Short Film Celebrates Portland's Blue Moon Camera and Machine

A 15-minute short film titled "Blue Moon – Your First and Last Camera Store," directed by local filmmaker Mike Marchlewski, documents the story of Blue Moon Camera and Machine in Portland's St. John's neighborhood. The film was produced entirely on 16mm motion picture film with support from Kodak. Owner Jake Shivery opened the store on December 1, 2001, initially with no customers until a Christmas Eve article in The Oregonian drew a crowd. Blue Moon offers used cameras, new film, development and print services, and houses an International Camera Museum. The store's manifesto emphasizes analog as an antidote to automation, focusing on tactile sensibilities and resistance to planned obsolescence. Staff members Arthur Ruckle and David Malenborg highlight the shop's unique commitment to service and film development, including rare processes like Kodachrome. The film is a tribute to Blue Moon's role as a Portland institution for photography enthusiasts.