Montana Film Office and The University of Montana College of Visual and Performing Arts Offer Film Crew Training

Montana is a beautiful place to film, but productions looking to shoot in the Big Sky State look beyond breathtaking mountain vistas and charming Western towns when considering their shooting location needs. An experienced, educated local film crew base weighs heavily in their ultimate location decision. To further develop Montana’s local film crew talent, the Montana Film Office and The University of Montana College of Visual and Performing Arts have teamed up to offer P.A. Bootcamp, a two-day production assistance crash course for aspiring film crew members, on Sept. 22 and 23 at The University of Montana campus in Missoula.

"Continued development of our Montana crew base is a critical component to attracting film, television and commercial productions to the state," said Deny Staggs, Montana Film Office location coordinator. "After inquiring about our tax incentives, the number one question that producers ask is, ‘do we have an experienced crew?’ Without a continued effort to develop and train our resident crew workforce, Montana will fall behind other states in attracting productions, potentially losing millions in annual cash inflow and tax revenue."

Typically, the more local crew a production can utilize, the less the production needs to spend on expensive out-of-state crew members, lowering the overall project’s budget. When hired, local crew members also gain valuable experience, further enhancing the workforce for future productions.

The goal of P.A. Bootcamp, offered through the Los-Angeles based company Quixote, is to thoroughly prepare individuals for the job of production assistant, which is typically the entry position on a film, television or commercial set. Production assistance has been the first professional step for many highly successful producers, executives, directors and others currently working in the entertainment industry. For P.A. Bootcamp’s certified production assistants, the company also provides a production placement database and referrals.

"P.A. Bootcamp stood out to the Montana Film Office because they deliver a course that is hands-on and active," said Staggs. "Being on a crew is rigorous, exciting work, and we wanted to offer a training experience that would best match the actual position."

UM students, who seek entry into Montana’s crew base and who have a background in film production arts, will have the first opportunity to register for the course. Thirty students will be able to participate, but some observation seats may be available if space allows. The Montana Film Office and UM’s College of Visual and Performing Arts are sponsoring the full registration cost for participants.

The Montana Film Office is currently developing additional training seminars for Montana residents, in the areas of production carpentry, electrical, painting, and hair and make-up. Courses will be announced throughout the coming months. For more information on registering for P.A. Bootcamp, call 406-243-4540.

For more information on the Montana film industry, visit the Montana Film Office at http://www.montanafilm.com.