But for all the millions spent by Hollywood to entice that 10-spot out of your wallet, the best show in town this week just might be the work of one oddball with a camera and a case of wanderlust. In partnership with Peripheral Produce, local filmmaker Matt McCormick's semi-regular festivals of experimental movies and video, the Northwest Film Center will be showcasing the work of Texas filmmaker Bill Brown. I was really into his stuff and invited him to show his films here someday. Part travelogue, part meditation, part monologue, Brown's films are fascinating collages of striking images and wildly varying observations about the places he visits. A neon sign flashes at sunset on an empty street.
Children intrepidly play miniature golf on a course chiseled out of ice.
A kitten scurries across the street before an oblivious oncoming sedan. He reminds me of Ansel Adams camping out for a week to find the best light. Not only is this one-night exhibition a rare chance to see the work of a great underground filmmaker, it's also a great sign for Portland's film scene. Every time somebody comes from out of town to do a show, they walk away just amazed at how large and enthusiastic the audiences are. Easy as it is to romanticize the warehouses and house parties at which this movement began, the Northwest Film Center's involvement means wider audiences for an important home-grown Hollywood alternative.