"Demolition of the Rosefriend Apartments" at PIFF

Pardon the self promotion, but I wanted to put the word out that my short film, Demolition of the Rosefriend Apartments, will be playing this Saturday in the Portland International Film Festival as part of the 'Made In Oregon' shorts program.

As you can see if you watch it online, the five-minute film is basically just a collection of raw video footage taken of the building's facade being torn down by a giant crane. I considered putting it to music, or having voice-over interviews or other audio about the story behind the Rosefriend Apartments, which as many may recall stood at Broadway and Jefferson downtown across from The Oregonian and Higgins restaurant until being torn down last year. But ultimately I just decided to keep it as simple as possible and with no embellishment. Very modernist, don't you think?

The Ladd Tower is under construction on this site now, and for those of us who had hoped the Rosefriend could be saved, I think now those passions are better directed towards the future. But I had an affection for the building and felt compelled to film some of its demolition.

In the film festival guide, the title was erroneously called The Destruction of the Rosefriend Apartments. I love the NW Film Center, and I don't want to split hairs, but I actually think that 'Demolition' is an important distinction from 'Destruction'. It's similar to how Return of the Jedi was originally set to be called Revenge of the Jedi, but George Lucas made the change from 'Revenge' to 'Return' because he decided that revenge wasn't a Jedi concept.

I'm certainly no Jedi. Probably more like C-3PO. And by no means would I compare myself George Lucas - although we do share a birthday. But I distinguish 'Demolition' from 'Destruction' in a similar way to revenge/return.

Even so, filming the demolition that day, as I stood in a very large crowd of men seemingly giddy to see the crane do its work, it seemed like I was surrounded by people with an appetite for destruction, to borrow from Guns & Roses (not that I'm a fan). I was one of the gawkers, of course. But I also felt a little guilty, like staring at a car accident as you drive by. Let’s face it, though: destruction is fun to watch. I guess it’s that weird irony that made me run and film that day. That and a desire, however corny it may sound, to not look away when the moment came.

The 'Made In Oregon' shorts program screens at 2PM Saturday at the Portland Art Museum's Whitsell Auditorium.

Comments

[Brad]

I posted some stills from the demo on my blog at: http://www.bradcarlile.com/blog/?p=67

[ws]

I doubt anyone will take offense at you pitching your film, especially when the footage may serve to document the idiocy inherent in demolition of the Rosefriend Apartment Building. It's somewhat stunning to realize just how easily concern for fundamental values inherent to the world we live, can be overwhelmed by the cheap thrill of a building coming down. Well, in the not so long run, maybe it won't be thought of as so cheap after all.

The difference between the two words, 'destruction' and 'demolition', is definitely important where the Rosefriend is concerned. 'Destruction' seems more the outcome of anger. The fate of the structurally obsolete but aesthetically distinguished Rosefriend Apartments and a part of accompanying basic essentials of life outdoors in Downtown Portland, wasn't brought on by anger, so much as it was by indifference and ignorance. Simple,or maybe more correctly, simple-minded demolition.

Just think....a 100 years from now, another person may make a similar film documenting the destruction of the now rising Ladd Tower.

[Red]

Thanks for the posting. I lived in that beautiful building when I first moved to Portland. Best home by far. I might've still be living there had it not been demolished. Too bad it's gone.

[kd]

I'm torn a bit. What kind of city could ever be built if we preserved everything that had ever been built? I'm not sure.

With the new building going up won't Portland be better for it? With many more families able to live in the cultural district, the core of the city - Portland's better for that I think.

The losses I lament are the ones which make way for nothing better; thankfully those are few and far between in this city.

[Shane]

I went down to check out the Ladd Carriage House move and saw them demo some of the Rosefriend. Pretty sad.

As for the comment before me, we don't need to "preserve everything that had ever been built". But there is no need to take down completely function and (although subjective) beautiful buildings. If it had to be done, at least deconstruct it. It made me sick seeing all that nice interior wood and other building materials just destroyed.

[Brian Libby]

My understanding was that a lot of the materials were going to be salvaged. Does anybody know what the status is?

[Mike]

On the historic building front, there's another threat: to the old Auto Rest building on Southwest 10th Avenue, former home to Bee Tailors, which the Goodman family wants to demolish so it can build an office building. (See. 2/29 Business Journal).

Fortunately, preservationists stopped another threat when TriMet abandoned plans to raze the Figo House on Southwest Jackson Street, following the exposure of its secret plans to do so and a public outcry.