Polson theater rolls out red carpet for “Somewhere in Montana”

The Scene: A block of Main Street in a small Montana town cordoned off with sawhorses. Sunny with a slight breeze; women in swirling gowns; more men wearing cowboy boots than at a stockgrower’s convention. Movie stars, some with swanky updos, some with pearl-snapped shirts and starched Wranglers, and the obligatory photographers, one sprouting cameras and lenses.

An actual red carpet was unfurled in front of the Showboat Stadium 6 last Thursday, awaiting the premiere of “Somewhere in Montana,” written, directed and produced by Brandon Smith, who lives near Polson, and co-produced by Joe Borden, Julie Burke, Brad Keller and Eden Bryant.

The glitzy event was a cast and crew screening, which is different, Bryant said, than the actual premiere, but great fun. Lots of locals attended festivities too.

All but one of the cast members returned to the Mission Valley, where the film was shot, for the red-carpet affair. Among them was lead actor Graham McTavish (“The Hobbit,” “Aquaman” and “Rambo”), who played rancher John Alexander. While all the actors and crew received applause, Montana-born actress Tashia Gates even got some catcalls and whistles.

Smith said the idea for the film came to him when he was attending a 4-H function. He pictured a rancher – quiet, driven, living on the family place with his wife and kids, maybe second or third generation, hard working, Republican. Then he thought of the total opposite of the rancher – a film director, gay, from Hollywood, Democrat, and also driven. Then he had to decide on a conflict, a climax, and all the details that go into a story.

All six theaters at the Showboat screened “Somewhere in Montana” to an audience estimated at 500 people. After the audience was seated and before the film began, Smith thanked his wife, Judy, for encouraging him to persist despite major health issues and family losses over the past year.

He also asked the actors, crew, investors, and anyone who worked on the film to raise their hands.

“People have this impression that if you direct a movie, I have this idea; I am going to crush it in my hand and make a diamond and yell at people in German phrasing or something,” he said. “It’s not like that – what you really have to do is you have this idea, and you let it go. Give what you try to create to all these talented people, and they just keep putting their fingerprints on it, and every one of them who touches it, makes it better. Because I cannot do what they can do at our level.”

“All these people just did so good,” he said. “You know, if the movie sucks, blame me; it is my fault. If the movie is awesome, look at one of those people who raised their hand and thank them after the movie for the great job they did.”.

During the screening, area residents were trying to guess where the scenes were shot since everything was filmed in Montana except an LA cityscape.

“Is that the Presbyterian Church?” “Oh, that’s Nash’s place.” “What barbershop is that?” “Look, it’s the Perfect Shot.”

After the premiere there were shuttles to the post-viewing celebration at The Shoe and drop offs at the KwaTaqNuk Casino and Resort.

“Somewhere in Montana” was three years in production, a COVID baby. Bryant said she went to film school after high school and connected with Smith after seeing a film he made called “Sandbox” in 2019. They collaborated on a short called “Nexus of Evil” in 2020. Now the producers are in the process of selling “Somewhere in Montana,” she said, and pushing for a more widespread release.

Next up, the crew at Polson-based Nova Vento Entertainment is focusing on a TV show. For more about the film and the homegrown production company, visit novavento.com.