Romantic comedy to be filmed in town

Whitefish will be transformed into a movie set later this month as filming begins for the independent romantic comedy “The Thin Line.”

Billy Thompson, one of the film’s organizers, said Whitefish was specifically chosen and will be featured prominently in the movie.

“It’s tailored to showcase Whitefish, Big Mountain, the lake and the local flavor,” he said. “It’s an oasis everyone should know about.”

Thompson discovered Whitefish while serving as musical director for several Alpine Theater Project productions. His brother, Neil, who is the writer/director for the film visited him here and when it came time to chose a location to shoot “The Thin Line” Whitefish was selected. Brother, Eldon, is also part of the team serving as co-writer for the film. Billy will serve as musical director.

The “The Thin Line” tells the story of Jessica, a woman with a history of disastrous relationships who has left her overbearing father and is working in a mountain resort coffee shop. The woman is in love with Robert, a bona fide misanthrope, while being oblivious to the adoration of a hunky admirer, Taylor.

“It’s a week in the life of,” Thompson said. “An important week in life.”

To describe the humor of the film Thompson points to the primary setting for the film — a beach-themed coffee shop where the waitresses wear “bikinis and daisy dukes” in the mountain town of Whitefish.

Also part of the production team is editor Eric Powell and producer Jay Thames. The group worked together when they made the short-film “Thorns” released in 2009.

Thompson said together they’ve been pitching ideas for scripts to studios, but “The Thin Line” was considered too low budget for the big studios to even consider producing. So the script was rewritten to make it easier to be made as an independent film and a new budget was set at under $200,000.

The lower cost of filming here versus Los Angeles was appealing to the filmmakers, along with the tax incentives from the state, and a grant from the Montana Film Office.

“Montana is more excited to have a film made here,” Thompson said. “The Montana Film Office has been great. They are eager to have a film shot here.”

Locally, Thompson said businesses have been receptive to being locations in the film. Details are still being worked out on where the film will be shot, but he notes that those in the film will be featured prominently.

The coffee shop location hasn’t been selected yet because of the challenges surrounding filming. Because the coffee shop must have a beach-theme it must be redecorated and would need to be shut down during filming. Thompson said the film’s budget doesn’t allow for it to reimburse a business for its loss of sales during filming.

Thompson said Whitefish is featured in the film “as a thank you.”

“Filming during the shoulder season has been the biggest blessing,” he said. “There’s lots of housing and the businesses aren’t as busy so they’re willing to let us come in when they’re closed and film. We want to feed the local economy and the film won’t do that if we don’t show the local places and tell people where it is.”

Local talent could make it onto the big screen as well. Several roles are being cast and positions are open for extras in the film. Crewmembers are also needed to work during filming which is set to wrap up May 10. Local singers and songwriters with recordings are also encouraged to apply to have their music as part of the soundtrack to the film.

“This is grassroots,” Thompson said. “We want to give people a chance to prove themselves. We want untested talent.”

A limited number of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists contracts are available. Alpine Theatre Project’s Betsi Morrison along with Morgan James serves as casting directors.

The film will be submitted to the film festival circuit with the goal of distribution being picked up by a major film studio. Plans include a showing of the film in Whitefish.

“Independent films have gained ground and offset large studio films that aren’t willing to take risks,” Thompson said. “This film has the potential to be the next ‘Juno’ or ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’”

Production is set to begin April 22. For more information on the film visit www.gastonic.com/casting.

All types, races and ethnicities over 18 are encouraged to submit. Submissions are via email to casting@gastonic.com and should include a headshot and resume. Actors may be asked to audition in person or by video submission.

Applications can be submitted to crew@gastonic.com and music submission can be sent to music@gastonic.com.