Missoula’s Film Scene Is Evolving With Story House’s Bold Vision

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - KGVO welcomed Sean Patrick Higgins, CEO and Founder of Story House, along with James Brown III, President and Chief Creative Officer on Wednesday’s Talk Back show to talk about the highly anticipated opening of the 47 acre and 400,000 square foot facility in the former Roseburg Forest Products building.

Higgins said Story House is in the development stage at this point.

The Founders of Story House say the Facility is in the Development Stage Right Now

“We're really at the starting blocks,” began Higgins. “We have a redevelopment plan that's about 12 to 18 months. It's subject to a handful of different things. We are recruiting anchor tenants to the site right now. I won't have any spoiler alerts, because that will be fun. Announcements coming forward and while we do that, we're heading into production on our first feature film that will be shot in Missoula, called ‘St George’.

Their First Production Entitled 'St. George' is Currently Underway

Brown provided a sneak peek at the upcoming production entitled ‘St. George’.

“With St George, we're in pre production now,” said Brown. “We're doing some scouting. In the next two weeks, we’ll be looking at locations. We'll be shooting some stuff on our property at Story House Montana, working with our director and the other producing unit, and it's exciting. It's exciting that we're going to have boots on the ground. We're going to be hiring locals. We're going to be hiring film crew and shooting at the end of September and all throughout October.”

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The Story House Facility Investment is in the Millions of Dollars

Higgins said the Story House facility will be in the millions of dollars, and received state support, as well.

“It a heavy eight figure investment that we worked a long time on the diligence of making sure we were make putting the right foot in front of the other, that Montana wanted us as much as we wanted to be here,” he said. “Part of that was the film incentive, and what we were able to accomplish with the Montana Media Coalition this year at the Montana Senate and in the House and then supported by the Governor as it got signed into law for the next 20 years that was a meaningful commitment to us.”

Developers said is was 'Kismet' that Helped to Describe Story House

After describing how everything for Story House has come together, the word ‘Kismet’, was used.

“Kismet is the perfect word,” said Higgins. “You know, there are so many things I've talked about when doors crack open and there's just the ability to get a toe through. And if you follow that little magic thread that's pulling you through it, and you listen, and you tune your ear to the universe, the environment and everything that's greater than us, and you keep walking forward, really magical things happen.”

Over 435 jobs are being created, with intentional hiring focused on veterans, First Nations, and workers displaced from industries like logging and mining.