Open Signal, founded in 1981, is a community media center located in Northeast Portland. Open Signal’s main purpose is to make video production technology accessible to the public. They also offer a variety of classes and programs for young aspiring creatives, such as “Open Playground,” which opens a studio for members to come together and produce a piece of media that will be broadcasted on cable. Some classes they offer include learning how to use professional film equipment, how to work on a film set, and post production.
Open Signal caters to a wide range of skill levels. No matter where you are in your creative journey, Open Signal will have a place for you. Daniela Serna, the director of communications and distribution at Open Signal, says the diversity is what makes the community special. “You’ll find folks at all levels of experience who share a passion for making connections through media making, and all of them are media activists who make Portland vibrant,” says Serna.
These sorts of opportunities are perfect examples of ways to connect with new people and expand your social and creative network. Something that people can often lose sight of is indulging in collaborative projects with not just like-minded people, but people with different ideas. Not only does this directly apply to work and life in general, but it also helps reorient how we think of collaboration. If all you ever do is work on things that don’t hold your interest, with people that you’re forced to see everyday, it’s easy to be unsatisfied and even frustrated at times. But finding a passion, such as filmmaking or video production, and working with others who share that interest, will help you have a much more fulfilling experience.
“Open Signal has shown me what it means to use creativity and media to share important messages, shine light on underrepresented stories, and build community,” says Serna. Telling stories that otherwise wouldn’t be able to be told, and sharing messages that may not have been able to be distributed, is what makes Open Signal special. Frankly, these are the messages and stories that are worth listening to the most, because they’re coming from the most real places — not a big budget studio, not a corporate news broadcast, but the people who make the community what it is.
Open Signal has been giving back for decades and intends to do so for the foreseeable future. So, if you want to produce something with a group of welcoming people, or you just want to learn how to use a camera, keep Open Signal on your mind. You might just make a connection you’ll keep for the rest of your life.
