2009 News Updates
December 7, 2009
MSU film students make elite eight in national funny video
competition
Online voters have until noon Wednesday to vote for three Montana State University film students who hope to be named winners of a contest to name the funniest college video in the country.
Nick Andrews of Helena, Logan Triplett of Kalispell and Shane Dowaliby of Whitefish, and their film, "Sunday Morning," have made the final round of the National College Funny Film Competition. The competition ends at noon Dec. 9 and can be found online at the National College Comedy Competition Web site. Select the green box on the right to register your vote. Participants must register to vote, but can vote once every five minutes.
"We're hoping people just sit there and vote all day," Triplett said.
Four winners will be selected from the eight semi-finalists. Semi-final winners receive a trip to the final screening at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival in Aspen, Colo., in June. Audience members and online viewers will vote for their favorite Funny Filmmaker to determine the winner, which may be shown on national television...
Click here for a PDF of this article by Carol Schmidt of MSU News.
December 7, 2009
Hamilton girl inspires character in major screenplay
When Los Angeles-based screenwriter Paul Castro visited the Bitterroot Valley this past summer, he found the inspiration for his new screenplay “Archery Lessons” in both the local people and Montana scenery.
As it turns out, an 11-year-old Hamilton girl, Olivia Green, provided the image of a spunky, intelligent and mischievous young girl that led to the creation of one of the main characters, Anya, in the script.
“Archery Lessons,” a drama about an 11-year old girl’s one-day friendship with a suicidal billionaire, is tentatively scheduled to be shot in Montana next June with the services of “Top Gun” producer Bill Badalato and a budget of $1.4 million.
“The story is an original screenplay and not actually based on Olivia. But she sparked the creation of a character,” Castro explained. “Olivia is a really precocious kid, she’s really interesting. I tried to create a more dramatic, more cinematic version of her for the script. As far as meeting her, I thought ‘wow,’ a little kid 11 years old can be this intelligent and energetic? Once, I was showing her and her mom around the UCLA campus, and I looked back and she was in a tree. Things like that inspired me.”
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Castro lives in L.A. where he is a professor of graduate and undergraduate screenwriting classes in the world-renowned UCLA School of Film, Television, and Digital Media. He is best known for writing the screenplay for the 2007 film “August Rush,” although he has 44 original scripts to his name. He was invited to give a screenwriting seminar at the Roxy theater in Hamilton last summer as well as at the University of Montana Media Arts department...
Click here for a PDF of this article by David Erickson of Ravalli Republic.
November 26, 2009
Serbian filmmakers document Belgrade
Associated Press | Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009 7:00 am
BELGRADE - A documentary film crew from Belgrade, Serbia, is spending Thanksgiving with their Montana counterparts as part of a profile of U.S. cities with the same name as the eastern European country's capital city. Debra Youngberg, director of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, said the film's director, interviewer, cameraman and sound technician arrived Tuesday and will stay through Thursday. The Montana city is the second stop on a 23-day tour that includes Belgrades in Minnesota, Nebraska and Maine, as well as Serbian communities in South Dakota and Chicago.
Director Miodrag Kolaric said he wants to focus on history and "to find out the reasons why four towns in the United States carry the name of our capital." The film is expected to air on Serbia's national television station on New Year's Eve, with individual segments of each town to be broadcast sometime after February.
Click here for a PDF of this article.
November 20, 2009
Stars Come Out for Ravalli County Students
Every month, notable Hollywood pro’s lecture at the MAPS Media Institute http://www.mediarts.org/ facility in Hamilton. The purpose of this guest professional program is to share real world industry lessons, perspective and experience and also provide a network of contacts that can benefit MAPS students in the future.
This November, Jeremy Sauter, came to MAPS. Jeremy is former senior vice president of creative advertising at Paramount Pictures and is currently exclusive to Paramount as a Missoula-based marketing consultant. Jeremy’s most recent movie campaigns include this summer’s hits “Monsters vs. Aliens”, “Star Trek”, “Transformers” and “GI Joe”. He attended The University of Montana from 1981 to 1985 studying Radio-TV.
In October, writer Jim Kouf was a speaker. Jim’s successful career as a screenwriter is highlighted by the films “Rush Hour”, “National Treasure” and “Con Air”. Among the many topics discussed, Jim emphasized the competitive reality of the movie business and encouraged student writers to also take advantage of opportunities in television; Jim’s television credits as an executive producer/writer include: “Ghost Whisperer” & “Angel”.
Says MAPS President, Peter Rosten: “During my tenure in Hollywood, I was fortunate to make many industry friends who love to come to Montana and meet and speak with our kids. One important message we want our students to ‘get’ is that if they work hard, they can compete in the entertainment or any industry. Future guests include: Producer, Jerry Molen (“Schindler’s List”, “Jurassic Park), Cameraman, Martin Schaer, (“Pirates of the Caribbean”), Professor Scott Douglas, (U of M Entertainment Business Management Program), Editor, Dennis Virkler, (“Batman”), Peter Schneider (Former President of Walt Disney Pictures), Producer/Production Manager, Helen Pollak, (“GI Joe”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) et al.
Click here for a PDF of this full story.
October 18, 2009
Lights, camera, education
Russell Spaan gets some individual instruction from instructor Mike Henderson, who points out a program feature in Adobe Photoshop during a Wednesday evening class in the MAPS after-school program.
In the afternoon, they come to learn the ropes. They travel from up and down the Bitterroot Valley for a chance to gain the skills required to make movies and the other media consumables that are the staple of an increasingly electronic culture. Some lessons are nuts and bolts: White balance. Pixel manipulation. Registering a Web site domain name. Some are more creative: The use of lighting and camera angles. Script writing. Design. It all adds up to the MAPS Media Institute's new after school program and, to be sure, this is not the audio-visual club your school's jocks and bullies used to target. The program is about much more than what MAPS founder Peter Rosten calls "technological widgets."
"We're not trying to teach great widgeteers," Rosten said. "We're tying to teach great communicators."
Still, the MAPS classrooms are outfitted with all the gear needed to shoot and edit feature and documentary films, as well as work on the layers of information required to produce intricate and interactive Web sites. With the help of a $575,000 grant from the 21st Century Community Learning Center aimed at providing non-school-hours educational outlets for high school aged kids, MAPS has its facilities well equipped.
Rosten said he purchased 14 iMac computers, a projection system for a Web design and film editing lab, while another 12 word-processing computers came through a grant from the state. There are cameras, studio lights and an administrative copy machine donated by Corvallis School District.
"It's all state of the art," Rosten said. "In the past we were always scrambling for gear. This year, with the support of the 21st Century grant and some other foundations, were able to start with state of the art equipment. And that will make a big difference in the experience of our students."
Click here for a PDF of this full story by Sepp Jannotta of Ravalli Republic.
September 24, 2009
Manhattan Short Film Festival - Helena YOU be the Judge!!
10 Short Films Screening 532 times in 173 cities Spanning 5 Continents in 1 Week Join Our Global
Audience to Determine the Winner at the 12th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival
New York, NY -- Sept. 10, 2009 – Filmgoers in Helena will unite with audiences in 172 additional cities across five continents to view and judge the next generation of filmmakers when the 12th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Myrna Loy Center on Friday 9/25 shows at 7 & 9pm, Sat 9/26 shows at 4, 7 & 9pm and Sun 9/27 shows at 2, 4 & 7pm
This year the festival received 428 entries from 36 countries around the world from which 10 short films – all 14 minutes and under in length – were selected. Countries represented this year include the USA, Australia, Mozambique, UK, Israel, Spain, France, Sweden and Italy in what festival organizers describe as a “Cinematic Olympiad.”
These films will not only entertain a global audience but be judged by them as well. Filmgoers will be handed a voting card upon entry and asked to vote for the one film they feel should win. Votes are tallied at each cinema and forwarded to the festival’s headquarters in NYC where the winner will be announced on Tuesday, Sept 29th at 9:15 pm.
Click here for the full post.
August 27, 2009
Highly Acclaimed Documentary Film "Butte, America" To Screen in Missoula
The highly acclaimed documentary film "Butte, America" will screen at Missoula’s Wilma Theater on September 11, 2009 Sponsored by MontanaPBS. "Butte, America," a new film by Rattlesnake Productions and Emmy-nominated Montana filmmaker Pamela Roberts, will screen in Missoula on Friday, September 11th at the Wilma Theater at 7 pm. After opening remarks by Aaron Pruitt of MontanaPBS, former congressman Pat Williams will introduce filmmaker Pam Roberts and writer Edwin Dobb. A short Q & A will follow after the film. A “meet and greet” reception including wine and light appetizers will follow at the Red Bird (111 N. Higgins in the lobby of the historic Florence Hotel).
"Butte, America," narrated by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, tells the poignant tale of two cities—one above ground, another below—and the triumphs and tragedies that joined them together over the last 120 years. Told through the lives of five-generation Butte mining families, "Butte, America" is a tribute to working class men and women—those who had the most to lose and the least to gain from the powerful copper industry.
After ten years in the making, "Butte, America" has repeatedly sold out to capacity crowds during the spring film tour 2009! The Missoula show at the Wilma Theater on September 11th will kick off the fall tour. After a highly competitive process, "Butte, America" was selected for national prime time television to be broadcast on the prestigious PBS documentary series Independent Lens on October 20, 2009.
Tickets: $10 for the film only $15 for the film and reception at the Red Bird Advance tickets are available through GrizTix and Rockin Rudy’s. To avoid convenience fees, go to the GrizTix office at the Adams Center or Rockin Rudy’s at 237 Blaine in Missoula (406.542.0077). Otherwise, purchase through GrizTix online at www.griztix.com or by calling 406.243.4051/888.666.8262. Tickets will also be sold (as available) at the Wilma Theater on the day of the show (406.728.2521). For more general information, screenings and preview of trailer go to: butteamericafilm.org.
August 26, 2009
Get a Sneak Peak of Ken Burns' Documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"
Get a sneak peek of Ken Burns' upcoming documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," at various locations across Montana this summer. This documentary was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska — "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background — rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy. It is a story full of struggle and conflict, high ideals and crass opportunism, stirring adventure and enduring inspiration - set against the most breathtaking backdrops imaginable.
Screening events will take place in Whitefish on August 29th at the O'Shaughnessy Center at 5pm; in Missoula on August 30th at the University Theater on the campus of the University of Montana at 5pm; and in Bozeman on September 2nd at the Emerson Center at 7pm. The screenings in Whitefish and Missoula will also include a visit from Dayton Duncan -- co-producer and long-time colleague of Ken Burns. The events are sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association, The Yellowstone Park Foundation, The Glacier National Park Fund and MontanaPBS. PBS will air this 12-hour, six-part series in the fall of 2009. For more information, please call us at 866-832-0829 or visit montanapbs.org. Watch a preview of "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" here.
August 24, 2009
Rocky Mountain Filming Peaks
Montana - One simply needs to take a drive along the precipitous cliffs of Glacier National Park to get an immediate sense of the grandeur of Montana. Alpine meadows straight from Aslan's hunting grounds surround an environment flush with crystal blue lakes and steep white peaks. Raging rivers have catered to the careers of Meryl Streep and along desolate roads have been blessed by Forest Gump's feet.
The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act adds to this natural wealth of locations providing a 14 percent refundable tax credit based on hired Montana labor with no cap and no minimum spend. With no sales tax, nor bed tax with stays longer than 30 days, the Film Commission has recently announced Studio 406, a bundling of all the incentives.
"Montana is offering filmmakers something other states don't, a solid cash incentive back up with an entire list of extra incentives that save the production significant money and make the entire shoot enjoyable," says Montana Film Office Manager, Sten Iversen.
Also included is a nine-percent refundable tax credit for all production-related expenditures made with Montana businesses, production service providers, and subcontractors...
Click here for the full article from the August 2009 edition of P3 Update Magazine.
August 21, 2009
Bourdain set to dish about Montana
Montanans can tune in Monday to the Travel Channel to see what cook and television personality Anthony Bourdain dishes up about the state. Bourdain, host of "No Reservations," spent a week with his film crew in the Livingston area in May. The show's home page contains a photo of Bourdain standing by a neon sign on the Murray Hotel in Livingston. The episode's description says the show contains "manly conversation about meats, old-time tough guys like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, and right vs. wrong." Montana is described as "an outdoorsman's paradise."
The site includes a short video of Bourdain trail riding at the ranch of Remi and Susan Metcalf, east of Big Timber, and of him fly fishing. A slide show and behind-the-scenes photos portray Livingston's main drag and the mountains surrounding it. Bourdain is shown with author and poet Jim Harrison and artist Russell Chatham. The video describes Bourdain riding into "a wild week in Montana" where the landscapes are like works of art. Bourdain's comment after a trail ride: "I've got saddle sores the size of baby fists."
Highlights include a meal of buffalo, elk and chicken galantine at the Second Street Bistro in Livingston, drinks at the Emigrant Tavern, fried walleye from The Fry House in front of the Yellowstone Gateway Mall and traditional pasties at Pinky's, also in Livingston. Brian Menges is the chef and owner of the Second Street Bistro. He said Bourdain filmed in the Livingston area in May. At the bistro, Bourdain was served a six-course tasting menu cooked almost entirely with food produced within 50 miles of town. Menges said Bourdain is no different on a daily basis than he is on the show, meaning he was generally laid-back and friendly but often sharp-tongued...
Menges said the show is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Monday and that the bistro will hold a free pig roast that night, followed by a viewing of the show and then music from a live band. The episode will also be shown Monday nationwide on The Travel Channel...In the series, he explores culinary cultures around the world while at that same time diving into local traditions and customs.
Click here for a PDF of the full post. Visit www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain for more information about the show.
August 6, 2009
Producers of wildlife show hosted by Jack Hanna shoot in Montana
OVANDO (AP) — The producers of the weekly syndicated television show “Into the Wild” are shooting people and places in Montana for a new batch of upcoming shows. The program is hosted by famous wildlife expert Jack Hanna and his wife, Suzi Hanna. The Hanna’s stopped Wednesday at an animal sanctuary in Ovando owned by Steve Smith and Alayne Marker. The couple opened the sanctuary in 2000 for blind, deaf and maimed animals. The 12-day itinerary also includes filming at the National Bison Range in Moiese, a horse refuge ranch near Polson and a segment on grizzly relocation programs in Flathead. The summer shooting tour will help produce seven, 30-minute segments for “Into the Wild.” Shows featuring Montana will begin airing in October.
Click here for a PDF of this story from the Great Falls Tribune.
August 5, 2009
Montana Calls Out for Movie Work with 'Studio 406'
"Studio 406" was unveiled at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June, and announced back home by the Montana Department of Commerce as a "new film incentive package" designed to lure more Hollywood dollars to the state.
And what's new about "Studio 406"?
The name, it turns out. All the incentives were already in place.
"Studio 406 is merely Montana trying to stay competitive in the very competitive area of on-location shooting," says Sten Iversen, manager of the Montana Film Office. "There are more than 300 offices like mine vying for filmmakers. With Studio 406 we're taking all Montana's assets - the whole laundry list - and packaging them so they're easy to market and sell."
The "Studio 406" campaign, designed by Partners Creative in Missoula, highlights everything from the big stuff (Montana's refundable tax credits on labor and some expenses) to the seemingly mundane (free use of office furniture) and most everything you can think of in between (almost 16 hours of daylight to shoot in during the summer). The name, of course, comes from Montana's area code.
"The concept is to be more innovative than our neighbors," Iversen says.
The state was a favorite of filmmakers in the 1980s and 1990s, most notably Robert Redford, who made "A River Runs Through It" here in 1991 and returned for "The Horse Whisperer" in 1997. The biggest year was 1993, when eight feature films were wholly or partially shot in Montana, including "The River Wild" and "Beethoven's 2nd." But by 1998 and 1999 Montana was the location for a single low-budget film each year. By 2000, not a single movie was filmed here.
Other states, such as New Mexico and Louisiana, were aggressively pursuing Hollywood's business by offering tax incentives that made it cheaper to film there. So, too, were other countries. The Montana-set "Legends of the Fall" was filmed just north of the border in Alberta and British Columbia, taking millions of dollars of economic impact with it. When the state legislature passed the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act in 2005, Montana was just the 10th state to enact tax incentives for filmmakers. Production in the state jumped 34 percent the next year. Today, Iversen says, 43 states offer filmmakers tax incentives. The most recent to pass them, ironically, was California, home to the movie business.
"They were losing so much business to other states they had to pass incentives," Iversen says. "Most other states have seen the wisdom in doing this."
It's been a while since the bulk of a big-budget movie was filmed in Montana - "The Horse Whisper" was probably the last one - but others do stop in. The recently released "My Sister's Keeper," starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin, spent a week filming scenes near the east side of Glacier National Park last year, and dropped nearly $200,000 in the area in just a few days. Much of it was payroll for Montana-based crew members, and there was plenty spent on motel rooms, food and catering services as well, Iversen says.
With only a handful of states, such as Kansas and North Dakota, not offering any tax incentives, the competition is again fierce for Hollywood's business. Michigan, one of the most economically depressed states in the nation, has ramped up its tax incentives for Hollywood big time. The 40 percent it returns on direct production expenses makes the 9 percent of "qualifying local spend" that Montana offers seem rather pale in comparison.
But there's a bigger picture, and Iversen says that's what Montana seeks to capitalize on with the "Studio 406" campaign...
Click here for a PDF of this full story by Vince Devlin of Western Montana In Business Monthly. Photo above is of film crew members working with actors on the set of "Call of the Wild," filming in Lincoln last year (Photo by Linda Thompson/Missoulian)
August 3, 2009
MAPS Secures Five Years of Funding
The new school year is still a ways off, but pieces to the funding puzzle are falling into place for the MAPS Media Institute. MAPS, a program that plans to offer Ravalli County high school students and others a crack at earning professional media arts skills, has received a $575,000 grant to be spread over the next five years. With funding questions hanging over the program’s projected fall kick start, MAPS founder and president Peter Rosten said he is happy some of the pressure is off.
“This is a big deal - it guarantees that we open our doors this fall,” Rosten said of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant focused on providing non-school-hours educational outlets for high school aged kids. “We’re very grateful. In the past, I’d wake up every morning thinking, ‘How the hell are we going to pay for all this.’ Now I wake up thinking that every other morning.”
With the after-school program in good shape, Rosten said he remains optimistic about the prospects for funding the during-school-hours portion of the program.
Click here for a PDF of this full story by Sepp Jannotta of Ravalli Republic.
June 29, 2009
Montana Film Office Helps Sponsor LAFF, Unveils New Incentive Package
Sten Iversen, manager of the Montana Film Office, came to the Los Angeles Film Festival this year to launch his new Studio 406 incentive package. A veteran of the festival dating back to its first year, Iversen sees it as the perfect place to sell independent filmmakers on the benefits of filming in Montana.
Just moments after landing at LAX, his beliefs were validated as he spent nearly two hours in traffic trying to get to his hotel. Crews filming in Montana would face no such problems since his incentive package offers free traffic control signage. Traditionally, when production needs to close a street or highway they must rent the signage from a traffic control company.
“In Montana that would take less than 10 minutes,” Iversen said of the 10-mile drive. “Time is money.”
While free traffic signage may not entice the major studios, Iversen has built a package of sustainable incentives for smaller budget projects. It offers standard perks, like tax credits, and more specialized benefits, such as free office furniture and no sales tax.
“For a studio, a $500,000 office space is like ‘so what?’,” Iversen said. “For a $5 million dollar film, that’s great.”
The package’s tax credits are not as high as those offered by other states, but Iversen suspects that given the current economic climate, they are more realistic in the long-term.
“I think we’ll see states with huge incentives have to cut programs,” Iversen said. “Other states are not in good shape financially. We’re in a good state. We are in the black.”
Iversen wrote the first incentive package in 2005 after watching more and more studios choose Canada for film locations. He then revised it two years later, giving bigger tax credits, and this year saw it extended until 2015.
The recent extension prompted Iversen to search for a launching point and he settled on a festival he had been coming to for years. “Sundance is great but I thought it would be better to launch it in is the heart of the business,” he said.
In exchange for a booth and advertising at the festival, the Montana Film Office financed a film financing conference, a major reception and some of the festival. “It was a nice way of putting out 80,000 images of Montana,” Iversen said.
To read the full article by Lucas Shaw of The Wrap click here.
June 25, 2009
Documentary looks at life of breaks homesteaders
Settlers of the rugged Upper Missouri River Breaks and surviving descendants are featured in a new Bureau of Land Management-sponsored history documentary airing for the first time Thursday on Montana PBS.
"For any history buff, it's good," said Dana Darlington, 44, a Big Sandy-area farmer and rancher who appears with his son, Dylan. "The scenery is spectacular."
"Pride and Perseverance" is an apt title for the 30-minute documentary, Darlington said.
Homesteaders were "coaxed" to the area, only to discover later that the land was less hospitable than indicated in the promotions, he said.
The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument was designated in 2001. Families such as the Darlingtons recognized the unique beauty of the Breaks decades earlier, homesteading with young families in the late 1800s, said Vicki Marquis of the Missouri River Conservation Districts Council, which helped to arrange interviews.
"One of the positive projects that have come out of the monument designation is a greater appreciation for the history of the area," she said. The documentary is part of a larger BLM effort to highlight the area's homesteading history, said Zane Fulbright, a BLM archaeologist in Lewistown.
As part of the $40,000 project, five interpretive signs also are being erected describing homestead sites, domestic life, agricultural endeavors, early use of the rivers and roads and establishment of communities, Fulbright said.
To read the full article by Karl Puckett of the Great Falls Tribune click here.
June 12, 2009
Class C Wins Regional Emmy
BOZEMAN - "Class C: The Only Game in Town," a film that tells the story of life in vanishing small towns in Montana through the lens of five girls basketball teams, won two regional Emmy's at ceremonies held recently in Seattle.
The 90-minute film, co-produced by Class C Productions and Montana PBS, won an Emmy for best editing for filmmakers Shasta Grenier and Justin Lubke of Bozeman. Kyle Sorenson, promotions producer at KUSM/ Montana PBS, won a regional Emmy for best single spot promotions for the 60-second trailer he made to promote the film on Montana PBS. Both awards were given by the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In all, "Class C" was nominated for six NATAS regional Emmy's, the most of any program in the contest.
The regional Emmy's are the most recent of several awards won by the film, which was a labor of love for Grenier and Lubke, as well as producer Wally Kurth, a Billings native who has enjoyed a successful acting career in television. Last year it won best film in its category at the Jackson Documentary Film Festival. It was also the winner of the Big Sky Award at the Big Sky Film Festival.
To read the full article by the Billings Gazette MSU News Service click here.
June 11, 2009
Dozens of area students attend red-carpet premiere
Colter Whelen is only 12 years old, but the C.R. Anderson Middle School student is a big fan of the 1985 film “Back to the Future.”
So imagine his surprise when he found out Tuesday that he was chosen to attend Wednesday’s red-carpet premiere of “Call of the Wild 3D” and meet its star, Christopher Lloyd — famous for his role as Doc Brown in “Back to the Future.”
“I know a lot of older classical movies,” Colter, who was there with his parents, Paul and Laloni, said when asked how he became a fan of a film that was popular more than a decade before he was born.
Colter even brought his copy of the “Back to the Future” soundtrack for Lloyd to sign. Colter was one of dozens of starstruck students from Helena, Lincoln and Philipsburg schools nominated by their teachers to attend the premiere event at the Great Northern Carousel and the Cinemark theaters Wednesday.
Wednesday’s event was by invitation only, but the film opens to the general public in Helena today. The film doesn’t open nationally until Friday.
“Call of the Wild” was filmed on location last winter in Lincoln, Philipsburg and Helena. The premiere was held here as a way to thank the three towns for their hospitality during filming.
To read the full article by Joe Menden of the Independent Record click here.
June 11, 2009
Montana hospitality at core of "Call of the Wild 3D"
Montana opened its heart and its land to filmmaker Richard Gabai. In return Gabai brought his cameras to the Treasure State to film “Call of the Wild 3D.” And thanks to this productive partnership, Helena staged its first world premiere on Wednesday night as “Call of the Wild 3D” played to a crowd of grade school kids and selected guests who contributed to making the movie.
“Everyone in Montana was thrilled and helpful,” Gabai said. “Even the governor said if we needed anything just to ask. I had to convince people they might get sick of us after awhile, but they were wonderful. In L.A. when you block a street, people get annoyed. Here they were just thrilled.”
The journey to Wednesday’s screening began 34 years ago when an 11-year-old Richard Gabai read Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” Fast-forward 30 years, and producer-director Gabai and screenwriter Leland Douglas drafted a script inspired by the London book. Since the story involved sled-dog racing, Montana, home of Race to the Sky, popped onto Gabai’s radar. Starting in late 2006, Gabai quickly put the pieces in place to turn Montana into his soundstage.
The Cains and the Fishers of Lincoln offered their help, their homes, their snowmobiles and their sled dogs to make it happen. Sten Iversen, manager of the Montana film office in the Department of Commerce, offered to help in all ways possible. Gov. Brian Schweitzer personally promised his support.
Cinemark’s national office, headed by president Tim Warner, a native of Butte, agreed to install digital 3D equipment at their Helena theater for the world premiere.
Click here for a PDF of the full story by Brent Northup of the Independent Record.
June 11, 2009
"Call of the Wild 3D" a touching tribute to Jack London Classic and Montana's beauty
Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” is a great novel about the exciting and harrowing adventures of a dog named Buck. In London’s spare fashion, the book begins quickly and ominously:
“Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego,” wrote London to start the 1903 tale which was first serialized in the Saturday Evening Post (earning him $750).
That classic novel is the inspiration for director Richard Gabai’s new film, “Call of the Wild 3D,” which uses London’s tale as a backdrop for a modern, Montana-based adventure about a “wolfish” dog. (Gabai himself will be at Helena’s Cinemark theater today to greet moviegoers and introduce the film.) The creature in the new story is, of course, named Buck — and he shows up wounded one night at a cabin near Lincoln, Mont. In the cabin lives an old widower named Bill, whose granddaughter Ryann has come from Boston for a visit. Ryan discovers the injured animal and coaxes her granddad into keeping it around and nursing it back to health.
And so granddad and granddaughter begin an adventure — caring for the wolf dog by day, and cuddling up together to read the original “Call of the Wild” at night. To the film’s credit long passages of the original “Call of the Wild” are read aloud, verbatim from London’s text. I went back to check the quotes against the original text and they are very faithful, often precisely accurate.
The moment this former eighth-grade English teacher heard London’s original being treated with such respect, my admiration for the movie increased exponentially. Most films reduce family classics to clichés and/or distort them along the way. This production should delight librarians who always hope films inspired by great novels will inspire kids to read the classics...
Click here for a PDF of the full story.
June 7, 2009
Helena Rolling Out the Red Carpet
The star and director of “Call of the Wild 3D,” much of which was filmed in Lincoln last year, are returning to town for the film’s premiere this week. Christopher Lloyd, who played the role of Bill Hale in the movie, and director Richard Gabai will be among those in Helena for the premiere. The “red-carpet” event, which includes an invitation-only screening of the movie, will be Wednesday afternoon at Helena’s Cinemark 8 theaters.
Cinemark will open the film to general Helena audiences on Thursday. The movie opens to audiences nationwide on Friday. The premiere event will take place at the Great Northern Town Center in Helena. It kicks off with an event for selected children and their families at the Great Northern Carousel and Painted Pony Ice Cream Shop. The stars, director and producer of the film will attend along with special guests Anthony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce, Tom O’Mally, president of Vivendi Entertainment, and Greg Herman, region leader of Cinemark Theatres.
Lloyd is best known for his roles as the Rev. Jim Ignatowski in the long-running television show “Taxi” and as Emmett “Doc” Brown in the popular motion picture franchise “Back to the Future.” Among Gabai’s other films is “American Black Beauty,” a 2005 movie starring Dean Stockwell.
According to Steven Flynn, of Vivendi Entertainment, several dozen elementary-school children from schools in Helena, Lincoln and Phillipsburg are among those invited to the Wednesday screening. Flynn said holding the premiere in Helena is a way for the filmmakers to thank Helena, Lincoln and Phillipsburg for their hospitality during the shooting of the film.
Click here for a PDF of the full story.
June 4, 2009
Movie Premiere Slated for Helena
by the Associated Press
The Montana Department of Commerce says a movie titled “Call of the Wild 3D,” starring Christopher Lloyd, will premiere in Helena. The movie was filmed two years ago in Helena, Lincoln, and Philipsburg. It is a retelling of Jack London’s classic novel, “Call of the Wild.”
Lloyd will be on hand for the invitation-only June 10 opening. The film will open statewide June 12. The Cinemark theater in Helena said it bought the latest 3-D equipment to feature the film. The movie directed by Richard Gabai centers on a young Montana girl who attracts the attention of an evil stranger after she rescues an injured wolf.
Click here for a PDF of the full story.
May 19, 2009
MAPS Looking to Fill Program for Fall
With summer approaching and kids everywhere suffering spring-itis, believe it or not returning high school students are beginning to plan out their academic pursuits for the next school year. And the folks at the MAPS Media Institute are hoping more than just a few Ravalli County students will be signing on to learn the finer points of commercial, non-fiction and fiction visual arts. Peter Rosten, founder Media Arts in Public Schools (MAPS), said, after the sign-up/selection process is over, he’s betting on close to a full house, which would be roughly 70 students doing five 90-minute classes each fortnight. That number will likely more than double once the after-school program’s students are added into the mix.
“We figured out of five school districts in Ravalli County we ought to be able to get to 150 [students],” Rosten said. “And we’re looking forward to seeing them in the fall.” MAPS, which was born in 2004 with the mission “to educate, create jobs and change lives for Montana youth,” has been on a two-year hiatus during which Rosten pursued other interests.
Now, he is ready to take it up a notch, going from working with two school districts to five. The model will remain the same - teach students how to do professional work, and get them paid for it. In 2006 it won a contract with the Montana Student Assistance Foundation, and MAPS students produced a video “Hungry For Knowledge, Go To College,” which was broadcast statewide. MAPS was paid $12,500 for that work.
“It turns out that getting paid is highly stimulating to high school students,” Rosten said.
But, in addition to professional skills and the potential for pay, an academic benefit is the other side of the MAPS coin, Rosten said. The students who participate in the program - Rosten will lead an interview process for entrance into MAPS - should see some boost in their language skills. Also, Rosten pointed out that, out of 200 students who have completed MAPS, only one failed to finish high school. Continued participation in the program requires students meet academic and disciplinary benchmarks, like those required of student athletes, Rosten said. In any case, the instructors at MAPS will be there to help.
Click here for a PDF of this full story by Sepp Jannotta of Ravalli Republic.
April 27, 2009
Grizzly de Mayo Film/Music Festival at The Emerson Tuesday May 5th!
On Tuesday May 5th, The Emerson Cultural Center will host a one-of-a-kind event for the citizens of Southwest Montana. ‘Grizzly de Mayo’ features a live appearance by Brutus the Bear, the theatrical premier of the National Geographic special ‘Expedition Grizzly’, and a concert by one of the best live acts in the country, Cloud Cult.
The event will start off at 5 pm in the parking lot with food and drink, live local music by Archers Mob and LIVE appearance by Brutus the Bear! This part of the night is free to all and families are encouraged to attend. At 7 pm, things shift into the main theatre for the theatrical premier of ‘Expedition Grizzly’. The film presents the unique story of one man who has dedicated himself to wildlife preservation and understanding of grizzly bears — living among them in extreme conditions, observing their behaviors, and even raising Brutus the Bear from birth. The film premiers on the National Geographic Channel on May 3rd, but this special ‘Grizzly de Mayo’ theatrical premier will feature additional never-before-seen footage.
Finally, the night wraps up with a show by Cloud Cult. Cloud Cult front man, Craig Minowa, composed the original score for ‘Expedition Grizzly’ and he’s bringing his whole band to Bozeman for this special event. In 2008, Minowa’s band was listed as a notable “breaking band” in Rolling Stone, and Spin featured them as up-and-coming artists. They’re also known for their dedication to sustainability and environmentalism. Minowa’s modern and eclectic style that flows effortlessly from rock, to electronic and even orchestral is sure to have something for everyone.
Tickets for this special night of film and music are available at Cactus Records in downtown Bozeman or Borders on N. 19th for $20 or at the door for $25. Don’t wait around as Cloud Cult alone has built a reputation for one of the best live shows to ever hit Bozeman. Tickets will go fast and all proceeds will be donated to grizzly bear education and conservation. This amazing event is brought to you by Grizzly Creek Films and Compound Productions.
To read the full National Geographic press release on this story click here.
April 14, 2009
Class C documentary in running for regional Emmy
The documentary following five Class C Montana girls' basketball teams has been nominated for five regional Emmy Awards.
"Class C: The Only Game in Town" touches on issues of shrinking school population, racial conflicts and teen pregnancy while it follows the teams to the state championship. More than 170 hours of footage were shot in 14 small Montana towns, eventually winnowed to 89 minutes and five teams — Chester, Rocky Boy, Scobey, Twin Bridges and state champs, Reed Point-Rapelji.
Chester composer Philip Aaberg earned his second Emmy nomination for arranging the music for the documentary. Along with a nomination for best cultural/historical documentary, "Class C" also earned nods for director Shasta Grenier, photographer Justin Lubke and editing.
The documentary is competing against six others. The Northwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences includes television professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.
Click here for a PDF of this full story by Kim Skornogoski.
April 13, 2009
Life of Cowboys Subject of TV Show
The series, tentatively titled "American Cowboy," will be filming in multiple locations over the next seven months, according to the Montana Film Office in Helena.
One of the ranchers featured in the series is from northcentral Montana, but officials declined to identify the rancher or location. Eight episodes are planned, and the series will air on network television next year. A network has been chosen, but officials again declined to identify it.
This is Montana's first full series on national television and is set to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact to multiple locations in the state, the film office said.
April 8, 2009
TV series to focus on MT ranchers
The Montana Film Office has landed a new television series, the state's first full series on national television.The documentary reality series, tentatively titled "American Cowboy," focuses on the lives of Montana ranchers and will be filming in multiple locations over the next seven months, according to the Montana Film Office Web site. Eight episodes are planned and the series will air on network television next year.
The series is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact to multiple locations in the state. The production was certified for the Big Sky on the Big Screen act in February and cameras started rolling in March. The Montana Film Office was first contacted by producers in September 2007. The film office worked over the last year and a half to find ranches and locations to represent Montana.
January 6, 2009
Tickets on sale for "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"
On Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m. noted filmmaker Ken Burns and historian Dayton Duncan will present "Montana's Sneak Preview of The National Parks: America's Best Idea" at the Emerson Cultural Center Auditorium in Bozeman. The Emerson Cultural Center is located at 111 South Grand Avenue.
Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan will discuss their upcoming 6-part documentary on the national parks, including the ideas and individuals that created the park system. Video clips from the film - which includes images from the Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives collection - will be shown as a preview of the 12 hour series scheduled to air on Montana PBS in the fall of 2009. Ken Burns and historian and co-producer Dayton Duncan will answer questions from the audience.
A book and video signing will follow the presentation. Tickets are $15.00 each. Proceeds from the event will benefit the preservation of and access to the Society's National Park collections. Click here to purchase your tickets online today!
January 3, 2009
Hollywood brings money, stars, and acclaim to Montana
Hollywood probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about big business in Montana. But, the film industry has been moving in and helping the state's economy. It's probably safe to say most Montanans are at least familiar with the classic story of a Montana family in Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It;" it was based on a short story by Montana writer Norman Maclean. The early 1990's classic is not only about Big Sky Country, it was also filmed here. Other major Hollywood movies shot wholly or partially in Montana include "Northfork," which was shot near Augusta and featured Darryl Hannah and Nick Nolte; "Holy Matrimony," which featured a look at life on a Hutterite colony and starred Kirstie Alley; Clint Eastwood's 70s hit "Thunderbolt And Lightfoot;" and "Broken Arrow," featuring John Travolta.
"Throughout the growth of Hollywood and over the years, Hollywood has been very attracted to Montana," said Sten Iversen, the Montana Film Office Manager. The attraction has a lot to do with Montana's scenery and long summer daylight hours, but that's not all bringing in movie makers according to Iversen.
"The friendly people, and the fact that people are interested in the film industry and their not, they're happy to see Hollywood coming as opposed to wanting to shut their doors."
The 2005 "Big Sky on the Big Screen Act" is another reason some big blockbusters may choose to film in Montana. The act offers tax incentives on hired labor and services like hotels and restaurants.
"You're really looking at a small manufacturing company coming to a small town, or a large town in Montana, setting up a manufacturing plant, hiring people, building a product, and leaving without having any impact on your infrastructure," explained Iversen.
The production of feature films brings in revenue anywhere from $100,000 a month to $100,000 a day. It can also provide over a hundred jobs, many of which go to local Montanans. Since 2005, the movie business has brought in $38 million in revenue and the state's film office works every day to attract new customers. Over 100 feature films have been made in Montana, seven of which were shot in Big Sky Country in just the last year.
Click here for a PDF of this story by Kay Rossi.
January 2, 2009
Film about Butte to Premiere on Jan. 17
A new film about Butte premieres Jan. 17 at the Mother Lode Theatre in Uptown Butte. "Butte, America," produced by Emmy-nominated director-producer Pamela Roberts and Butte writer Edwin Dobb, will follow its local premiere with screenings around Montana, according to an article in "State of the Arts." The project will also be broadcast nationally on PBS and on Montana public television next fall.
Narrated by Dublin-born actor Gabriel Byrne, the film tells the tale of the Mining City and the collision of industry and the frontier that occurred here in the early 1900s. Roberts and photography director Erik Daarstad interviewed scholars, miners and their families. The film also includes period recreations, city scenes and landscapes in and around the area.
"What drew me to Butte's story most powerfully are the people of Butte," said Roberts, "and the town's unique and indomitable character as a community." Co-writer and co- producer Edwin Dobb contributed and collaborated on the project since its inception in 2000. Roberts is the head of Rattlesnake Productions Inc., a Montana non-profit production company. She earned an Emmy nomination for production "Ishi, the Last Yahi," a one-hour National Endowment for the Humanities documentary that was broadcast on American Experience.
For tickets to the premiere, which starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, call 491-1343.
Click here for this story by The Montana Standard.
January 1, 2009
Taking Chance Premieres at Sundance's US Dramatic Competition
Taking Chance, a film partially shot in Montana, will debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Taking Chance was one of the 16 films selected out of 1,026 submissions for the festival's US Dramatic Competition.
Taking Chance tells the true story of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, who accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming. The film shot in Bozeman, Ennis, and Virginia City in the summer of 2007. (Director: Ross Katz; Screenwriters: Lt Col Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.) and Ross Katz; Cast: Kevin Bacon). Click here for the full press release.
