2008 Press & News
December 2008
Partners Onboard as New Film Office AgencyThe Montana Film Office (MFO) has recently contracted with a new agency to handle their advertising, marketing and public relations services. Partners Creative, out of Missoula, has accepted the challenge to assist the MFO in marketing the state as a top filming location for feature films and national television commercials.
"Partners Creative has some great ideas on how to get Montana noticed in the intensely competitive environment of locations going after the lucrative business of film production" said MFO Manager Sten Iversen. "The agency has unveiled an exciting new concept for packaging and promoting the benefits we offer filmmakers."
"The Film Office is a key component of Montana's economy, particularly its tourism economy," says agency co-owner and Creative Director, Steve Falen. "We're looking forward to working on such a vital piece of business for our state and the great creative opportunity it provides our agency." The MFO team has already met with the key players from Partners and kicked off a number of projects including developing a strategic two year marketing plan.
November 2008
Montana in 3-D
This past winter, the two picturesque towns of Lincoln and Philipsburg played host to the production of Call of the Wild 3D. This family-friendly adaptation of Jack London's classic story played out over the course of a month with top-notch actors and sled-dog talent. Montana's Race to the Sky and the two host communities, along with the backdrop of pure Montana winter splendor featured prominently.
The film will be debuting November 21st on Call of the Wild 3D screens at 3DX, the World's First 3D International Film Festival. Unfortunately for Montanans wanting to catch the Big Sky on the big screen, we may have to wait a bit longer, as the festival is in Singapore.
Once a distribution deal is acquired it may come to a theater near you, and of course look for it at the local movie rental stores in the months to come. The film stars Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Wes Studi ( New World, Last of the Mohicans), Amiee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), and Ariel Gade (Envy). It was directed by Richard Gabai and produced by Nancy Draper.
The production worked closely with the Montana Film Office to find just the right look for the remake of the classic and took advantage of the Big Sky on the Big Screen act, Montana's film production incentive program. Another incentive that the crew took advantage of was the stunning selection of candy at the Sweet Palace in Philipsburg. Based on the fact that the Sweet Palace's appears in the film trailer and their logo on the homepage of the films website, we have to guess that the film producers were big fans of the colorful candy shop.
Watch the film trailer and learn more about the film on their website www.callofthewild3D.com.
November 17, 2008
Film features Great Falls' legendary Sip N Dip bar
Montana is no stranger to Hollywood, but a new independent film gets even more local as it was shot at Great Falls' own legendary Sip N Dip lounge. The mermaid pool and the bar are featured in "The Best Bar in America," a film co-directed and co-written by Missoula brothers Eric and Damon Ristau. The film crew shot footage Saturday and Sunday inside the Sip N Dip, and in the famous pool.
"We just found out some of the top bars in the state, and the Sip N Dip is definitely one of them," said co-director Damon Ristau. "We're really happy to be here, it's turned into my favorite we've been to. I mean, look - there's mermaids, it's a tiki bar in Montana. Montana mermaids - where do you find that?"
The film, which describes the cross-country journey of a man in search of the Best Bar in America, is scheduled for a 2009 release. The Sip N Dip bar was ranked by GQ magazine as the "Best Bar In The World Worth Flying To" in 2003. For more information about the movie, visit the Best Bar In American website, www.bestbarinamerica.com.
October 2008
‘JAILED FOR THEIR WORDS’ DEBUTS ON MONTANA PBS
“Jailed for Their Words,” the much-anticipated documentary film about Montana’s World War I sedition convictions of war critics, makes its television premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, on Montana PBS. The powerful, hour-long film, produced by West of Kin Productions and The University of Montana School of Journalism, also will air on Montana PBS at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25; 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26; and noon Thursday, Oct. 30.
Directed by filmmaker Gita Saedi Kiely and narrated by actor J.K. Simmons, the documentary traces the dramatic story of Montana’s draconian World War I sedition law, the harshest of its kind in the nation and the model for a U.S. law passed shortly after.Through interviews with free speech experts, historians and descendants of the prisoners, the film shows how war hysteria and super-patriotism led to broken lives. Creative re-enactments help show the human drama, while contemporary footage covers the dramatic ceremony in May 2006, when Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer pardoned 78 sedition convicts.
To learn more about "Jailed for Their Words" click here to download the full press release or visit http://seditionproject.net/jailed.html.
October 29, 2008
The World Premiere of "The Vessel"
Yellow Wood Films newest project "The Vessel" will makes its film debut on November 21st, 2008 at 7:30 pm at the Mansfield Theater. This horror film was shot entirely in Great Falls, Montana with 100% local talent. One major location was the old Cascade County Jail. The Vessel is about a crack team of paranormal investigators who enter a turn of the century abandoned jail looking for answers to a two decade old mystery of a wrongly executed man. They are joined by family members connected to the case and a troubled man with the ability to channel spirits named Jason Brooks (Stu Brumbaugh). They soon learn that the mystery they're pursuing isn't nearly as horrifying as the secrets of the jail itself. They find themselves on lock down and try to solve this mystery as they fight for survival and face the terrible evil within.
"The Vessel" was written by Stu Brumbaugh and Joel Corda and directed by Terry Tychon. Tickets will be available for purchase October 31st. For ticket purchase visit The Mansfield Theater ticketing office in the Great Falls Civic Center or online at www.ticketing.greatfallsmt.net. We hope to see you there. Be prepared for a thrill with this one!
October 2008
"Hatching" New Talent in Bozeman
The Montana Film Office (MFO) is currently attending the 4th Annual HATCHfest, running from October 1-4, 2008 in Bozeman. Some of this year's highlights include a screening of Montana-made film Pretty Ugly People, which shot in Western Montana in 2006, the opening night screening of Butterfly Dreaming, which was produced by Montana native and renowned casting director, Rene Haynes, and a screening of The Village Barbershop starring John Ratzenberger (Cheers, Toy Story) and Shelly Cole (Prey for Rock and Roll, Art School Confidential). Throughout the week there will be screenings of ten feature films, ten ground breaker films, a shorts program, musical events, two dedicated lounge areas for guests and invitees and a closing night award ceremony.
The most important and unusual aspect of the festival is its mentoring program, in which seasoned professionals in the various arts attend as jurors or panelists and guide selected students. The mission of HATCH is to provide mentorship, education, inspiration and recognition to the next generation of creative innovators. To learn more about HATCH and the festival, visit www.hatchfest.org.
The MFO has been a supporter and sponsor of HATCHfest since its inception in 2004. The MFO hosted a VIP "Welcome to Montana" Reception at the Montana Trails Gallery for the filmmakers, mentors and "groundbreakers" and has a booth presence in the Emerson Cultural Center throughout the event.
September 2008
The Big Sky Graces the Big Screen in Major Motion Picture
New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Brothers, features Glacier National Park and
the Blackfeet Reservation in “My Sisters Keeper” scheduled for release in 2009
(HELENA) –– Montana’s unparalleled scenic beauty will feature prominently in a key scene for the major studio film “My Sister’s Keeper” directed by Nick Cassavetes, whose previous credits include the 2004 award winner “The Notebook”.
“We’re excited to share our spectacular backyard with the world in a major Hollywood film. We are working hard to make Montana a top tier film destination with an excellent reputation among those in the industry,” Governor Schweitzer said. “Coupled with Montana’s extraordinary locations and well skilled workforce, Montana’s Big Sky on the Big Screen tax incentives aspire to provide an added enticement to film in Big Sky Country.”
The production was primarily shot in Los Angeles, however, several essential scenes were filmed recently in northwest Montana. The week-long shoot employed approximately 60 crew members, mostly Montanans from the Flathead Valley, Blackfeet Reservation and Bozeman area.
“The impact Montana’s film industry has on our local and statewide economies cannot be overstated,” said Anthony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “While the economic impact for this production is not yet available, large productions of this size typically spend over $100,000 per day of filming on Montana labor and support services. We would anticipate a direct economic impact of $225,000 which means a total economic impact of $345,000, all in just a few short days.”
The Montana Film Office has been working diligently with the production team since December 2007 to bring this film to Montana. Film Office staffer John Ansotegui has worked closely with the National Park Service and the production company location manager, Alasdair Boyd, to choose the ideal location for the shoot.
"We had a fantastic experience filming in Montana” said executive producer Diana Pokorny. “The scenery was magnificent, the local crew was experienced and accommodating and the Montana Film Office was present and helpful in every aspect of the experience."
Both the Montana Film Office and the production company were very appreciative of the cooperative spirit demonstrated by the Glacier National Park officials throughout the process. All those involved worked meticulously to create solutions amenable to everyone’s needs while first and foremost protecting the Park’s natural resources.
Based on a novel by Jodi Piccoult “My Sister's Keeper" tells the story of a young girl named Anna Fitzgerald, played by 2007 Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin, who was conceived as a bone marrow match for her sister with leukemia. It explores the moral and ethical complexities of genetic selection, family loyalties and personal rights. The movie also stars four-time Golden Globe nominee Cameron Diaz (“Charlies Angel’s”, “Shrek”) Oscar nominee and 2008 Emmy winner Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”, “The Cooler”) and Oscar nominee Joan Cusack (“In & Out”, “Working Girl”). In addition to Emmy winning executive producer Pokorny, other members of the production team include screenwriter Jeremy Leven and Oscar winning producer, Mark Johnson.
In 2007, the Montana State Legislature passed a measure to improve the already successful Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, spearheaded by Governor Brian Schweitzer. The new tax incentive package provides film companies larger tax incentives on production expenditures incurred while on location in Montana, and encourages large scale productions by eliminating a cap on the credits. Production companies are given a 14 percent incentive rebate on all Montana labor hired for film production and a nine percent rebate on all production-related Montana expenditures including lodging, equipment rental, fuel, lumber, and construction materials.
The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act helped increase film production in Montana by 34 percent between 2005 and 2006. The economic impact created by film production in Montana increased by 12 percent between 2006 and 2007. In 2007, 86 film and television projects were shot in Montana, including three feature films. Overall, these projects generated $7.8 million in film production spending and created 202 full time jobs for Montanans.
Click here for official press release about "My Sister's Keeper".
September 2008
MFO Courts Independent FilmmakersThe Montana Film Office (MFO) will be one of the sponsor's of IFP's Independent Film Week in New York City, NY this September 14-19, 2008. This is the second year that the MFO has taken advantage of this great marketing opportunity to reach independent filmmakers in New York.
The MFO expands their presence this year by co-hosting the opening night event which follows a speech by acclaimed independent film director and producer, Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Good Will Hunting). The MFO will also have a marketing presence all week in the filmmaker lounge area, where Film Office Manager, Sten Iversen, will be on hand to meet with the filmmakers between panels, screenings and sessions. To learn more about IFP and the Independent Film Week visit: www.independentfilmweek.com.
September 21, 2008
PBS production re-enacts fateful night of 1967
‘Night of the Grizzlies’ - It was a blast from the past for Clayton Schenck when the cast and crew arrived at Granite Park Chalet with film props and a wardrobe from the 1960s.
Schenck was 18 years old when he first visited the alpine chalet on Glacier National Park’s Highline Trail during the summer of 1967. He was there about 10 days before the infamous “Night of the Grizzlies” — when two women were fatally mauled by two different bears on Aug. 14. One of the mauling's was near the Granite Park back country campground. A Montana PBS crew was at the chalet Sept. 4 and 5 to film a documentary on the subject, with some re-enactment filming.
“It was real interesting because they brought in lots of props for doing it and they brought in several actors,” said Schenck, who now is 59 and working as the Montana legislative fiscal analyst in Helena. Schenck also works for Belton Chalets Inc. every fall as the closing manager at Granite Park.
“I grew up in Shelby,” Schenck said. “And the first time I came up to Granite Park was in 1967 and it was about 10 days before ‘Night of the Grizzlies.’”
Schenck recalls being stunned when he heard television news anchor Walter Cronkite reporting on the fatal mauling's in Glacier.
“It made quite a splash,” Schenck said. “It was because there were two [incidents] in one night and there hadn’t been one before.”
The PBS production, tentatively titled “Beasts in the Garden,” required a pack string of five mules and a complete occupation of Granite Park Chalet for day-and-night filming. To read full story by Jim Mann of the Daily Inter Lake click here.
September 1, 2008
Montana Premiere of Pretty Ugly People
Independent feature film "Pretty Ugly People will be showing at the Montana Independent Film Festival in Missoula at the Wilma Theater on the evening of September 19th. This film is a great adult comedy that has already earned the Jury Prize from several film festivals and is destined to steamroll through the independent film circuit this year. "Pretty Ugly People" will also be showing at the Hatch Film Festival in October.
Make sure to get out and support this Montana-made independent film. For more information on the film visit www.prettyuglypeople.com.
August 6, 2008
Film Makes Old Jail Even Scarier
If you’re heading down to Machinery Row for drinks, take it easy on bartender Katrina Nicoll. She’s had a couple long nights of fending off a killer in an abandoned jail. Nicoll, 25, is one of several area residents involved in “The Vessel,” the sophomore feature film effort of Great Falls residents Stu Brumbaugh, Rory Schulte and Randy Barrett. Filming began Monday night in the old Cascade County jail on 4th Street N. in Great Falls.
“It went really good,” Brumbaugh said. “We got all the shots we need the first day.”
The crew will continue filming 12 hours a day, six days a week for the next three weeks in various locations around the city. The horror movie is about a group of paranormal investigators who go to an abandoned jail that is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of an inmate who was killed there 20 years earlier.
To read full story by Zachary Franz of the Great Falls Tribune click here.
July 1, 2008
Missoula Filmmakers Belly Up to “The Best Bar in America”
Last month, brothers Damon and Eric Ristau opened the Missoula headquarters for their video production company Firewater Film Company. Since starting the company in 2003, the Ristau brothers have made mostly commercials and documentaries, but this summer they have other plans.
In July, they'll begin shooting their first full-length feature film titled "The Best Bar in America.” The brothers describe the Montana-based adventure-comedy about three men who travel the state’s bars, taverns and saloons as a “belligerent ‘Sideways’ where instead of sipping wine in California they are sipping whiskey in Montana.”
To read full story by Kaylee Porter of New West - Missoula click here.
July 2008
“The Little Red Truck” Winning Over All Ages
Award-winning Documentary Film Proving to Be Big Hit with Kids and Their Parents
Missoula, Montana —With a title suggesting a cute little vehicle and a cast that includes hundreds of kids (in cool costumes, no less), it’s no surprise that the awardwinning documentary film “The Little Red Truck” is winning the hearts and minds of youngsters nationwide. What is unexpected—and eagerly welcomed—is the number of parents and grandparents touting the film’s merits.
According to producer Pam Voth, while kids relate easily to the film’s young “stars” and upbeat messages, parents and grandparents are the loudest chorus in singing the film’s praises.
“Kids immediately embrace the movie and the musical numbers within it,” Voth says. “But what’s been really exciting and somewhat unexpected is the number of parents and grandparents approaching us on the festival circuit, asking when the film will be out in theaters,” she says. “They can’t wait to share it with their entire family.”
Voth says fans will get their wish on July 11 when the movie makes its theatrical
debut in Helena and Missoula, Montana (where MCT is located) and Columbus, Indiana.
On July 25, it plays at Regal Cinema’s Fox Tower Stadium 10 in Portland, Oregon (Regal
is the largest theater chain in the world). It will then be in theaters nationwide throughout
the remainder of the summer and early fall.
Click here for the full press release about "The Little Red Truck".
Note: Carmike will also be scheduling it in Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman and Butte as their calendar allows. Signature Theaters in Kalispell will also be fitting it in as schedules allow. Media stories about the film will appear in the Horizon Air in-flight magazine, Big Sky Journal, Billings Gazette, Bozeman Chronicle and the Big Sky Sun.
June 22, 2008
Billings couple tie knot on camera in 'Big Redneck Wedding'
LAUREL - Eric and Emily Majerus were pronounced rednecks in an outdoor ceremony Saturday at Riverside Park. Actually, they were pronounced married. A redneck theme was carried through the nuptials to a reception that featured paddlefish caviar served at tables decorated with metal roses made of snuff can lids. The couple exchanged vows in front of family, friends and television crews from “My Big Redneck Wedding,” a program aired on Country Music Television. The Majeruses’ wedding is scheduled to air in October.
To read full story by Becky Shay of the Billings Gazette click here.
June 22, 2008
Cameras Rolling - My Favorite Movie
Sheila Lopach answered her door one evening a few months ago to find two young men standing on her Reeder’s Village porch.
“There were two well-dressed gentlemen, and I assumed they were selling something,” she recalled.
Lopach and her husband, Dennis, invited the men in and learned they were Martin Rogers and Isaac Marble, the director and production manager, respectively, of “My Favorite Movie,” which began filming in the Queen City on June 9.
After checking the script to make sure it wasn’t some sort of “Borat”-style spoof, the couple agreed to open their home to the budding filmmakers.
To read full article by Larry Kline of the Helena IR about "My Favorite Movie" click here.
June 10, 2008
Saab Commercial
FAIRFIELD — Coasting down the highway with a view of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front is beautiful enough to make many drivers sob — make that Saab. This week, the luxury car company will wrap filming in several scenic Montana locales for a commercial selling their latest model. Manager of the Department of Commerce's film office Sten Iversen said the crew began five days of filming on Friday. The crew filmed around Fairfield, including Freezout Lake, last weekend. Montana Highway Patrol officers closed sections of Highway 89 for 10 to 15 minute stretches to allow the crew to drive on both lanes of traffic — one for the Saab itself and the other for a car armed with a camera. Between the semi trailer used to haul the Saab models, the catering crew and all of the production equipment, "it was quite the operation," area highway patrol spokesman Tom Taylor said. The crew spent much of Monday filming at St. Mary and will pick up additional footage in southcentral Montana this week. The Montana Film Office advertises in several trade magazines hoping to lure companies with Montana's scenery. With 300 freelance production people in the state, many film crews rely on local talent. Iverson said the production company filming the Saab commercial has done similar work in Montana 10 times previously. Iversen expects the commercial to air nationally in a month or two. - Great Falls Tribune staff writer Kim Skornogoski
June 2008
“Up Close & Personal” - Michael Martin Murphey ConcertAugust 21, 2008 @ 7:30pm
A Benefit Concert for the International Wildlife Film Festival & Media Center will be featuring Michael Martin Murphey with special guest Rob Quist and opening act Shane Clouse. Michael Martin Murphey is today's #1 selling Singing Cowboy Poet...Western Music Hall of Fame...Cowboy Hall of Fame 6x Award Winner... Texas Music Awards Song of the Year...His first album made him "best new songwriter in the nation" (Chet Flippo - Rolling Stone); his song "Wildfire" was one of radio's most played songs (all formats); and "His COWBOY SONGS album is a classic" (Jack Hurst - Chicago Tribue); he also received the First Gold Album in Cowboy Music since Marty Robbins.
This event will be held at the Wilma Theatre in Missoula, Montana. Seating on the main floor is $35.00 and balcony seating is $30.00. Tickets are for sale on line at www.wildlifefilms.org (maximum of 6 tickets per online transaction). VIP Reception & Premium seating is $125.00 for sale only through IWFF office. (*VIP Premium ticket includes close up seat, reception at the NEW Scotty's Table on the Terrace at the Wilma: Meet & Mingle before the show, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, glass of wine and a chance to meet the artists).
June 2008
AmericaTheBeautiful.com Chooses Custer Country, MT as part of the See America TourWaynesville, NC, June 9, 2008: After dozens of submissions by communities across these United States of America – AmericaTheBeautiful.com has elected to feature Custer Country, MT in the 2008 See America Tour. “Custer Country’s upcoming re-enactments and amazing people are a perfect example of America’s Pride, Passion, Promise and Patriotism for this great country” states Peter Smith. “We are looking forward to capturing the region’s true American Spirit on Video”. AmericaTheBeautiful.com is taking a film crew across the roads of America in search of powerful stories of patriotism and love of this great land. The focus is on the heartwarming communities, filled with great people, amazing photographic sites, and messages of patriotism, pride, passion and promise for America. AmericaTheBeautiful.com is dedicated to inspiring the hearts of all Americans with videos, photographic imagery, writings and music to tell the story of America.
Click here for the full press release about "America the Beautiful".
May 2008
“A Plumm Summer” Proves Plum Beneficial to the State
The independent film, "A Plumm Summer," which was recently released in theaters in five Montana cities, and over 50 theaters nationally is an ideal example of the benefits of bringing film production to the state of Montana. This award-winning film, which was shot in Bozeman and Livingston in the summer of 2006, provided good paying jobs to Montanans as well as imparted a significant fiscal contribution to the state.
Some key benefits of this production included:
- Employed 89 Montanan professional and technical crew members
- Employed 415 paid extras
- Conducted business with over 250 local area businesses and contractors
- Had a total Montana payroll totaling $756,702 (including W-2 payroll of $496,576, Subcontractor 1099 payroll of $229,162 and actors and extra’s payroll of $30,964)
- Generated $2 million dollars in direct impact revenue for Montana and it generated an additional $1 million in indirect impacts
The filmmakers had considered filming in other states, but decided to shoot the film in Montana because of tax incentives offered by the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act and Montana’s readily available work force.
In 2007, backed by Governor Schweitzer, the Montana State Legislature passed a measure to improve the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act. The new tax incentive package provides film companies larger tax incentives on production expenditures incurred while on location in Montana, and encourages large scale productions by eliminating a cap on the credits. Production companies are given a 14 percent incentive rebate on all Montana labor hired for film production and a nine percent rebate on all production-related Montana expenditures including lodging, equipment rental, fuel, lumber, and construction materials.
The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act helped increase film production in Montana by 34 percent between 2005 and 2006. The economic impact created by film production in Montana increased by 12 percent between 2006 and 2007. As one can see, having a movie made in Montana provides a healthy economic infusion into the local communities where films are shot as well as to the overall economic vitality of the state.
"A Plumm Summer" is a true Montana tale supported by Montana talent. "A Plumm Summer" is about the innocence of an idyllic Montana hamlet that is disrupted when celebrity puppet ‘Froggy Doo’ is kidnapped and held for ransom. Screenwriter and Billings native TJ Lynch created the screenplay which is inspired by actual events. The film was co-produced by Big Sky resident, Doug Metzger, who also served as the First Assistant Director on the film. "A Plumm Summer" was shot by Cinematographer Mark Vargo, a Bozeman resident with a long list of film credits. In the film, Governor Brian Schweitzer also makes his silver screen debut playing the role of Sheriff Strunk. Click here for the full press release about the "Plumm Summer" Film Opening.
May 29, 2008
Bitterroot Filmmaker Shoots to Thrill
There’s a brief scene in the middle of
Bitterroot filmmaker John D. Nilles’
newest film in which a pickup truck
driven by two vengeful cowboys barrels
down a field and upends an occupied
wooden outhouse. Human waste—in
this case, chocolate pudding—and
splinters of wood spray everywhere,
most of it landing on the truck itself. The
whole action sequence takes up less
than two minutes in this wickedly
entertaining, 30-minute grunge Western,
but for the ambitious Nilles it represents
so much more.
To read full story by Skylar Browning of the Missoula Independent click here.
May 28, 2008
Storylink All-Star Profile: TJ Lynch
Like his beloved Rocky Mountains, TJ Lynch is a walking, breathing testimonial to persistence, grit, and good old fashioned stick-to-itiveness. Determined to crack the screenwriting code, Lynch assiduously studied and honed his craft, climbing the contest ladder until he achieved the ultimate validation: being chosen as a Nicholl Fellow in 1999. Lynch has taken his career one step further with the release of his first produced movie, A Plumm Summer (www.aplummsummer.com), the script he wrote during his Fellowship year. Lynch was gracious enough to take time out from his busy schedule to tell us the secret of his "overnight success"...
To read full article by PJ Mcllvaine on TJ Lynch click here.
May 20, 2008
Mike Steinberg Joins Big Sky as Festival Director
Missoula, Montana - The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is pleased to announce that Webster University Professor and Film Series Director, Mike Steinberg, will assume the job of Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Director. Steinberg has a long history with Missoula and Big Sky. In the mid-1990's he was the co-owner of River City Media with offices in the Wilma Theater. Several of his own independent films enjoyed their World Premieres at the festival. He has also served as a juror and associate programmer for the festival.
"We are extremely fortunate to be bringing Mike on as Director," says Big Sky Programming Director and Founder, Doug Hawes-Davis. "He clearly has the knowledge and skills to move our event forward as a destination for filmmakers, distributors, and film fans alike."
Steinberg adds, "It's been a thrill to work with the Big Sky staff in the past, and I am really excited about returning to Missoula to help steer the festival into the next chapter of its evolution."
Steinberg brings over a dozen years experience as a filmmaker, instructor, and programmer. He will continue to direct and program the Webster Film Series, the alternative film venue in St Louis he has directed for the last five years. He will also develop several collaborations with the University, including a Big Sky mentor/fellowship program in conjunction with Webster's Documentary Production Certificate Program. Steinberg will begin the job with the festival in its sixth year. The 2009 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival will again be held in the recently-restored Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, Montana and will expand to 10 days of screenings, panels, and special events.
For more information visit www.bigskyfilmfest.org.
April 2008
New Talent Officially Joins the Film Office
The Montana Film Office (MFO) has recently seen the promotion of John Ansotegui from his former post of Digital Media Coordinator to Location Coordinator, where he is in charge of assisting the many film productions that contact the MFO with location, scouting, and pre-production inquiries. John takes over this position from long- time MFO staffer Bill Kuney who retired from the post in January. John had been working alongside Bill with a majority of the projects and he has now taken over the position full-time.
John’s promotion to Location Coordinator then left a vacancy in the MFO. The film office was pleased to hire former intern, Sage DuBois in the newly revised position of Multimedia and Project Coordinator. Sage is in charge of the website, www.montanafilm.com and Reel-Scout database system, and assists John with the film production inquiries. She also handles special projects for the film office in the form of video editing and graphic design. Sage is originally from Montana, and interned for the MFO in 2004. She returns to Montana from Florida where she was a graphic designer and video and film editor.
Congratulations on your new appointments John and Sage. The Montana Film Office is happy to have you onboard.
April 29, 2008
IWFF Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient - Hardy Jones
Award winning marine filmmaker and conservationist, Hardy Jones, will be giving a Welcome Address and Keynote about The State of Our Seas on Tuesday, May 13th at 9:30pm at the Roxy Theater – International Wildlife Media Center. He will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award for Media on Friday, May 16th at 6:00 pm during the IWFF Awards Gala at the UC Ballroom, University Center, University of Montana. To read more about the lifetime achievements of Hardy Jones click here.
April 29, 2008
"A Plumm Summer" - Film shot in Livingston area finally makes it to the silver screen
Brenda Strong grew up on Nancy Drew books. The “Desperate Housewives” star said she loved the heart of the books, which she described as “family driven mysteries.”
For the same reason, she said, she was drawn to “A Plumm Summer,” a film set in Montana that tells the tale of two young brothers who go head-to-head with the FBI to crack the kidnapping case of a TV puppet named Froggy Doo.
“Primarily, it was its heart” Strong said of the film’s attraction, “the sensibility that you could make a family film that was not computer animated, was not CG-driven, that had a moral driven plot.”
Based on one of the state’s strangest mysteries, “A Plumm Summer” is hitting the silver screen with an April 25 opening in five cities across Montana, including theaters in Bozeman and Livingston.
To read full story by Daniel Person click here.
April 2008
Montana's "A Plumm Summer" Debut
(HELENA) –– Governor Brian Schweitzer announced today that the independent film, “A Plumm Summer,” will release theatrically in the state of Montana on Friday, April 25th, 2008. Select cities for this opening include Bozeman, Billings, Missoula, Kalispell and Livingston. The family film has already garnered a positive review from Daily Variety which raves that it, “…deliciously blends action, comedy and a touch of sweetness.”
“A Plumm Summer” is a true Montana tale supported by Montana talent. “A Plumm Summer” is about the innocence of an idyllic Montana hamlet that is disrupted when celebrity puppet ‘Froggy Doo’ is kidnapped and held for ransom. Screenwriter and Billings native TJ Lynch created the screenplay which is inspired by actual events. The film was co-produced by Big Sky resident, Doug Metzger (Flicka, The Italian Job, The Patriot), who also served as the First Assistant Director on the film. “A Plumm Summer” was shot by Cinematographer Mark Vargo, a Bozeman resident with a long list of film credits (Poseidon, 3:10 to Yuma). In the film, Governor Brian Schweitzer also makes his silver screen debut playing the role of Sheriff Strunk.
“‘A Plumm Summer’ is a priceless Montana story. I’m honored to be a part of this production and extremely excited to have this film open in theatres across the state,” said Governor Schweitzer. “The makers of this film could have decided to shoot this film in any number of western states, but they chose to shoot it in Montana. I think that speaks to our breathtaking scenery, attractive tax incentives and top notch film crews.”
To read full press release Click Here.
April 22, 2008
Schweitzer to make film debut Friday
HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer will make his silver screen debut Friday when the independent film "A Plumm Summer" is released in several Montana cities.
The film, directed by Caroline Zelder and written by Billings native TJ Lynch, is about the innocence of an idyllic Montana town that is disrupted when celebrity puppet 'Froggy Doo' is kidnapped and held for ransom. Schweitzer plays the role of Sheriff Strunk.
To read full story by The Associated Press click here.
April 2, 2008
"A Plumm Summer" is Coming to a Montana Theatre Near You!
Montana Made Movie "A Plumm Summer" Opens April 25th
Montana made movie, "A Plumm Summer", is coming to Bozeman, Billings, Kalispell, Missoula and Livingston on April 25th. The movie will premiere in LA April 20th. Fairplay Pictures says that Montana looks fantastic in the film! "A Plumm Summer" stars William Baldwin, Lisa Guerrero, Owen Pearce, Chris J. Kelly, Henry Winkler, Brenda Strong, Peter Scolari, Rick Overton, Morgan Flynn, and Jeff Daniels.
The movie has already won two awards for Best Family Film, two special honors and a great review in Variety magazine. To read the Variety review click here. “A Plumm Summer” is a heart-warming story about a missing puppet named Froggy Doo. This family film follows Elliot (13) and his little brother Rocky (5) as they try to unfold this Frog-napping. To read more about this story click here.
March 20, 2008
The World Premiere of the Motion Picture “Iron Ridge”
“Iron Ridge” opens March 28th at the Mansfield Theatre
“Iron Ridge” is the first feature film of its kind. It was filmed 100% in Montana using private financing from Montanans as well as 100% Montana actors, crew, and equipment. The film was also edited right here within the state. The reason “Iron Ridge” is so special is because this film is truly “Home Grown”. Although this film is considered “Ultra Low Budget” because of its shoestring budget, it has great production value simply because of the wide support of other Montanan’s. Part of which included free helicopter service, costumes, food, locations, film permits, city services here in Great Falls, the 2nd U.S. Cavalry out of Helena and even a Bozeman grizzly bear named Brutus.
“Iron Ridge” is the story of two friends from the city, Jake Munro and William Price, who go deep into the backcountry of Montana for a once in a lifetime hunting trip. Once arriving, they find themselves right in the middle of one of the worlds most rugged and hostile environments. When one of the young men finds himself lost in the mountain terrain of the Big Sky country unprepared and unequipped, he will have only his instinctive skills and the dedication of a determined semi-retired forest ranger to save his life. With a bad winter storm rolling in and the search being called off, it is just a matter of time before the lost hunter realizes that his chances of survival are hopeless, especially when he learns that a bloodthirsty grizzly is tracking him. Now, with life-threatening injuries he will attempt to do the unthinkable, even if it costs him his life. With the history of the area and the vast forest system of the Iron Ridge mountain range it will be a miracle if he makes it out alive.
“Iron Ridge” was written, directed, and even stars first time film director Stu Brumbaugh, a Great Falls native who returned to Great Falls, Montana after working in the film business in the greater Los Angeles area for 12 years. After attending high school at CMR he fled to Southern California in 1993 to pursue a career in the film business. To read more click here.
Mansfield Box Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MST
(406) 455-8514
Contact
Keri Langille
Mansfield Box Office
ccevents@ci.great-falls.mt.us
March 2, 2008
‘Call of the Wild’
PHILIPSBURG — Actor Devon Graye’s career has taken him far and wide, but he’s never seen a town quite like Philipsburg — not in real life anyway. “I love the town; it really is like something in a movie,” said Graye, 20, standing in the Doe Bros. Soda Fountain Thursday. The movie “Call of the Wild” — a modern spin on Jack London’s novella — brought big Hollywood names to tiny Philipsburg, including actor Christopher Lloyd. As star-struck locals marveled over movie stars, the film’s cast and crew seemed just as taken by the quaint, quiet, mining-turned-tourist town. ...
To read full story By Erin Nicholes click here.
March 4, 2008
Screen Actors Guild Launches Digital Casting Revolution
iActor Puts Station 12 Cast Clearance & Exclusive SAG Talent Pool
Right at the Industry’s Fingertips
Los Angeles (March 4, 2008) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced today the launch of iActor www.iactor.org , the only union-hosted online casting directory featuring onsite Station 12 cast clearance and showcasing exclusively SAG members. iActor provides casting directors, producers and production entities the ability to source and then directly verify an actor’s union eligibility for work in SAG-signatory productions, known as “Station 12” cast clearance. By bringing Station 12 cast clearance online, an industry first, iActor streamlines the casting process, resulting in valuable time and production savings.
iActor is free to SAG members and the entertainment industry. In addition to its proprietary online Station 12 cast clearance, iActor provides casting directors with the ability to find SAG actors using a customizable search function, create and tag folders according to personal work methodology, preview resumes, view headshots from multiple resumes in a slideshow, and both print and email individual resumes. iActor also provides a content-rich resource for casting directors searching regional talent pools for SAG actors. Currently, 23,790 union members representing a cross section of earnings and geographical locations have created resumes on iActor...
To read full news release click here.
Contact:
Pam Greenwalt (323) 549-6872
pgreenwalt@sag.org
Melinda Farrell (310) 204-6100 x11
mfarrell@bigla.com
March 2008
Montana Film Office Markets at Film Festivals in Montana & Abroad
The Montana Film Office (MFO) recently attended the 5th Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, MT. It is the film office’s fifth consecutive year in sponsoring this internationally distinguished event which showcased 106 compelling, non-fictional films from around the world. Screenings were held in downtown Missoula’s Wilma Theatre. On Saturday, February 16th Sten Iversen and John Ansotegui hosted a private reception for the filmmakers attending and exhibiting at the festival. They represented Montana as a film-friendly location for documentary filmmaking as well as all other media.
Continuing with the 2008 marketing blitz, the MFO will be attending the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival held in Austin, Texas. This independent cinematic event has even been noted as “The new Sundance” by Guardian News & Media Limited. The significant growth of this festival has drawn international attention from a variety of entertainment and media industry professionals. SXSW has a Film & Interactive Tradeshow that runs concurrently with its festival components. This is the second year that the Montana Film Office will have a presence at the trade show. This year the film office will unveil a new booth at the SXSW trade show that will see plenty of use in the future. This year the MFO will also be co-hosting a filmmaker reception along with the South Dakota Film Office. These unique sponsorship opportunities provide great exposure to MFO and have provided excellent networking prospects for future film projects.
March 4, 2008
Killer cowboy terrorizes rock group in 'Diablo Highway'
HAVRE — The blood! Ohhh, the blood! Out of beer and gas, the indie-rock band the Magpies should have known nothing but trouble can happen when driving a '71 VW bus down a remote road in the sticks. Told with tongue firmly planted in cheek, "Diablo Highway" is the story of what happens to the Magpies one dark and bloody night. I'm not spoiling anything by telling you most of them die, bludgeoned with a tire iron by a maniacal cowboy...
To read full story click here.
February 27, 2008
One-Night Only Premier of "OUTLAW DREAMS"
Thursday, February 28th, 2008, the Billings Outlaws, Montana's own professional football team, are proud to announce, in cooperation with the Carmike Theatres, the one-night only premier of the feature-length movie “Outlaw Dreams”. In 2006, the Billings Outlaws professional indoor football team had a storybook season culminating with a league championship in the National Indoor Football League. A video crew videotaped the entire season, from training camp through the championship game under the direction of Writer/Director/Producer Howie Klausner. Featuring highlights from the 2006 Championship season, “Outlaw Dreams” will be shown exclusively, one night only at 8:00pm and 10:00pm at the Carmike Wynnsong 10 Theatres at Rimrock Mall...
To read full story click here.
February 25, 2008
Filming the ‘Wild': Movie Crew Stays Busy in Montana's Cold
LINCOLN - Christopher Lloyd sold his home in Darby years ago, but the Hollywood film star said he's happy to be back in Montana this month helping to bring to life a modern adaptation of Jack London's famed novel, “The Call of the Wild.”
“It's just a wonderful script, and the role I was asked to play - the grandpa - I really like,” Lloyd said while taking a short break during filming outside Lincoln on Sunday.
“He's kind of lonely, his wife recently died and he's excited to have his granddaughter come visit and have another voice in the house,” Lloyd said.As the story goes, the granddaughter, played by 10-year-old Ariel Gade, is not too happy to leave her big-city life and luxuries in Boston to spend time in the snowy mountains of Montana with her grandfather...
To read full story By Betsy Cohen of the Missoulian click here.
February 19, 2008
Film rolling in Lincoln
LINCOLN — Liz Cain sat in her immaculate log home Monday morning eating breakfast.
While the task may have been mundane, her company was anything but. Actor Christopher Lloyd — yes, Doc Brown from the “Back to the Future” movies and Reverend Jim from TV hit “Taxi” — stood in Cain’s kitchen, donning a blue and plaid bathrobe, preparing a batch of oatmeal.
Cain’s famous houseguest had about 40 film crew members fluttering around him while they shot a scene for a movie adaptation of Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.”
To read full story By Angela Brandt of Helena's Independent Record click here.
February 16, 2008
Lincoln in the spotlight
LINCOLN - The old hound dog blocking Rollie Fisher’s driveway sniffs the air and refuses to move. A little dog with a big bark comes down the road, followed by another dog, and yet another, until the woods come alive with barking beasts.
The snow sits two feet deep and there’s a yellow glow spilling from the windows of a rustic cabin up ahead. The warm light casts shadows on the snow before fading to black, out where the darkness takes over and the woods stand creaking in the night.
Here, 48 miles north of Helena on the west side of Flesher Pass, roughly 15 miles outside Lincoln, a film crew from Los Angeles, Calif., is finding its feet, preparing to shoot a new version of “The Call of the Wild,” an American classic scribed in 1903 by Jack London...
To read full story By Martin J. Kidston of Helena's Independent Record click here.
February 2, 2008
Film Recalls the Craft and Community of "Butte, America"
A few years ago my
mother gave me a photograph of my grandfather, taken in about 1953. He is sitting with several fellow miners in the rock-walled tunnel of a copper mine, their black metal lunch boxes at their feet and the ore-cart tracks curving into the darkness beyond. I keep this photograph above my desk to remind myself what hard work is really all about when I’m whining over a deadline or wondering how to cut down a word count, but I never understood what that hard work consisted of until Thursday’s screening of Butte, America, the kickoff film of this weekend’s fifth annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
Producer and director Pam Roberts and associate producer and co-writer Edwin Dobb tell the story of Butte not only with epic historical sweep (as befits a place where mere humans have wrought such immense changes to the surface of the earth) but also at a very personal level, foregrounding and respecting the reminiscences of the men and women who lived through the booms and busts of Montana’s legendary mining town.
To read full story By Sutton Stokes of Missoula's New West click here.
February 2008
"Call of the Wild" Films in Montana
The communities of Lincoln and Phillipsburg are very pleased with their recent exposure to the film industry. The Montana Film Office (MFO) recently landed a new feature film, “Call of the Wild”, which chose these two communities for their main locations in their modern adaptation of Jack London’s classic. “We are very happy that these two communities fit the script for this film, it is great to see the positive economic impact an independent film can have on small Montana communities” noted Sten Iversen, MFO manager, “The total economic impact is expected to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars when it is all over”. The film, starring Christopher Llyod and Wes Studi, follows a 10-year-old girl played by young actress Aliel Gade who journeys from New York to visit her grandfather in Montana. The girl stumbles upon a wounded wolf dog which she nurses back to health, later to become part of a sled dog team. The director, Richard Gabai, is very grateful for the support he received from the communities and residents, the MFO, and the Governor Schweitzer for helping to make this feature a success.
February 2008
Montana Well-Represented at Sundance
The Montana Film Office (MFO) and the Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) teamed up again this year to promote Montana at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. The Sundance Film Festival is the premier independent film festival in the United States and screens over 220 films over ten days. All of the selected filmmakers, as well as thousands of other industry personnel ,attend the festival which makes this marketing trip an outstanding promotional and networking opportunity.
MFO and the Bozeman CVB, along with representatives from Idaho and Wyoming, hosted a filmmaker reception on January 24th at the Phoenix Gallery in Park City, UT. The event was well attended by Sundance filmmakers and Montana was represented by Sten Iversen and John Ansotegui from the MFO, Eric Stern from Governor Schweitzer’s Office of Economic Development and Cyndy Andrus, the Executive Director of the Bozeman CVB. "We were able to personally engage virtually every filmmaker that came to our reception. We let them know about the great filming incentive program we offer in Montana, as well as our local resources and beautiful locations," said MFO manager Sten Iversen, on his return from the marketing trip.
The team also spent half a day working from an outreach booth in the Filmmakers Lodge, distributing material about the benefits of filming in Montana. The Montana Film Office anticipates that these contacts will result in further filming projects in 2008 and beyond.
January 2008
200,000 Miles and 100,000 Photos Later – MFO’s Bill Kuney Retires
After 18 years of dedicated service to the Montana Film Office (MFO), Bill Kuney is retiring.
Bill's career at the film office began as a volunteer for Garry Wunderwald, one of Montana's former film commissioners, in the 1980s. Bill became friends with Garry during the filming of Heaven's Gate in 1979. At that time, the film office was a one-man operation, and Bill would help Garry out during busy times, working to bring productions to Montana. After Garry retired, the next film commissioner, Lonie Stimac, was able to hire Bill full-time in 1990.
Bill was influential in bringing millions of dollars to the state in the form of films such as, A River Runs Through It, The Ballad of Little Jo, Return to Lonesome Dove, Holy Matrimony, The Horse Whisperer, The Patriot, Don’t Come Knocking, and A Plumm Summer.
Bill traveled over 200,000 miles and shot over 100,000 photos all across Montana, scouting locations and escorting producers and directors to hidden gems of Montana locations. As part of Bill's job to research information and locations for film productions, he talked to a considerable number of folks in Montana's tourism industry, and many of you are familiar with Bill's friendly voice and good-natured personality.
Bill mentored everyone that passed through the film office during his years with us. He will be truly missed by those who stay behind as he heads off to well-deserved relaxation and retirement. Thanks Bill for 18 loyal years.
January 2008
Montana Movie Magic
The Montana Film Office (MFO) is pleased to announce an expanded brochure that focuses on the movies shot in Montana. "Montana Movie Magic" brochure is a result of the MFO observing the interest of audiences that wanted to "see" where their favorite movies or scenes were shot. It highlights the movies made throughout the six tourism regions, providing city, town and landscape details for the movie adventurer. The brochure also includes some fun facts about the 78 productions shot in Montana, as well as actors, directors and some location details.
The MFO developed the brochure as a tourism piece as part of the 2003-2007 Montana Tourism & Recreation Strategic Plan. According to Sten Iversen, MFO manager, "We hope to help increase tourism to those areas that set the stage for various Montana productions." The Big Sky Country has been seen on the big screen ranging from the 1897 Tourist Train Leaving Livingston to major studio films such as The Horse Whisperer. Other films include Forrest Gump, Broken Arrow and the 2007 film, A Plumm Summer starring Henry Winkler and William Baldwin.
The Montana Movie Magic brochure will help you and your visitors explore Montana from the big screen perspective. As you travel across Montana, envision wheat fields becoming North Pole ice fields, experience the historic 1893 Oklahoma land rush or cast a line into a nearby river. To order your copy of the brochure, call the Montana Promotion Division at 406-841-2870. For more information on Montana movies, go to the Filmed Here page on the Montana Film Office website.
