Portland Indie & Documentary Collective

🌲 What We Do (this is a free group, no dues)
We’re a creative collective built around screenings, workshops, and real projects. Each month we gather to share work, learn craft, and collaborate on films rooted in the landscapes, people, and stories of the Pacific Northwest.
Our focus blends:
• Zoom Meetings — show your work, get thoughtful feedback
• Hands On Workshops — cinematography, editing, sound, lighting, story
• Regional Documentary Projects — Oregon small cities, Route 101, mountain towns, rivers, and cultural stories
• Member Driven Indies — short films, personal docs, experimental pieces
Whether you shoot on a cinema rig or a mirrorless hybrid or cell phone, you’re welcome here.

When you attend an event, your attendance signifies that you have and agree to this Liability Statement:
Agreement**************
"I agree to hold harmless Portland Indie & Documentary Collective, to include its organizers and refrain from any litigation or claims against Portland Indie & Documentary Collective, as a result of personal injury or property damage. This agreement also extends to any guests I bring with me to any activities. I/we hereby acknowledge and assume all risk, chance or hazard that may arise from participation in the events and activities of, and with, Portland Indie & Documentary Collective. By rsvp’ing to any meetup event with Portland Indie & Documentary Collective, I AM ACCEPTING ALL LIABILITY FOR MYSELF AND MY GUESTS. I understand and agree that I alone am responsible for the safety of me, my guest(s), and my equipment and personal property, as well as that of my guest(s), and that I am attending at my own risk. I understand and agree that the organizers of the events of the Portland Indie & Documentary Collective are not liable for injury, theft, damage to equipment, personal property, or anything else. I understand and agree that the event organizers are untrained volunteers and are not experts. I understand and agree that any carpooling is optional and passengers engaging in carpooling do so at their own risk, and that the organizers are not able to evaluate carpool drivers for safety or other concerns." Additionally, the receipt of this notice means that continued membership and/or attendance to events/meetings are prima facie evidence that you agree to these terms and conditions.
Signed:_________________________ Date: _______________
Type your name here and return it in a message to me.
End Agreement**

More about what we do:
🗺️ Project Themes We Explore
These themes give the group a shared creative direction while leaving space for individual voice.
Oregon Small Cities Project
Short documentaries profiling the character, history, and people of places like Astoria, Hood River, Silverton, Klamath Falls, and Baker City.
Focus areas include local makers, food culture, environmental stories, and community identity.
Route 101 Coastal Series
A multi‑part film journey along the Oregon Coast: fishing towns, dunes, storms, lighthouses, artists, and the tension between tourism and tradition.
Ideal for cinematography, sound design, and environmental storytelling.
Mountains & Forest Corridors
Stories from the Cascades, Coast Range, and high desert—wildfire recovery, trail culture, wildlife corridors, and the people who live and work in these landscapes.
Rivers: Columbia, Snake, Willamette
Documentary shorts exploring river systems, dams, salmon runs, tribal perspectives, commerce, and the changing ecology of the Northwest.
Member‑Led Indie & Doc Projects
Bring your own idea—narrative, experimental, documentary, or hybrid.
We support:

• short films (2–10 minutes)
• mid‑length docs (10–20 minutes)
• collaborative pieces
• passion projects

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🎬 How the Group Works
We follow a simple, repeatable rhythm that keeps the community active without overwhelming anyone.
Monthly Open Screening Night
Share 5–10 minutes of work—finished or rough.
Receive constructive, supportive feedback from peers.
Monthly Workshop
Rotating topics such as:

• cinematography for small crews
• editing for emotion
• color grading
• documentary interviewing
• sound and field recording
• story structure for shorts and docs

Quarterly Project Cycles
Every three months we take on a shared theme (e.g., “Oregon Small Cities” or “Route 101”).
Members can work solo or in small teams.
Annual Showcase
A public screening of the year’s best work—shorts, docs, and member‑led films.