Oh Whale: Oregon Premiere Recap
What a night! Our Oregon premiere of Oh Whale at PAM Cut’s Tomorrow Theater was everything we hoped for and more, thanks entirely to you.
We kicked things off with two completely sold-out screenings, packing the Tomorrow Theater with Portland locals, folks from the film, and fans of the exploding whale story from all over the state; including a crew of blasted blubber believers who drove up from Florence to celebrate with us. 🐋💙
Guests were greeted with Oh Whale-themed swag (no blast-zone ponchos, sorry), setting the tone for an evening full of nostalgia, laughter, and a surprising amount of civic pride over Oregon’s arguably most infamous moment in history.
Our first screening wrapped with an intimate Q&A featuring director Winslow Murdoch, editor Corky DeVault, and producers Cecilia Brown and Luke Terrell. The conversation was lively, thoughtful, and full of behind-the-scenes stories that reminded us why this film exists in the first place.
The second screening featured a more formal panel hosted by Oregon Historical Society’s Kerry Tymchuk—joined by Winslow, Corky, and Luke, and the two people who lived this story firsthand: journalist Paul Linnman and cameraman Doug Brazil. Hearing their reflections in a packed room, 55 years after the explosion (to the day), was truly something else. Not to mention, this was Paul’s very first time seeing the film—he didn’t walk out, which we took as a good sign.
Our main takeaway is this: there is a lot of heavy stuff going on in the world right now, and we heard from so many people that this film felt like a breath of fresh air. It’s whimsical, nostalgic, sentimental. And honestly? We could all use a dose of that.
All in all, we’re still floating from all the love, the energy, and the community you brought into the theater. Thank you for showing up, cheering us on, and helping us celebrate a story that’s been part of Oregon lore for more than half a century.
Please stay tuned for more screenings and festival updates coming soon:
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