High Plains Films : About Us

"Plymouth Independent Film Festival - HIGH PLAINS HONORS: Montana filmmakers to be feted for ‘really good storytelling'"

By KRISTEN WALSH
The Patriot Ledger
July 19, 2006

Doug Hawes-Davis and Drury Gunn Carr both attended the University of Montana, they were both enrolled in an environmental science program at the school, and neither of them had any idea what they were doing when they separately decided to make documentaries for a school project.

More than 10 years later, Hawes-Davis and Gunn Carr have won more than 40 awards for 26 documentaries and short films made through their media production and distribution company, High Plains Films, which is the focus of a retrospective at the second Plymouth Independent Film Festival, July 20-23.

‘‘Their style of documentary really varies in technique and style,’’ said festival founder and director Lisa Mattei. ‘‘They have some experimental non-fiction films that are contenders for awards this year. It’s documentary the way it’s supposed to be, really good storytelling.’’

Several High Plains Films will be featured at the festival, with the filmmakers traveling from Montana to meet the audiences and answer questions about their work.

‘‘I love doing question-and-answer sessions,’’ Hawes-Davis said. ‘‘It’s always a rewarding experience.

‘‘We don’t get to travel that often, but it’s really fun to do and see the audience, and see their response after they’ve seen the movies,’’ Hawes-Davis continued. ‘‘It’s very important for independent filmmakers to have their films screened at festivals like the Plymouth Independent Film Festival. We’re always really excited when film festivals want to show our work. In some ways it’s the best audience; for hundreds of filmmakers, it may be the only audience.’’

Mattei said she was impressed with High Plains Films at last year’s festival. ‘‘Last year they won best environmental film, ‘Libby, Montana.’ It’s a terrific film, very well done and passionate. It was a terrifying story about mining in Montana and how the town was devastated by illness. I did some research on the company and how they started. I think over the course of several years, they have garnered many awards and have exhibited passion and integrity in their filmmaking,’’ Mattei said.

High Plains Films strives to create something authentic and unique, Hawes-Davis said, and smaller, independent film festivals are a perfect way to show projects.

‘‘Festivals like these are great forums for experimentation.’’ Hawes-Davis said. ‘‘Mass media become more saturated by raw entertainment and the avenues for independent work have not grown with things like satellite television.

‘‘They’re showing stuff we made going all the way back to 1995.’’ Hawes-Davis continued. ‘‘It’s pretty cool to go back that far.’’

New films include ‘‘The Raven,’’ a minute-long short that Hawes-Davis calls ‘‘our tongue-in-cheek answer to ‘March of the Penguins.’’’

‘‘This is Nowhere,’’ High Plains Films’ third feature documentary, will be highlighted at the Plymouth Independent Film Festival. Initially, the filmmakers intended to create a documentary about consumerism and urban sprawl. When they heard about the phenomenon of RV travelers who park in Wal-Mart parking lots, they knew that would be the basis of their film.

‘‘It begins as a humorous examination of RV culture, and then becomes more about American culture and the reasons and rationale behind what goes on,’’ Hawes-Davis said. ‘‘We filmed all the interviews in Missoula, Mont., where there are two Wal-Marts. There was one here when we started, and then by the time we were finished there were two.’’

If you go - ‘‘This is Nowhere,’’ will be shown on July 21 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Carver Room at the Radisson Hotel, Plymouth. ‘‘Libby, Montana,’’ will be shown at 2:30 p.m., followed by a Q-and-A session with the filmmakers at 4:30 p.m. At 5:30, the films ‘‘El Caballo,’’ ‘‘Powder River’’ and ‘‘Green Rolling Hills’’ will be shown. For more information, see plyfilmfest.org

Plymouth Independent Film Festival
July 20-23. Tickets available through ticketweb.com; at the door; and at the Customer Service Desk at Independence Mall in Kingston. $8 per film; $5 seniors, students, children. Screening Day Pass $30; Weekend Pass $60; Reel Pass $150 (includes all screenings, workshops, events, parties except comedy charity event); workshops and panels are $10. Film ticket price does not include entry into Plimoth Plantation. For more information, see plyfilmfest.org