Oregon’s Water Colors

"Oregon's Water Colors" (2020) is a short nature and adventure film of waterscapes in Oregon and their colorful scenery. This film visits Ashland Creek, Mackenzie River, Deschutes River and 2 forks of the Umpqua River. Twenty-three minutes of what "Living In Oregon" means to me. “Oregon’s Water Colors” takes us from upland waters in Southern & Central Oregon to one of The West’s majestic & relatively unspoiled rivers, the Umpqua. The film also seeks to share nature’s beauty from a passive perspective ... continuing through the film to evolve to a more active, hopefully respectful, human presence. The filmmaker wishes to convey the idea that Nature is Beautiful, Go See It! & Take Your Fishing Pole! There's whitewater kayaking on the Class IV Rapid "RiverHouse Run" in Bend, OR and steelhead fishing on the Main & North Forks Umpqua River too! Enjoy the Film!

  • John Pings
    Director
  • John Pings
    Producer
  • John Pings
    Writer
  • Brian Foster
    Key Cast
    "Fisherman"
  • Jeremy Foster
    Key Cast
    "Fisherman"
  • Christopher Carson
    Key Cast
    "Fishing Guide"
  • Kurtis Jermain
    Key Cast
    "Fishing Guide"
  • John Pings
    Screenplay
  • John Pings
    Editor
  • John Pings
    Cinematographer
  • John Pings
    Production Design
  • John Pings
    Sound Design
  • John Pings
    Sound Mix
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 16, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Rocky Mountain International Film Festival
    Silverthorne, Colorado
    United States
    Winner, Best Documentary Short, 2020
  • Mile High International Film Festival
    Denver Colorado
    United States
    Winner, Best US Documentary Short, August 2020
  • Marina Del Rey Film Festival
    Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, CA, USA
    United States
    October 15, 2020
    "Roku" Streaming Premiere
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Los Angeles Motion Picture Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Winner, Gold Award, Best Adventure Film, Silver Award; Best International Short Documentary; Bronze Award, Short Film Best Picture; Bronze Award, Best Low Budget Film, May 2020.
  • Pinnacle Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Winner, Platinum, Documentary Short, 2020.
  • Independent Shorts Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Finalist, Web & New Media & Best Documentary Short, 2020
  • IndieX Film Fest
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Semi Finalist, Documentary Short, Adventure Film, Web & New Media, 2020
  • Impact DOCS Awards
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Award of Recognition, Cinematography, 2020
  • Monthly Indie Shorts
    OnLine
    Winner. "Special Mention" Short Movie, Documentary, August 2020
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Venice Shorts
    Venice, Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Hollywood Gold Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Florence Film Awards
    Florence, Italy
    Italy
    Official Selection, 2020
  • International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF)
    Samobor, Zagrebačka, Croatia
    Croatia
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Rome Independent Prisma Awards
    Rome, Italy
    Italy
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Wallachia International Film Festival
    Bucharest, Romania
    Romania
    September 11, 2020
    World Premiere
    Featurette Movie, "Mention", 2020
  • Cyrus International Monthly Film Festival of Toronto
    Toronto, Canada
    Canada
    Semi Finalist, October, 2020
  • The Cinematic Arts Redemptive Entertainment (CARE) Awards
    Parkersburg, West Virginia
    United States
    Finalist, 2020
  • Madrid Arts Film Festival
    Madrid (Spain)
    Spain
    November 18, 2020
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Kalakari Film Fest
    Dewas देवास Madhya Pradesh India
    India
    Official Selection, 2021
  • Golden Jury International Film Festival (GJIFF)
    Mumbai, India
    India
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Short and Sweet Film Festival
    Price, Utah, USA
    United States
    Official Selection, 2020
  • Redwood Shorts & Scripts
    Sunnyvale, California
    United States
    Winner, Judge’s Special Mention - Short Documentary, January, 2021
  • Oregon Documentary Film Festival
    Portland & The Dalles, Oregon
    United States
    February 28, 2021
    Official Selection, 2020 Winter
  • Rotterdam Independent Film Festival
    Rotterdam, Netherlands
    Netherlands
    October 10, 2021
    Finalist, April 2021
  • Filmhaus
    Berlin, Germany
    Germany
    December 12, 2021
    Official Selection, 2021
Distribution Information
  • PingsCo, Inc, Bend OR 541.647.6070
    Sales Agent
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - John Pings

John Pings has practiced professional digital arts, film editing, photography and fine art printing since 2002. Mr. Pings currently is working on natural landscapes and natural environments. In the past he has worked on sporting events, community events, The Tournament of Roses Parade, and other nonprofit, community and service activities.

Struck by a hit-and-run driver on an L.A Freeway & left with a broken spine in 2010, Mr. Pings continues to recover everyday. John completed an LA Marathon in 2013 and a Century 100 mile bike ride in his new home in Oregon in 2015; with 12 back surgeries, thousands of hours of rehab therapy and 2,700 miles on the road bike along the way.

“Recovery is an everyday thing for me. I am just simply grateful for every day and try to make the most of each of those days. To be able to come back from that hurdle is just a testament to hard work and belief in a kind and loving higher power, and in my fellow humans. I was just so happy to be able to go anywhere ... and to not fall in the water! Much less make a film”. "I really need to thank especially my wife for her enduring love and patience; and certainly gratitude to the guys in the boat for putting up with this limping ox and taking me along anyway”.

Semi-Retiring after 32 years in environmental science, geology and hazardous waste remediation; Mr. Pings enters the first time filmmaker ranks with “Oregon’s Water Colors”, 2020.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"If you can't be here, we'll bring it to you!"

Our Film "Oregon's Water Colors" is dedicated to our Pal, Peter Gamba, who contracted COVID-19 and passed away in March, 2020. Peter was a good friend and fellow with an occasional golf round mixed in too! Peter was a first class media editor at Shed, a man who led by example and inspired and encouraged me early during my development of my avocation of film. But mostly, Peter Gamba was a really, really good guy, a dedicated husband and devoted Father. He’ll be missed. When Peter passed, I channeled my grief energy to complete this film. Peter was with me the whole way. Screenings and awards for Oregon’s Water Colors are dedicated to his family and friends in his memory. Peace, JP.