Stewardship

Trash collected in the Pattee Canyon picnic area (Lolo National Forest) before our day of filming began.

This fall, I found myself engaged with our natural resources in Western MT in a way I hadn't anticipated.

As the local producer and de facto locations manager for the short film, Nearly Departed, I helped secure permits for our beautiful Missoula forests, rivers, and vistas by working with reps of the Montana Film Office; Lolo National Forest; MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks; and Missoula Parks & Rec.

I also engaged a few private properties for our production that functioned as the owners' personal residences.

As a sudden guardian of public outdoor spaces as well as people's cherished home spaces during 12-hr shoot days with a 20-person crew, I felt the grave responsibility of making sure we did no harm.

As part of the permit application process, Missoula Parks & Rec asked us to submit a Resource Consideration Plan for our use of city conservation lands. This was a helpful exercise--a reminder of our responsibilities toward and potential impacts on the environment (e.g. wildlife) and the dangers we could cause or encounter (e.g. fire).

Leave No Trace Principles

This process helped me realize that my work on the film extended beyond mere logistics--it evolved into stewardship.

In the end, we left every location cleaner than we found it. By considering and communicating the principles by which we might conduct our activity in these precious spaces, we were able to come as close as possible to leaving no trace.

I'm proud of our team!

p.s. PLEEASE don't throw your cigarette butts in our National Forests!! Jeez!