Stu Brumbaugh Returns to Help Build Montana’s Film Industry

Stu Brumbaugh returns to Montana after 30 years in Hollywood to build a local film industry.

Brumbaugh, a Great Falls native and film supervisor, aims to create authentic Montana stories and career opportunities through his company Ladder 5 Films. This effort represents a structural shift away from the traditional necessity of leaving Montana for film careers.

Currently in pre-production, Brumbaugh’s project Running Eagle draws on two years of research, including oral histories gathered from Blackfeet Nation elders. His goal is to honor the Blackfeet Tribe with an authentic narrative. Beyond filmmaking, he plans to establish a film academy in Great Falls to cultivate local talent and reduce the 1200-mile exodus to Los Angeles that many aspiring Montanans face.

Brumbaugh’s efforts could reshape Montana’s cultural economy by fostering a sustainable film industry rooted in regional history and community. If successful, this initiative might encourage more Montanans to build creative careers at home rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. The state’s rugged independence and work ethic may provide fertile ground for such a localized industry to take hold, reflecting Montana’s unique identity in new cinematic forms.

Great Falls native returns to build Montana film industry
By Quentin Shores, KRTV NEWS Great Falls