Archive for the 'News Room' Category
A University of Montana student writes about our campaign.
Editor’s note: The following story was written by a student in Professor Nadia White’s Public Affairs Reporting class at the University of Montana. You are free to share or publish this story provided you retain the reporter’s byline. Questions? Email nadia.white@umontana.edu.
Hollywood to Helena : Former producer seeks Former producer brings entrepreneurial energy to race
By Nate Rott
Most Montana legislative candidates don’t consider party affiliations “disenchanting.” Most candidates haven’t started an academic-based business run almost entirely by students. Most candidates haven’t produced a Hollywood movie. Even fewer have left Hollywood to become a ranch -hand in Montana.
Peter Rosten, Democratic candidate for House District 87 in Ravalli County, is not your typical candidate. And, he’s proud of it.
No commentsPeter Rosten receives ‘EXEMPLARY SERVICE AWARD’
Corvallis, MT. – On the final day of the 2008 school year, House District 87 candidate and Media Arts in the Public Schools (MAPS) President, Peter Rosten, was honored with the “Exemplary Service Award” by the Corvallis School District.
No commentsFrom Hollywood to Montana
By Susan Gallagher Associated Press Writer - 05/12/2008
| In this 2005 photo provided by Peter Rosten, students of Rosten shoot video in Corvallis. Shown from left are drummer Luke McLean, “Wonderboy” Josh Gulli on bass guitar, guitarist Joe Borowy and camera crew Ceran Walker, Lindsay Ward and Matt Derrough. |
“The micro is to serve Ravalli County,” said Rosten, whose 30 years as a Hollywood producer included the 1989 movie “True Believer” with James Woods and Robert Downey Jr., and the 1983-87 TV series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King.” “The macro is to train people so that we can attract film production back to the state. It’s a hugely lucrative business, but if we don’t have the work force, it’s not going to come.” Montana was a hot location for filming in the 1990s, with Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It” among the productions.
The Rosten program began at Corvallis High School in 2004 after he approached school administrators with the idea and said it would cost taxpayers nothing. Last year, Media Arts in the Public Schools, or MAPS, expanded to nearby Darby High School.
Students learn how to direct and film movies, public service announcements and music videos. Paying clients have included Hamilton’s Marcus Daly Hospital, the Ravalli County DUI Task Force and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The association paid well into in five figures to have students produce television spots for broadcast in 38 states.
Through affiliation with the Montana Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, the program also functions after school or on weekends at some locations outside the Bitterroot Valley.
Rosten protege Luke McLean now operates Hamilton-based Circumference Productions, which specializes in video editing and is venturing into graphic design. McLean has done work for the Stock Farm Club, a Bitterroot Valley golf, equestrian and residential enclave established in part by investment tycoon and part-time Montanan Charles Schwab.
“I was influenced by Peter’s teachings,” McLean said. “Not only was he giving tips about how to make movies, but he was giving us good insight from his experience in the world of business.” Grants, donations and fees have covered expenses of MAPS. Last year, earnings by some of the students topped $600. The program has drawn praises from Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Linda McCulloch, the state school superintendent.
Rosten, who fell in love with the Bitterroot Valley during a vacation and bought a Darby house in 1992, said establishing MAPS was a way to make a community contribution, but “it was also a gift to me.” “I was too young to retire and I thought, ‘What do I know best?”‘ He has found interest in filmmaking among kids who lack the school affiliation to participate in MAPS, and among older people, one of them a dentist who gave up skiing and wanted a new pursuit. Rosten said those were considerations as he envisioned the new, stand-alone film institute.
“A 50-year-old guy might have an 18-year-old teaching him,” said Rosten, who’s pushing 60. “That’s for them to work out.” He wants to open the school in the fall of 2009.
If he is a legislator, his two-year term will be ongoing but the biennial lawmaking session that takes place in Helena and lasts about 3½ months will be behind him. Rosten figures he’d be able to give proper attention to both his legislative responsibilities and the film school.
He is a Democrat with no challenger in the June primary election as he seeks to represent House District 87. On the Republican side, incumbent Ron Stoker and challenger Julian Milton Jr. are vying to be their party’s candidate when voters go to the polls in November.
Sprawl is among the issues that concern Rosten, who lives in one of Montana’s rapidly growing areas. This month he sponsored a screening of the Jeff Gersh film “Subdivide and Conquer — A Modern Western,” at the Pharoahplex in Hamilton.
On the Net: Media Arts in the Public Schools: www.mediarts.org
Party Line Shouldn’t Block A Good Idea
On March 3, 2008, 13 Montana Republican Legislators were accused of ‘morphing into Democrats’. In response, we felt compelled to weigh in.
Letters for Friday, March 14, 2008, The Missoulian
I’ve been around long enough to know that politics can be a full contact sport and not for the meek of heart. But one thing we don’t often see is Jurassic justice - when a carnivore’s political blood lust compels them to eat their own.
No commentsAward-winning film explores dangers of inadequate planning, alternatives to sprawl
Story
In the Bitterroot Valley, as in the rest of the country, sprawl is in danger of gobbling up the land.
Sponsored by Peter Rosten, candidate for House District 87, a film screening of “Subdivide and Conquer - A Modern Western” will be held next weekend.
It is a cautionary tale of what can happen without adequate planning, according to Rosten.
“Either we plan for the future or the future will plan for us,” Rosten said. “I think everyone would benefit from seeing it.”
Created by Jeff Gersh, the film has won many awards.
No commentsRogala Joins Peter Rosten Campaign
Rogala joins Peter Rosten campaign as manager
Darby resident Deborah Rogala has joined Peter Rosten’s House District 87 effort as the campaign manager. Rosten said she “brings invaluable experience as a public advocate” to the endeavor.
Rosten is the only announced candidate for the Democratic Party nomination to run for that seat in the state House of Representatives. Ron Stoker of Darby is the incumbent; he is being challenged for that party’s nomination by Al Milton, and they will face off in the June 3 primary.
No commentsPeter Rosten Announces Bid For Legislature
Peter Rosten announces bid for Legislature
Retired
Old Wounds Won’t Heal Without New Ideas
“Old Wounds Won’t Heal Without New Ideas”, Ravalli Republic
Several nights ago I attended the travel plan meeting in Darby. There was a huge turnout estimated at more than 170 people. It was quite clear many of the citizens were angry, upset and frustrated. Two reasons: angry because the majority felt strongly that forest access was being compromised and frustrated because they feel the government (aka the Forest Service) doesn’t listen and that citizens aren’t being heard. Now I don’t pretend to know all the answers to these issues. Heck, I don’t even know all the questions. But one thing I do feel strongly about is that business-as-usual politics is not going to solve the problem and as long as we keep yelling at each other this thing isn’t going to get fixed.
No commentsKPAX Television Announces Rosten’s Campaign
Helena, MT. MAPS founder and Darby resident,
Darby man to run for State House seat
KPAX Television, Missoula, MT
Peter Rosten of Darby has announced that he’ll be running for the Montana State Legislature in House District 87.
Rosten is the creator of the Media Arts in the Public Schools program which encourages entrepreneurship and community based economic development to teens in western Montana.
No comments
