In summer 2004 Film Action Oregon launched Project Youth Doc (PYD), an intensive, four-week-long documentary film production program for teens ages 13-16. PYD now offers three sessions, serving approximately 50 students in all each summer, more than half of whom attend the program free of charge. Since summer 2007, Film Action Oregon has offered a PYD session on-site at New Columbia which is free to youth living in and around the housing development in North Portland. Also in 2007, Film Action Oregon partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters to begin providing full scholarships to PYD for Little Brothers and Sisters. Find out more...
Modeled after Project Youth Doc, INSPIRE was launched as part of FAO's Women's Film Initiative. This documentary course features film production and role modeling by professional women filmmakers. In spring 2006, Film Action's INSPIRE partnered with St. Mary's Academy through a grant from the Faerie Godmother Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. The partnership continued through 2007. The program was met with such enthusiasm that St. Mary's Academy chose to continue the course as a regular part of its academic offerings. Film Action is currently raising funds and seeking a new educational partner for the INSPIRE program.
Supporters & partnersAllied Vaughn, The Austin Miller Scholarship Fund of Film Action Oregon, Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest, The Charlotte Martin Foundation, Comcast, The Faerie Godmother Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, The Herbert A. Templeton Foundation, The Housing Authority of Portland at New Columbia, The Hoover Family Foundation, The Janet Spencer Weeks Foundation, The Juan Young Trust, The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, The Regence Boys & Girls Club, The Regional Arts & Culture Council, Self Enhancement Inc., LAIKA
featured youth docRead more about "Disabled Lives" in The Oregonian, or browse the rest of our youth-produced projects on our YouTube channel.
Upcoming events
8.21.09 Docupalooza: screening of all summer 08' PYD films
3.17.09 PYD screening at Thomas Edison HS
12.11.08 Screening of PYD films in partnership with BBBS at Nike World headquarters
11.15.08 Screening of PYD films produced on site at New Columbia: CEC, 1425 N. Trenton
11.13.08 Oregonian covers "Disabled Lives"
9.25.08 "Bigs and Littles" screening at Business Journal's Philanthropy Awards
8.15.08 Docupalooza: screening of all summer 08' PYD films
2.28.08 Oregonian covers "The Other Side of the Story"
the austin miller scholarship fund
Austin Miller was a talented and creative young man whose participation in Project Youth Doc in summer 2006 furthered his inspiration to pursue filmmaking. On February 11, 2008 15-year-old Austin was killed while riding his bicycle home from high school in Beaverton.
In memory of his inimitable spirit, Film Action established the Austin Miller Scholarship Fund to support creative teens like Austin discover their voices as filmmakers. We invite you to make a tax-deductible donation to the fund.
Austin Miller was a talented and creative young man whose participation in Project Youth Doc in summer 2006 furthered his inspiration to pursue filmmaking. On February 11, 2008 15-year-old Austin was killed while riding his bicycle home from high school in Beaverton.