I had an amazing time getting to know Laura Molton and Sue Zalokar, the head librarians of Street Books. This bicycle-powered mobile library for people living outside, is open Wednesdays at Skidmore Fountain and Saturdays in the South Park Blocks. I filmed this as part of my Portland·ography documentary series. Hope you enjoy!

Documentary. (6:19) Our award-winning short film on the Portland Loo. Directed by Travis Shields.

People Can’t Wait is “A charming film about an unusual subject: the need for public toilets.” – Kenneth Turan,L.A. Times film critic.

Winner of a 2010 Telly Award and a Judge’s Award at the 36th Northwest Film and Video Festival.

“The strongest films of any length in this year’s festival both undermine the putative glamour of life on the Portland streets, a myth almost as old as the city’s filmmaking culture. Seattle director Travis Shields travels south to profile Randy Leonard’s 24-hour loos with People Can’t Wait; his comprehensive interviews (which include Victoria Taft again making an ass of herself) are distinguished by a chat with toilet cleaner Rodney Haven, who summarizes his assignment to “make sure everything’s sanitized properly, each and every day”—then glances away, lost in existential reflection.” – Willamette Week film review.

Portland City Hall giving our film some love.
Victoria Taft on Twitter.
Portland Loo website.
Loo on Facebook.
PHLUSH blog.
Willamette Week coverage.

Documentary. (6:36) Directed by Travis Shields. Winner of a 2009 Telly Award and the 2008 International Documentary Challenge “Best Use of Political/Social Issue” award. Judge’s Award Winner at the 36th Northwest Film and Video Festival.

Spotlighting the freegan movement in Portland Oregon, Meet the Freegans aired on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s series Oregon Lens and has screened locally at Portland’s Hollywood Theater, at the 2008 Dokufest in Kosovo, 2008 Hot Docs in Toronto, and at the 2009 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

Meet the Freegans “Dumpster diving for the socially conscious. Who knew?” – Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times film critic.

Our Telly Award winning short documentary about Portland Oregon’s Rosemary Anderson High School. RAH has a successful history of reconnecting students who have lost interest in school by addressing the academic, social, and work readiness skills necessary to make a positive transition into adulthood. Shot and edited by Travis Shields.

Our short documentary on Work Opportunity Training, the original charter of Portland OIC, that today provides a practical career planning and work experience supplement to Rosemary Anderson High School students. Shot and edited by Travis Shields.