SYNOPSIS

Glimpse into the vibrant music scene in Missoula, Montana through first-hand accounts from local artists and musical acts. DJ Auntie E, bands Cosmic Sans and The Skurfs, and the local legend and scene photographer, Donal Lakatua, share their thoughts on what brings the city’s music to life as well as the obstacles trying to hold it back.

A documentary short film

RELEASED: 2024

WATCH IT HERE

Jessica Fix and Chris Shields were knee-deep in the production process for their other documentary, “From the Shadow of the Stacks,” which Shields directed and Fix produced, when they were tasked with making a separate documentary for the University of Montana Kaimin newspaper. This open-ended assignment had limitless possibilities, but seeing as how they were both music lovers, they mutually gravitated towards exploring local music.

Both co-directors of this film were frequenters of the Missoula music scene, but in their own ways. Fix was big into the EDM/DJ scene, while Shields fell more on the punk/metal side of the spectrum. They wrestled with which to focus on for weeks before deciding to do both.

They reached out to music artists they followed in the area and scored interviews with members of the local bands Cosmic Sans and the Skurfs as well as an interview with the local DJ legend Auntie E. Following the threads of their interviews, they traced everyone’s stories back to the Covid-19 pandemic and how that affected local music as well as the local indie music promoters known as Daisy Chain.

Everything in this documentary, from cameras, to sound, to producing, was done by Fix and Shields. They attended live shows, band practices, and scheduled interviews all over town to tell this story and capture a little glimpse of Missoula’s music scene during an important turning point in its history.

PRE PRODUCTION

The planning phase where the foundation of the film is built. This includes script development, budgeting, casting, location scouting, scheduling, building the team, etc.

PRODUCTION

Cast and crew assemble on set to bring what has been planned to life.

POST PRODUCTION

The film is assembled, refined and colored. Footage is cut, sound design and mix, music added, color corrected transforming raw footage into the final product.

FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

The film makes is submitted and screened at film festivals across the country and beyond. Festivals bring opportunity for industry recognition, awards and press coverage.