Film shot in Libby to premier Oct. 29
<p>ShadowHouse Films' Robert Newman, right, records as Darren Short draws a bead on the man exiting the north door of Hotel Libby as filming of the movie "Doom Service" continued Saturday night. (March 9, 2013)</p>
<p>Actor Mighet Matanane exits Hotel Libby into a "hail of gun fire" Saturday as Robert Newman films this scene from "Doom Service." (March 9, 2013)</p>
Rob Newman moved to Libby seven years ago to take a job with Montana Sky. He brought with him a passion for film-making which has resulted in a movie that will be screened at Libby’s Dome Theater Oct. 29. The movie, Doom Service, was filmed in Libby by an entirely local crew and features many area locals on the cast.
Newman’s original idea, coming out of the Seattle independent film scene, was to create a web series, with a number of 30-minute episodes. The first was filmed in February 2013, when Gail Burger volunteered her building, the historic Hotel Libby, as a setting.
The story is a fictional account of three bad guys on the run. After holding up convenience stores, they ditch their car and hole up in the abaondoned hotel while awaiting an opportunity to flee the area.
“And that’s when the chaos ensues,” Newman said, unwilling to divulge any further information about the movie’s plot. He did offer a note of caution, however. “The movie isn’t rated by the Motion Picture Association of America,” he said. “There is scariness, violence and a few swear words. Parental discretion is advised.”
The film stars Kalispell-based actors Mighet Matanane and Hannah Brinton, as well as Libby resident Stacy Walenter and Logan Anderson from Troy. Libby Police sergeant Darren Short also makes an appearance in the film.
The film was shot over six weekends with a total budget of $5,000, with all of the cast and crew time being donated to the production.
“We paid them in Kraft service,” Newman joked. “But we own our equipment, so we didn’t thave to rent that, and that’s the biggest expense after talent.”
Newman said the idea was to make the film the first of a series of short films made in and about the Libby area, but after two years he still hasn’t been able to make the second installment.
“Life just got in the way,” he said.
Newman wrote, directed and produced the short film, then a focus group tested it in conjunction with his studio in Seattle, Wash., ShadowHouse Films. The studio, he said, is comprised of about 10 independent artisan film-makers, mostly based in the Seattle area. Newman and the other members of ShadowHouse Films decided the film should be released to a theater audience instead of online, so the decision was made to release the film locally.
“We decided to show the film in the local theater to help raise public interest and help expand the arts community of this area,” Newman said.
The film will open at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Dome Theater in Libby.