Today’s Staff Pick Premiere, “Montana, GA” from writer-director Ryan Dickie, is a spooky short film that’s sure to scare you into the Halloween spirit. This off-beat comedy centers around a trio of middle-aged stoners whose weekend takes a surprisingly supernatural turn.
With dead-pan performances and a unique blend of genres, “Montana, GA” is what Dickie describes as a “bong-ripping bromance.” But it’s so much more. “Montana, GA” succeeds in playing with expected horror tropes, then takes it one step further with charmingly unexpected turns.
In speaking with Dickie, we learned that making the film was like a fun reunion with old friends. Read on for more details about the production, and make sure to watch “Montana, GA” here on Vimeo.
On finding inspiration from friendship:
“The inspiration came from my best buds — Brad, David, and Lyn — who play slightly altered versions of themselves in the film. We grew up together in Atlanta; they introduced me to filmmaking on VHS back in high school. We’ve collaborated for more than 20 years, and I wanted to celebrate our friendship and facilitate a group bonding experience since we don’t live in the same city anymore. So I saved up, broke open the piggy bank, and found a weekend to make it happen. We had such a blast!”
On creating the right vibe:
“I did a lot of research on films like Ghostbuster and Poltergeist to see how they got their tactile, pre-digital look. Then I combined those techniques with modern, post-production tricks for a unique hybrid. It was definitely a lot of trial and error, but I think we got to a nice place of being both referential and original.”
On making movies on your own terms:
“There are a million ways to bring a production to life. Everyone will tell you their own approach of how it’s supposed to happen, but I recommend taking an honest look at what you’re trying to accomplish and building from there. You have to challenge yourself and be ambitious, but I think everyone should work in the way they feel most self-assured — and with people they trust. If you can keep excess in check and be mindful of the resources needed to pull something off right, then everyone feels like they’re working together towards a common vision instead of some prescribed ideology of how things should be. It’s painful to be persistent, but it pays off.”
On turning a short into a feature:
“The idea for Montana, GA eventually evolved into a feature-length script, but it felt necessary to make a short version as a proof-of-concept. I wanted the short to stand on its own and invite people into this weird world. I focused on establishing the tone and visual style — and showing that the guys could shine on screen. Now I’m in development on the feature version, which is scheduled to film next year. Get ready for more supernatural encounters, grizzly bear scares, and bong-ripping bromance!”
