‘Somewhere in Montana’ holds world premiere at Showboat
Taylor Davison
“Somewhere in Montana” cast members pose together on the red carpet.
Taylor Davison
Produer Eden Bryant, lead actor Graham McTavish, writer/director Brandon Smith, and actor Matt Drago meet up before the premiere outside Good Coffee Roasting Co., one of the filming locations.
Taylor Davison
Michelle Hurd
Taylor Davison
Brandon Smith
Taylor Davison
Graham McTavish and Matt Drago
Taylor Davison
Taylor Davison
Kate Orsini, Andrew Roa, and Graham McTavish snap a selfie on the red carpet.
Taylor Davison
Cast and crew meet up at Perfect Shot to celebrate before the film’s world premiere.
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POLSON — Main Street was closed in front of the Showboat Cinema in Polson on Thursday evening as a red carpet was laid out for the world premiere of the new film “Somewhere in Montana.”
A local production written and directed by Brandon Smith and produced by Eden Matson, (both from Polson), and Nova Vento Studios, the film is about a northwest Montana rancher at risk of losing his ranch and a film crew that comes to town in search of a location to shoot their movie. The rancher and filmmaker – two very different men – learn how to respect each other’s values without compromising their own.
“This is really interesting because this is something I wanted to do my entire life – not kidding, since I was maybe eight years old and I was making movies with Lego pieces and stuff like that,” Smith said. “So, for this to come together? It’s amazing. Completely nerve wracking – I’m a stress ball, they’re going to have to take me out of here on a stretcher – but I’m enjoying myself.”
The film’s cast and crew flew in to watch the premiere and walk the red carpet, including leads Graham McTavish of films such as “The Hobbit” and “Creed” and Michelle Hurd of “Law and Order” and “Star Trek: Piccard” fame. Co-stars Matt Drago, Kate Orsini, and Melanie Rae Wendt were also present.
“I think the script that Brandon wrote, the message that is contained within it, is about tolerance, mutual respect between two people – myself here and Matt – who have very, very different views. And we don’t convert each other to our view of life, we just listen to each other, respect each other, and go away with our own opinions,” McTavish commented. “It’s a film about community and culture, the importance of tradition and that’s what really drew me to it because I think that message is really important. You can have differences with people. You can have differences of opinion and world views, but the important thing is you actually give them the respect and listen. That’s why I took (this role).”
“We have a quick trigger on cancelling each other in today’s society, and I think that this film shows that if we look beneath the surface and look at the person in their totality, in their character and what they stand for, we would be surprised by people,” Drago said. He plays the film’s director Fabian, the protagonist to McTavish’s rancher character. “I’m primarily a city boy. We come to a town like this, we shoot on a ranch, and they welcome us as family right away. And these might not be people that vote the way I do. They might not see the world the way I do, but my God we need each other. And I think that’s what I’ve learned through this process, through this film, is that at the end of the day we’re more powerful together than we are alone. This film does a really great job of telling it in a realistic way, and a really wholesome way,” Fabian explained.
“The script is so beautiful, it really touches our hearts,” Hurd commented. “And what’s such a beautiful gift to me is I said yes to this film and I came here and I experienced this beautiful place that you guys have, this heaven on Earth – Polson, Montana, – and it has changed my life. Thank you so much for welcoming us.”
The premiere was open to the public and quickly sold out of tickets, but those still interested in seeing the film can find out more about when and where it’ll be showing by going online to: NovaVento.com
