What started as a collective of independent filmmakers and artists sharing space and pooling resources is expanding to include an in-house production studio to further the group’s mission of opening more doors in the film/TV industry to people from marginalized communities.
Desert Island Studios has been around since 2016 and offers a shared space, at 645 N. Tillamook St., as well as equipment for people working in independent film, commercials, TV and media art. The studio focuses on creating an environment for people from underrepresented communities to access the industry and gain the experience, mentorship and leadership opportunities needed to build careers.
It has a membership model and is full right now with 13 members working in the space.
This year, with the launch of an in-house production studio and creative agency, Desert Island can work with clients on contract projects. They hope to work with brands, nonprofits and entrepreneurs.
“We are a mission-driven company and have a mentorship structure and a structure where diversity, equity and inclusion is a foundational part of the business,” said co-founder Ashley Song. “When (clients) hire us we are prioritizing that as part of our work.”
The expansion to a production company came as the next evolution of the group’s work, said co-founder Joe Bowden. Bowden started what would become Desert Island in 2014 when he started using money earned bartending to buy equipment for his narrative filmmaking as well as others to share.
With a production studio the team can tap not only the members in the space but also a broader network of underrepresented talent that they are helping to foster. The team noted that the studio has a zero-tolerance policy for racism or discrimination of any kind. Cast, crew and community partners sign a “safe set” policy.
Between the membership and coworking part of the business and now the new production arm, the team wants to push the local industry even further. The three production studio staff: Bowden, Song and Devin Jane Febbroriello are all narrative filmmakers and see the medium as a powerful tool to effect change.
“We want to find a way to seed the community in Portland and Oregon so we don’t have to in turn rely on studios in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta to generate work for the film industry here,” said Song, who is also a board member of Oregon Media Production Association.
