Film council too big to be effective

By Gerard O'Brien, Editor of the Montana Standard - 03/28/2006

The Montana Film and Television Advisory council is too large to accomplish much, as reported by the Associated Press Monday.

The board, which was established by Gov. Brian Schweitzer to help the Montana Film Office bring film and TV productions to Montana, has 28 members spread across the state. And, it has an obvious vacancy on the board — someone from Butte or southwest Montana.

Coming off a fun-filled weekend during the premiere of “Don’t Come Knocking,” which debuted to a full house at the Mother Lode Theatre Friday night, it would be remiss for the council not to include someone from Butte.

Connie Kenney has been representing Butte for numerous years as a liaison to the state film office for the film industry. Kenney worked hard to help the crew from “Don’t Come Knocking” settle in Butte and enjoy its stay. She also shows off the city from time to time to prospective movie directors. For example, over the weekend Kenney was showing Butte and Anaconda to prospective documentary filmmakers.

“I’m what’s known as ‘the fixer’ when movie people need a tour of the town or have special need,” Kenney said. “The film office calls me once they are contacted by legitimate filmmakers and I show them around.” Kenney said she gets about 10 calls a year for site tours.

Bringing production companies to Butte has its benefits, economically, too. The crew of “Don’t Come Knocking” spent about $3.1 million in Butte while filming.

Butte’s been home to many films and documentaries that feature the gritty lifestyle of a mining town. For example, “The Bell Diamond” in the 1980s, by director Jon Jost, captured the industrial desolation of the Hill while telling the story of a struggling Vietnam vet.

“T-Rex Goes to Hollywood” was a statewide documentary that aired on the Discovery Channel. And, the black comedy, “Love Comes to the Executioner” was filmed in Butte, but has yet to be released.

Films can obviously be produced quickly and quietly here with little fear of intrusion from locals and outside interests if movie directors so desire. It was one of the things the producers of “Don’t Come Knocking” liked. And, the older homes and historic buildings can be used for a myriad of ready-made movie sets, too.

Butte and southwest Montana need a voice on the film council. The governor makes the appointments, so it would be best to get a list ready for his perusal.

Meanwhile, there’s a definite rift between the council and those who make a living supplying the film industry with equipment and other support, the AP reported. It might be best to rework the council to a manageable size of five to nine people; people who have a genuine interest in bringing films to Montana. And try to represent the entire state, not just the population centers.