For all you Theatre majors (and anyone else) out there that would love the chance to be in a feature length film and happen to be a fan of horror movies, check this out!!! Bozeman Magazine got the inside info about this one of a kind opportunity. “The Writer’s Ghost”, a feature length horror film written and produced by Michael Hitchcock, is shooting in the Billings area this month. We have the original press release, and thought it would be interesting to run it with this article.

We got the opportunity to sit down with Michael Hitchcock, the executive producer and screenplay author of “The Writer’s Ghost”, and Omnithex’s John Pavek, to discuss the specifics of this film and the live music event that precedes it. The musical event takes place at the Yellowstone Garage, located at 2123 1st Ave. North on Saturday, April 5th and offers a live musical showcase with Omnithex performing, among other local musical acts, music featured on “The Writer’s Ghost” soundtrack. The event will run until 8:00pm when the brewery closes, so make sure you get there early! It is also open to those of you that are under 21. Come out and support local music!
    
Michael Hitchcock is the solo writer of the screenplay but expressed that he had a partner to help out and even his daughter, Jackie, had a little input in the storyline. Michael tells us that one day a “key scene popped into his head” and he wrote a movie around it. He also tells us that he “does not believe in ghosts” and that at some point he realized that, in writing this story, the similarities to his childhood fears are astounding. The film will be shot in an old farmhouse turned Bed and Breakfast out toward Shepard on the outskirts of Billings, and that everyone involved in the project has been fantastic to work with so far. This is an amazing opportunity to be involved with a film and it should be an awesome event!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Billings Film Production Company, P210 Productions, to Shoot Full Length Feature Film in April 2014 Billings, MT –  P210 Productions LLC, a Billings based independent film production company announced today that it will begin production in April of 2014 on a full length horror film project entitled "The Writer's Ghost".
 
The film project will be supported by the Montana Film Office (MFO) and several local Billings businesses. Boston film director Douglas Guarino (www.guarinoproductions.com) was selected by P210 Productions executive producers Michael J. Hitchcock and David L. Bulkley to direct the film. Earlier this year P210 conducted a national search contest to find a director for their film project, and selected Douglas from a wide and diverse field of candidates across the country.
 
“We created a director's contest and search because we knew we had a great script and we needed a great director to develop it into a movie,” stated Creative Director and Executive Producer David L. Bulkley. According to writer and Executive Producer Michael J. Hitchcock, “Douglas produced, directed, and edited a teaser/trailer that completely captured the feel of the original script. Landing Douglas was exactly what we intended, as his background and vision are precisely what we need to make this a top-notch, very enjoyable horror movie.”
 
Los Angeles producer and actress Gia Franzia will also to lend her expertise and talent during production, along with Paul Black, former singer for LA Guns, who will write the musical score. Rebel Syndicate, EndEver, Omnithex, and local Billings singer/actress Rachel Ess will also contribute to the movie soundtrack.
 
The MFO and the Billings Chamber of Commerce are lending their support in searching for filming locations and generating support from the Billings community. Montana has served as the location for many films in the past, including "The Horse Whisperer" and "The Patriot" and the recently released “Nebraska", which has been nominated for six Academy Awards this year. "The Writer's Ghost" production will take place entirely in Billings, Montana.
 
“The Writer’s Ghost” is a story about Becky (Bex) Cook, a successful writer with a second book deal and a newly purchased home. She quickly discovers the house comes with a mischievous but seemingly benign spirit. As the spirit gets more aggressive, Bex's new boyfriend, Scott, becomes the target for their ethereal house guest. Bex learns more about the home's previous owners as dramatic events unfold, leading them down a path of terror that neither expected...nor wanted."
 
For more information, visit http://www.p210productions.com.

Thanks to Michael Hitchcock for sitting down for an interview with us, and to John Pavek as well. Best of luck on the film endeavor!!!!

Due to illness Steel Pulse is unable to perform and must cancel the March 26th concert at the Emerson Cultural Center. This show is currently being rescheduled and a date will be announced shortly. Tickets holders may use tickets for the rescheduled performance or a refund will be available at Cactus Records.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see you at the rescheduled show!

This summer, the Gallatin Valley YMCA will offer a learning loss prevention program for children entering first and second grade who are most at risk of falling behind in their reading skills over the summer. The Summer Learning Loss Prevention pilot program, a national initiative with the Y, will strive to help children read at grade level by the third grade – a key educational milestone that is important to children’s ongoing knowledge retention and academic performance.
 
Studies show that without access to summer learning activities such as camp, travel, and visits to libraries and museums, children from low-income environments can experience more significant learning loss than their more economically stable peers. Over time, these children continue to lose ground and by the fifth grade, many are two to three school years behind their middle- and high-income peers.
 
“During summer months, many youth are not as engaged in learning and reading activities as they would be while in school,” said Christel Chvilicek, Child Care Director, Gallatin Valley YMCA. “The Y’s Summer Learning Loss Prevention program will help ensure children stay on track over the summer and read at or above grade level when the new school year begins.”
 
The new pilot program will be held four days a week for six weeks this summer for 32 children entering into first and second grade. Mornings will be dedicated to literacy work, while afternoons are filled with enrichment activities that include field trips, art, music, science, and physical activity. In addition, there will be parent workshops designed to encourage reading at home. The Y will work with the Bozeman School District to identify students that would benefit from the summer learning loss prevention program. With $30,000 being awarded to the Gallatin Valley YMCA through YUSA, this program will be held at a very low cost to families.  
 
"Research strongly suggests that for many children, increasing learning opportunities during the summer leads to stronger academic achievement during the school year.  We're excited to be part of this collaboration." Said Dr. Rob Watson, 
Superintendent
-Bozeman Public Schools
 
Nationally, the Y worked with nearly 1,000 children who participated in the Summer Learning Loss Prevention pilot program last summer. Initial results show strong gains in reading skills: on average, children gained 2.4 months of reading skills in six short weeks. In addition:
 
• Nearly all parents/caregivers (98 percent) reported that their child was “more excited to learn” and showed “increased self-confidence.”
• 99.7 percent families believed the program would help their child do better in school;
• 98 percent reported that the program helped their family read more books; and
• 97 percent said it helped them get more engaged in their child’s education.
 
The Y is committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen and is addressing the academic achievement gap through pilot programs on afterschool, early learning readiness and summer learning loss prevention. The programs, which are underway in nearly 40 states across the country, are designed to not only increase success in school, but to also foster social-emotional development and physical health and well-being. As part of the national initiative, the Gallatin Valley YMCA is one of 15 Y’s selected to pilot the Summer Learning Loss Prevention program for 2014.
 
For additional questions on Gallatin Valley YMCA’s programming for children 3-14 years of age, please check out www.gallatinvalleyymca.org.

KGLT, Southwest Montana’s alternative public radio station, celebrates 46 years of great music by kicking off their annual fund drive on Sunday, March 23rd.

KGLT 91.9 and 97.1 fm in Bozeman is non-commercial and largely listener-supported, making their annual fund drive a major source of operating revenue. And every year, KGLT’s staff of over 80 volunteer DJs take to the airwaves for two weeks to create one of the most entertaining live on-air fund drives you’ll ever hear.

They’ll be offering a wide assortment of gifts donated by local businesses and organizations to entice their listeners to support this rare breed of radio stations.

A collectable KGLT t-shirt and sticker comes with a minimum $50 pledge, and the deal gets sweeter as your pledge increases with music packages, gift certificates, other t-shirt options, hand-made coffee mugs by Mountain Arts Pottery, canvas tote bags and embroidered fleece vests.

Other incentive gifts this year will include certificates for food from your favorite restaurants and coffee shops, services from local businesses - like yoga classes,  jewelry, massages and bike tune-ups with large-ticket bid items like ski passes from Big Sky Resort and Bridger Bowl and a bicycle from Summit Bike & Ski.

In this age of corporate consolidation of the airwaves, KGLT remains wild and unfettered, offering a broad swath of music from its’ rotating roster of live, volunteer DJs every day from 6am to after midnight. Music offerings vary from the ever-popular Saturday morning bluegrass show with DJs Cathy Ebelke and Jim Albrecht, the zany banter of Keith and Randy on Wednesday afternoon’s ‘Coffee Show’ to Classic Country on ‘Cow Jazz’ with Deb Robiscoe Thursday mornings 9am to noon. Occasionally, you may even hear the crackle of vinyl from KGLT’s extensive 46 -year-old record library.

KGLT has a very entertaining two-week fund drive where DJs and community join forces to support commercial-free radio – and if last year’s record-breaking support is any indication, the listeners think that’s a pretty good deal!

KGLT broadcasts from the MSU campus at 91.9 and 97.1fm in Bozeman, 89.5fm in Livingston, 98.1fm in Helena and in Gardiner/Mammoth at 107.1fm.  Log on to www.kglt.net for live streaming and a complete show schedule.  During the fund drive, you can phone in your pledge at (406) 994-4492, or 800-254-5458.

For more information, or to offer incentive gifts to KGLT’s fund drive, contact Ron @ (406) 994-7091.

Big Sky Resort has created one of the finest Snowsports Schools in America and is encouraging those who are passionate about the sport to join the team for the 2014-15 season. Big Sky Snowsports will be conducting a hiring clinic April 12-13, 2014 to introduce the program and the mountain to those interested in sharing the sport with others by becoming instructors.

Big Sky Resort will be conducting try outs for both skiing and snowboarding for adult and children’s instructors. Participants must be at least a level seven being able to ski or snowboard blue runs comfortably.

Big Sky Mountain Sports diverse staff of instructors, all certified by Professional Ski Instructors of America, and alpine guides bring a wealth of knowledge and skill with a focus on the enjoyment of skiing or snowboarding. All committed Big Sky Snowsport instructors are offered extensive training and certification opportunities.
Big Sky Snowsports School can be flexible to fit the unique needs of local Montanans, including full time students, by signing up to work weekends, holidays and spring break. Part time instructors qualify for full complimentary Biggest Skiing in America season pass for the 2014-15 season. Other benefits include pay for lessons, discounted food and discounts in retail.

Participants interested in attending the Big Sky Mountain Snow Sport’s School hiring clinic on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 2014 should contact mountainsports@bigskyresort.com. Both days are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ready to go on the snow by 9 a.m. Complimentary lift tickets will be provided to all participants.

Big Sky Resort is the Biggest Skiing in America with 5,750 acres, 4,350 vertical drop, 28 chair and surface lifts, and the home of the Lone Peak Tram arriving at 11,166 feet in elevation. Big Sky has over 2,400 acres of beginner/intermediate terrain and over 3.300 acres of advance/expert terrain. Big Sky has plenty of opportunities to grow skill sets and advance careers.

The Montana Girls STEM Collaborative Project (MGSCP), a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, has partnered with the Women's Foundation of Montana to offer a mini-grants program.

Applications will be accepted from April 1 through May 1.

Mini grants are designed to build collaboration between existing programs and organizations in order to encourage girls to pursue STEM-related educational programs and careers. Organizations may apply for funding up to $2,000 and must have at least one partner. Preference is given to applications that are innovative and involve collaboration between two programs or organizations that have not previously collaborated together.

Learn more about the mini-grant program at http://www.ngcproject.org/application-resources/ Montana's online applications will open April 1.

For more information, contact Suzi Taylor at Montana State University: taylor@montana.edu