Northwest Montana is known for capturing the hearts and imaginations of many visitors; sometimes enough to make them change their lives to be near the mountains, lakes and communities.
That’s what happened for Mike Eldred, a singer and actor who said his life began at 40 when he visited Montana for the first time. He moved to Whitefish for a summer to direct and perform in a show for the Alpine Theatre Project after years of professional experience and it didn’t take long for the community and scenery to draw him in.
“I immediately fell in love and had to call it home,” Eldred said.
Montana became one of Eldred’s passions, specifically the city of Whitefish. So when he and producer David Pickeral set out to create a DVD exemplifying the best of Montana, it only made sense to Eldred to meld his love of music with his impressions of the area.
Their collaboration, along with other Montana singer/songwriters, eventually became “Amazing Place: The Nature of Music,” released this winter. The DVD features a compilation of nine artists performing their music in some of the Flathead’s most stunning scenery.
Some of the songs may be familiar, such as Eldred’s performance of the John Denver tune, “The Eagle and the Hawk,” filmed on Lion Mountain. Others are the artists’ original works, including Brad Lee singing “Old Souls.”
And while the whole idea of the DVD is to bring calm and comfort to the audience, Eldred said the filming was, for the most part, an adventure. Pickeral, who has produced shows for the Discovery Channel and PBS, said he constantly sees Montana’s different landscape as potential scene-setters, searching for the next great shot.
“I’m always looking for places to shoot,” Pickeral said. “I can’t help but look at things through the lens and think, ‘I wish I could share.’”
When they decided to pursue the idea for “Amazing Place” through their production company Artists New Media, Pickeral said they got in touch with local artists who might be interested in sharing their Montana experiences.
If someone had a special place they would like to sing their song, it would happen, Pickeral said. This meant video was recorded all over the valley, from Glacier National Park to Flathead Lake. They filmed near mountain goats, bighorn sheep and other wildlife and expanded their own knowledge of the area.
“In the last eight months of shooting this DVD we’ve seen places that neither one of us knew were out there,” Eldred said. “Some places take four-wheel drive and a lot of courage to shoot there.”
Other artists on the DVD include Jenn Adams, Darah Fogarty, Jessica Kilroy, Chuck Pyle, Sylvia, Tim Torgerson and David Walburn. The songs, purposefully optimistic and mellow, are set to sweeping shots of mountains, lakes, waterfalls and the sky. The effect should be soothing and familiar, Eldred said, representing what he called the “musical version of mac and cheese.”
The project has been a success according to Pickeral, who described it as an experiment gone right. The compilation format provides the viewer with a variety of music they may not get elsewhere, he said. It was also a way to get the word out on local, talented artists who deserve some exposure, Pickeral said.
“A lot of this is experimental, but what we found from comments is people really respond to the combination of beautiful music and beautiful scenery,” Pickeral said.
The pair is already considering pursuing new projects because Pickeral has a list of places to shoot that is “five years long.” There is a market for this kind of product, they said, and they plan on producing more pieces highlighting Montana’s beauty.
For Eldred, filming “Amazing Place” achieved one of his goals: Singing in one of his favorite places and being able to share it with others.
“I love the place, I love the people,” Eldred said. “To me, the ‘Eagle and the Hawk’ video really captures my passion as a person and an artist.”
For more information on “Amazing Place: The Nature of Music,” visit www.amazingplacedvd.com or call 406-862-0300.