Dreamers Become Doers; Award-Winning Author Salutes Montana Governor Schweitzer for Proposed Film Industry Tax Incentive

Lewistown,MT ~At a time when tax incentives for filmmakers and film investors nationwide are in the news, so is award-winning Montana author, Janet Muirhead Hill. Author Hill recently visited scenic Lewistown, Montana for an autographing session, drawing a group of over 250 starry-eyed children, media and interested community members. This intense interest stems in part from interest in the feature film being considered for development in the area. The film, dubbed the Starlight Film Project, is to be based upon Miranda and Starlight and Starlight’s Courage, the first of six books in her contemporary Starlight Series. This beautiful family film will portray the love between children, horses and the land.

Ms. Hill’s tour of the area included a visit to the Fergus County Fairgrounds, where she hopes the film production company will decide to film Montana’s Winter Fair scenes in the movie. That's why she was pleased to learn that newly elected Montana Governor, Brian Schweitzer, kicked off opening ceremonies at Montana’s Winter Fair Thursday by endorsing the Starlight Film Project as an opportunity for economic growth in Montana. His address served to increase awareness of the economic impact that filmmaking in Montana will bring.

Governor Schweitzer recently proposed a tax incentive for film production in Montana. If proposal LC1758 is approved, folks in Central Montana will soon attest that tax incentives in Montana will positively affect Montana filmmakers, business owners and in-state investors, not just Hollywood producers. Dreams will become reality as a flagged economy is revived—local residents will benefit through job creation and production money spent in their area, and dedicated filmmakers who desire to develop their ventures in their home state will be able to do so.

Due to tax incentives in Canada and other states, Montana has seen a drastic drop in film production over the course of this past decade. Encouraged by a recent ruling of the 108th Congress Second Session which passed HB4736, an income tax deduction for investors funding film projects, author Hill has high hopes that the governor's tax incentive proposal will realize statewide support. If so, the ripples of this progressive legislation will be felt, not only in Lewistown, but in communities across the state, as the visual arts are given continued encouragement to not only be self-supporting, but to also be economy-stimulating.

Striving for positive change becomes a reality when one perseveres to follow a dream. Author Janet Muirhead Hill branched out into publishing with a dream of her own, when she saw a need for a forum for survivors of child abuse and trauma. From her desk-top computer she began publishing Alone Together, a bi-monthly newsletter, in 1997. In 2001 she decided to expand her company, calling it Raven Publishing, and began publishing her first book, which came out in February, 2002. Her book series for children, beginning with Miranda and Starlight, has won multiple book awards, including a recent Best Books 2004 from USA Book News. Now that the sixth and final book in the Starlight Series is in print, she hopes to give wings to other fledgling talent by publishing works of talented regional authors. Fans can anticipate more books from Janet Muirhead Hill in the coming year. Ms. Hill also corroborated with film producer Robert Kollar of Top Herrmann Entertainment, Inc. to develop the screenplay for the planned feature film and will work closely with him on any necessary rewrites. Visit www.ravenpublishing.net or www.janetmuirheadhill.com, to learn more about this breakthrough “do-it-herself” author who writes from the heart for children everywhere.

For media inquiries, contact Public Relations Coordinator Angela Kelly at 406.580.3747 or angie@ravenpublishing.net.

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