A new documentary from Montana PBS and 4:08 Productions offers a look at the life and work of Ivan Doig, the Montana author whose novels and memoirs depict a rugged and authentic American West.
Ivan Doig: Landscapes of a Western Mind will screen at Bozeman’s Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture on Thursday, February 2nd. Doors open at 6:30pm, with the film to follow at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Ivan Doig (1939-2015) mined his Montana childhood to write an award-winning memoir, novels, and best-sellers. His narratives embody the harshness and beauty of the western landscape, draw upon his experience as journalist and historian, and celebrate the grit required for his characters to survive in challenging environments. Doig’s portrayals of hardworking people and the worlds they inhabit have made him one of the most influential authors of the American West.
Actor, former MSU adjunct professor, and part-time Montana resident Bill Pullman narrates the film. Other contributors include co-producer/writer Sabrina Lee, editor/writer Tony Hale, and director of photography Jeff Dougherty. A score composed by Sean Eden contains original music inspired by Doig’s work from John Floridis. The film includes conversations with MSU President Waded Cruzado, MSU Professor and Special Collections Librarian Jan Zauha, UMW Professor Emeritus Alan Weltzien, Carol Doig (Doig’s spouse and work partner), and interviews with friends.
Following the screening, executive producers Aaron Pruitt and Scott Sterling will moderate a panel discussion and Q&A with the film’s producers and subjects from the film.
The event is co-hosted by Montana PBS, MSU Library, the Ivan Doig Center, and the MSU Alumni Foundation. To view the trailer, visit www.ivandoigfilm.org. RSVP to the event on the Montana PBS Facebook page. •
