Lifetime premiers movie filmed in the Swan Valley

SWAN VALLEY – "Mistletoe in Montana? That sounds like a winter movie," Swan Valley resident Nikki Maloughney asked Hartbreak Films producer Paula Hart. "'Oh yeah, there is going to be snow' [Hart said]. I'm like it is July in Montana...it was 80 or 90 degrees that day. It was hot."

Maloughney's horses are featured on "Mistletoe in Montana's" promotional images along with wreaths made by ReMarkable Floral. Several other local businesses and individuals also worked with the cast and crew of the movie that will premier on Lifetime Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.

The production was filmed in Condon for about a week in the middle of July. While they had plans to shoot in Ovando July 24, the production relocated to Helena, Montana instead.

"Everyone from Seeley Lake to Condon was very helpful, including those who work at the Seeley Lake Visitor Center and the Mission Mountain Merc.," wrote a representative of the production in an email. "Due to the lack of any lodging between Missoula and Bigfork, shooting in the area is extremely difficult and may not happen again for some time. People literally opened up their homes to our cast and crew. It was a real community effort."

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Word of mouth spread quickly about the production being filmed in the Swan last July. A location scout contacted Swan Valley Elementary School about space to use for their wardrobe. The production was filmed on a private ranch in the area and they contracted with Swan Valley Emergency Services to supply a water truck for dust abatement. The crew ate at local restaurants and lived and worked in the community.

While horses from Swan Mountain Outfitters were used for the film, Maloughney was called about providing horses for a photo shoot. Being laid up all summer due to an injury, she was excited for the opportunity to do something. She also remembers telling her high school drama teacher why she was not going to pursue drama out of high school.

"I'm doing something with horses and if I'm ever famous it is going to be because of my horses," Maloughney told him. "So when I got this call, I was like ooh, they are not going to be in a movie but they are going to be in a photo shoot for a movie."

She only had one broke horse, a 21-year-old quarter horse named Stitch, and a mule. After she was told they didn't want the mule and her horses just needed to be gentle enough to stand, she decided to bring her filly, a four-year-old American Paint named "Ripple."

When asked what kind of saddles and tack to bring, she was told to bring "whatever."

"So we took extra saddles and all kinds of stuff but we didn't even know if they were going to ride," Maloughney said.

Maloughney's partner Kiel O'Brien rode his colt and their six-year-old son Liam rode Stitch over for the photo shoot. They ponied Ripple. They hadn't been ridden for two and half months since Maloughney was injured.

When the O'Briens rode up on the hill overlooking the setup, they saw all the big umbrella lights.

"Our horses had never seen anything like that," Maloughney said.

Maloughney drove over and was talking with Producer Paula Hart. When Hart asked her how many movie shoots her horses had done she said, "Awe, none. These are mountain horses, they have never seen anything like this. Throw a bear or a mountain lion in front of them and they will [know what to do]," Maloughney told her. "We are hoping this will all work out."

When the O'Briens arrived, the crew asked if Stitch was gentle since Lead Actor Duane Henry did not have a lot of riding experience.

"Well, my six-year-old is riding him," Maloughney told them. "He said, 'Yeah but he looks like he is a cowboy and knows what he is doing.'"

Lead Actress Melissa John Hart had taken riding lessons. However, O'Brien still coached her since Ripple was so green.

"This is our personal stock, this isn't stock that we let other people ride. Ripple had never been ridden by anyone but Kiel and I," Maloughney said. "You don't want to put someone on a horse and mess them up but we were told they were just going to be standing there not riding."

When Henry and Joan Hart arrived, O'Brien was asked to lead the horses around. Maloughney was assured that they assumed no liability. She felt this actually worked out better because it kept the horses' minds engaged.

"I think the movement was better on the horses' minds because they are not just standing there bored and boredom is huge," Nikki said.

During the photo shoot, a crew member handed Joan Hart a white shawl in front of Ripple's face.

"I thought we are going to have a rodeo. Someone is going to hit the ground,'" Maloughney said. "But she just looked at it go by."

Once they started moving around with the horses, the photographer asked for a ladder with wheels so he could follow. Not knowing what to expect, Maloughney brought her mule "just in case." She offered to lead him on the mule.

The photographer got on the mule and shot photos while Maloughney led the mule on crutches. The camera was plugged into a laptop that was Zooming with "the client" and was held by a member of the crew member who walked alongside them.

Maloughney said Hart told her that the community was amazing and everyone was so welcoming, so kind and accommodating.

"They had lots of good things to say about the community which I thought was pretty cool," Maloughney said.

In her 34 years living in the Swan Valley, Maloughney has never seen a taxi in Condon.

"I did not just see one taxi but two, in one day," she said.

Maloughney was asked to bring her horses for the shoot in Ovando on July 24 but she wasn't available. She had not heard any more about the movie until O'Brien's mother called her Thanksgiving weekend and said, "I just saw your horses on TV."

Ripple was in the movie's promotional image along with Stitch who is only partially visible.

"I was so proud to see her on there because she is so cute," Maloughney said.

As Hart promised, there was snow in the photo. Christmas wreaths also hung around the horses' necks. ReMarkable Floral made the wreaths but they were not a part of the photo shoot.

Owner of ReMarkable Floral Ruthie Mizner-Welch said last summer the Prop Manager Will Dillon stopped in the shop and asked employee Margaret Clark if they could make a wreath for a horse for a movie. He told Clark the production was hoping to buy locally as much as possible. 

Mizner-Welch, Clark and employee Cheri Thompson thought it was exciting and it made for many chuckles.

"Who makes Christmas wreaths in July?" Mizner-Welch wrote.

Dillon brought in the fresh greenery he wanted used. They wired the pine onto chicken wire "ropes" and connected it into a circle. Pine cones and handmade velvet ribbon bow decorated the wreathes and were wired on last. They made two complete wreaths.

"Making wreaths for horses was a first for us," Mizner-Welch wrote. "But a photo Will provided to copy, a reasonable amount of time to do the job, and having the evergreens supplied made it quite easy since we already knew several ways for making wreaths!" 

The day they expected Dillon to pick up the wreaths, Mizner-Welch said they learned that production had slowed and some changes were being made. He needed a partially constructed wreath with all the finishing components, so the actress could appear to be making the wreaths herself.

"We had to scurry to get that one ready," Mizner-Welch wrote. "The many kudos we received for our craftsmanship, assistance and welcoming attitude were gratifying."  

Mizner-Welch said Dillon shared a lot about movie making such as having "snow" in July, measuring the horses to get a correct size for the wreaths and his history as a prop person. He told them that the crew were definitely enthralled by the Seeley-Swan Valley and Montana. Being from the East, he was captured by Montana's grandeur, openness and hospitality and he would like to spend some extended time in our area.

"It was fun to guide Will to other locals who could fulfill specific and odd needs for the movie along with tips on where the crew could eat, wash clothes, find entertainment, etc," Mizner-Welch wrote. "The opportunity to demonstrate our creativity and quality of work was rewarding and very much appreciated."

"Mistletoe in Montana" premiers Friday night. Merry (Melissa Joan Hart), owner of Paradise Ranch, has been unlucky in love until single father Mark (Duane Henry) and his two children book the ranch for Christmas week. "Adventure is on the menu, the holiday spirit is everywhere and love is in the air," reads the movie description.

"Mistletoe in Montana" is produced by Hartbreak Films with executive producers Paula Hart and Melissa Joan Hart. Kellie Martin directs from a script by Don Perez.

** Editor's Note: This article was updated to correct the relationship status between Maloughney and O'Brien and the spelling of Kiel O'Brien's first name.