM is the story of a young model named Morgan, haunted with visions of murder as an unnamed villain stalks the city streets. With a beautiful original score, gorgeous photography, and shocking, vibrant kills, this short film harkens back to the bygone era of masked-slasher horror, with a supernatural bent.
Status: Post-Production
Written by Riley Parker. Directed by Riley Parker and Sam Ashurst. Cinematography by Cody McDonald and Alexander Geiszler. Starring Rae Pierce, Alex Orlet, Kristina Vicory, Riley Berger, Sara Hernández, Kimberly Brady, Katherine Harrington, Sam Ashurst, and Riley Parker. Edited by Michael Sean. Music by Clae Spratt, briars, and Sam Ashurst.
“There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness.”
- Frank Capra
SUSPIRIORUM was chosen as the first 4AS Film Production Club project for a variety of reasons, but first and foremost, it was a great way to bring in a lot of creatives all at once. With a wide cast of characters, and with lots of room for original music, creative cinematography, and special effects, SUSPIRIORUM allowed us to collaborate with and empower a large, diverse group of creatives on a single project.
With a mix of seasoned professionals & new-to-film creatives, the SUSPIRIORUM shoot was a very successful hands-on, educational environment, where everyone contributed their unique talents to a shared vision of what the film could be.
Next Stop, Film Festivals! Our top priorities with our projects are Education, Hands-On Experience, Collaboration, and Shareable Finished Work. As SUSPIRIORUM exits the post-production process, we will be bringing in additional collaborators to develop art and copy to market the film, and then take it to as many festivals as we can over the next calendar year. Through that same period, we will host several local screenings, and partner with local distributors to get the work out to cast & crew in a hard-copy format, allowing everyone who worked on the film the ability to share it with their friends, family, and fan bases.
Be a Part of the Action! You can keep up on this film’s progress by signing up for our Newsletter! And if you want to support our Film Festival journey, Donate today to help cover the costs of festival submissions, travel, and the creation of SUSPIRIORUM merch and memorabilia!
WAREHOUSE SCAREHOUSE
For our next group project, the 4AS Film Production Club will be assisting in the creation of a full-length feature film!
WAREHOUSE SCAREHOUSE is a Horror Comedy focused on a small group of close-knit friends fighting for their lives against an ancient demonic entity. Inspired by classic 80’s horror films like DEMONS (1895), and the iconic EVIL DEAD II (1987), but also American counter-culture hangout films like DAZED AND CONFUSED, ROCK-N-ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, and REALITY BITES, WAREHOUSE-SCAREHOUSE is a film that’s one part monster movie, one part character-driven comedy.
Status: Pre-Production
The WAREHOUSE SCAREHOUSE project will bring together local Portland and PNW collaborators across a wide-variety of mediums, including Actors, Musicians, Costume Designers, Makeup Artists, Videographers, and Animators, as well as production-specific artist positions, including Production Assistants, Special Effects, and Light & Sound Designers.
If you live in / near Portland, and are interested in being a part of the team, or if you are interested in helping the 4AS Film Production Club produce this project, check out our WAREHOUSE SCAREHOUSE page and participate in Truly Independent Cinema!!
Meet Some Of The Team
The 4AS Film Production Club staff is made up of volunteer collaborators, all of whom are working artists dedicated to building community and supporting the long-term health of the Portland art scene. In this section you will meet some of our team, hear about their individual contributions to the organization, and the paths that have led them to focus on Education and Artist-Support.
Riley Parker
Riley is a writer, illustrator, and filmmaker, living in Portland Oregon since 2006. In his tenure, Riley has contributed to dozens of local short films, music videos, documentaries, and filmed sketches, and has led several group film projects, including the short films Junior Prom (written by Chelsea Martin), N.O.P.E. (debuted at SPLIFF Film Fest), ALL HAIL THE VOID (SPLIFF), and music videos for Portland acts such as Mal London and No Aloha. Riley began is film production journey creating short films and television for Portland Public Access, and firmly believes in accessible art resources for everyone.
Writer. Director. Educator. Collaborator.
Sam Ashurst
Sam is a writer / director, podcaster, and film journalist with over two decades interfacing with nearly every facet of the film industry. The auteur behind the films A Little More Flesh (2020), A Little More Flesh II (2021), and Frankenstein’s Creature (2018), and co-host of The Arrow Video Podcast and VHS Quest, Sam brings his vast knowledge and creative spirit to the 4AS Film Production Club, both as a contributor, and as an educator.
Writer. Director. Educator. Collaborator.
Michael Sean
Michael is a collage-artist, film editor, and contributing writer. His work has been screened across the united states and Canada with the traveling SPLIFF Film Festival, and locally at Holocene, The Baghdad Theater, and as an installation at Art Market PDX (AMP Gallery, 2017). Michael is a life-long advocate for public and collaborative art, and has created for Portland Public Access, the Freeform Portland radio station, AMP Gallery, working with a diverse group of artists from across a wide range of disciplines.
Editor. Collage-Artist. Educator.
J Austin
J Austin is an independent film producer, podcaster, and lifelong seeker. Helping creatives bring their visions to life is J Austin’s passion, and fostering artists’ natural talent is his gift. For over 20 years, J Austin has worked with a wide range of creatives across various industries to focus their talent, utilize their resources, and meet their full potential. As a founding-member of the 4AS Film Production Club, J Austin helps decide which projects to take on, collaborates with community leaders and local businesses for sponsorship, and mentors independent and developing artists.
Producer. Podcaster. Mentor. Educator.
Our team of collaborators grows with every project. We work with Portland and PNW artists from across all mediums and disciplines, amateur and professional alike. If you are interested in working on one of our upcoming or ongoing projects, please reach out and let us know! Spots are limited, but we’re always happy to connect with local artists, and open to collaboration!
Three Ways to Contribute :)
As we continue to build out the 4AS Film Production Club, there are several ways that you can contribute to our mission, and help us bring resources and opportunities to artists and creators throughout the greater Portland area!
Financial Contribution
Your contribution will help us purchase necessary production equipment, fund more film projects, and offer hands-on education to developing filmmakers. Support Truly Independent Cinema Today!
Donate Hardware & Supplies
We are always on the search for props, costuming, production equipment, and computer hardware, to support the various aspects of the filmmaking process. And your donation may be tax-deductible!
Volunteer
Showing up is perhaps the greatest gift of all! We are looking for people to join us as collaborators, administrators, educators, and fundraisers. If you have a skill that you think we can utilize, reach out and let us know!