High Plains Films : About Us

In 1992 and 1993, Doug Hawes-Davis and Drury Gunn Carr, neither with any previous knowledge of video production, set out independent of each other to create two unrelated "no budget" documentaries. The two completed films earned several unexpected awards at film festivals. When the two filmmakers met at a festival and shared stories of technical difficulties, trespassing charges, broken equipment, debt, arrests and other minor issues, they decided to make a career out of it and High Plains Films was founded. More than a decade later, High Plains Films have won more than 40 awards, been screened around the world and broadcast on nation-wide television. All of our documentaries are for sale on DVD direct from this web site and through other distributors. The films are also available for television broadcast and stock images from years of shooting can be licensed for use in your media production. We hope to hear from you soon.

Read more about High Plains Films.

In 2003, Doug Hawes-Davis founded the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Now in its 4th year, the festival has become one of the top non-fiction film events in the world. It is a place for filmmakers to premiere new work and for audiences to see innovate new films back-to-back with classics in the genre. In 2005, the Big Sky Film Institute (BSFI) was founded. The purpose of BSFI is to promote and support these two entities.

CURRENT STAFF

Drury Gunn Carr, MS University of Montana, 1995. BA Davidson University, 1990. Director, producer, editor, camera operator, & sound recordist.

Doug Hawes-Davis, MS University of Montana, 1992. BA DePauw University, 1989. Director, producer, editor, camera operator, & sound recordist. Faculty Affiliate, University of Montana.

Rita Pastore, Development Director. Rita E. Pastore is an award-winning producer of regional and national documentaries— many on critical issues of science, technology, public policy and human values. She has developed and worked on many film and video projects that have received funding from NEH, NEA, NSF, the United Nations and many private foundations. She has been an NEH Journalism Fellow and board member and Past-President of Women In Film and Video/New England.

Greg Snider, Editor. Snider’s filmmaking work includes editing The Real Dirt On Farmer John, winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Slamdance Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award at the San Francisco Int’l Film Festival, 2005. The Real Dirt On Farmer John received US theatrical distribution and aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens, 2006. Greg also edited the feature documentary Purvis Of Overtown, winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Florida Film Festival and the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. Greg’s directorial debut documentary, Ridin’ & Rhymin’, about cowgirl poet Georgie Sicking, won the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival’s Big Sky Award and aired on Oregon and Wyoming PBS during 2006.

ASSOCIATES & FORMER STAFF

Valerie Krex, MFA, University of Montana, 2005, BA University of Pennsylvania, 1998. Assistant Editor.

John Lilburn, BS University of Montana, 1991. Associate producer and Director. John is currently serving on the Big Sky Film Institute Board of Directors. John served as Co-Director on the film, This is Nowhere.

Joe DeFelice, MS University of Montana, 1999. BA New York University, 1990. Director, producer, editor, camera operator, & sound recordist.

Mary Anne Peine, BA University of Tennessee, 1994. Associate producer & production accountant.

Layne McIntosh, MS University of Montana, 2000. Producer, director, editor, camera operator, & sound recordist.

Jennifer Ferenstein, MS University of Montana, 1993. BA Reed College, 1987. Associate Producer for the film Varmints.

Beth Peluso, MS University of Montana. BA Augustana College (Illinois). Intern.

Elizabeth Edlund, MS University of Montana. BA Washington State University. Intern.

Meagan Bayless, MS University of Montana, 2000. BS Colorado State University, 1997. Webmaster.

Sarah Woods, BA Brown University. Assistant editor.

Damon R. Ristau, BA University of Montana, 2003. Assistant Editor.

Jennifer Theodore, Intern, B.A. Oberlin College, Art History, 2003.

Kelly Neal, Assistant Editor, Mdes, Film & TV, Edinburgh College of Art, B.A. Montana State University, 2001

Marianne Zugel, MS University of Montana. BS Georgetown University, 1986. High Plains Films Fellow. Director, producer, camera operator, & editor.

Margot Higgins, High Plains Films Fellow, M.S. University of Montana (in progress), B.A. Colby College, 1997

C. Wolf Drimal, High Plains Films Fellow, M.S. University of Montana (in progress). B.A. Dartmouth College, 2000

Brian Musick, B.S. University of Vermont, 1997. Web Developer.


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