Sean Patrick Higgins, a University of Wyoming graduate and Sheridan native, has expanded his film production operations to Missoula, Montana. On May 16, Higgins hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling The Studios @ Story House Montana, a 47-acre film production facility built on the site of the former Roseburg Forest Products plant and lumber mill.
This marks a significant milestone for Higgins, who moved his operations to Montana due to the state’s more favorable tax incentives compared to Wyoming.
A New Era of Film Production in Montana
Higgins, who has several film projects lined up for production this fall, explained that Wyoming currently lacks the tax incentives needed to support his growing film production business.
“There’s a better runway in other places,” he said during an interview from California, where he was meeting with investors. As he looked for a new location, Missoula offered the perfect combination of infrastructure, community, and green energy potential.
The facility’s location, once part of a nonrenewable and polluting industry, has now been reimagined as a clean-energy media manufacturing hub. “Missoula has given us the opportunity to show what the next era of entertainment infrastructure can look like — green, local, and values-driven,” Higgins shared.
These values are at the heart of Story House Montana’s mission, including a commitment to training local workers and providing opportunities for Montanans transitioning from jobs in industries like timber.
Studio Features and Unique Aspects
The facility boasts five premium sound stages, covering a total of 181,100 square feet. Additionally, it includes 33,800 square feet of production offices and 61,075 square feet of workshops for set design, props, and storage.
The site will also feature an Americana backlot and a distinctive rail line running through part of the building, where Higgins envisions using rail cars as part of the standing set.
“There are very few, if any, sound stages in the U.S. that offer something like this,” Higgins said, highlighting the facility’s unique features.
Green Energy and Sustainability
One of Higgins’ main goals for The Studios @ Story House Montana is to make it the first operational, green, sustainable film studio in the country. He plans to integrate solar power and other renewable energy sources into the facility’s operations.
Roger Gaudette, the studio’s director of land management, is leading the green development efforts. Gaudette has a history of working on large-scale green projects, such as creating the world’s largest green roof at Ford’s Dearborn facilities in Michigan.
“Roger’s leading our development, and he’s weaving in a lot of these certified principles and green energy technologies,” Higgins explained. The studio is also exploring partnerships with a large green energy project currently under development in Missoula.
“St. George” and Local Film Production
This fall, Story House Montana will locally produce its first major film, St. George, a drama written and directed by Andrew Pastides (known for his work on Blue Bloods and Law & Order). The film is executive produced by Matt Lauria, known for his role on Friday Night Lights.
The production of St. George is partially supported by Montana’s Big Sky Film Grant. The film tells the story of two brothers navigating grief, one of whom has Down syndrome and the other serves as his caretaker and mentor.
Higgins emphasized that most of St. George will be shot on location in and around Missoula. The production will also utilize the Story House Montana campus for its offices and production facilities.
Higgins envisions the site becoming a hub for film service vendors, such as lighting companies and camera providers. The goal is to create a film village, similar to the iconic Warner Brothers backlot, where different sets can represent locations like Europe or Manhattan.
A Focus on Local Jobs and Careers
One of the key missions of Story House Montana is to create local job opportunities. Higgins aims to generate enough production work to support more than 400 jobs in Missoula. “Too often, Montana’s artists and filmmakers feel like they have to leave home to make it,” said James Brown III, Higgins’ partner in Story House Montana. “We’re building a place where they can launch careers, tell stories, and create lives, right here.”
Higgins echoed this sentiment, explaining that Story House Montana is more than just a studio; it’s a “creative ecosystem.” His vision is to provide Montana’s residents with the chance to work in the film industry without leaving their home state.
