Butte’s Clark Chateau was one of the settings for a short historical film about Chief Tendoy and the Shoshone Indians.
A local Butte actor was grateful to be part of the project.
“It’s something I’ve never done before and I got a phone call and I was really blessed to have this opportunity here, so it’s pretty nice, it’s pretty cool to have this happen here in Butte,” said Butte actor Ricardo Sanon.
Sanon played a butler for President Ulysses S. Grant in this short period film about a meeting with Chief Tendoy and the president.
“I’m always willing to challenge myself and take new roles and different challenges and blessed to have the opportunity to do that here in Butte,” he said.
The filmmakers chose the Clark Chateau for its historic-looking interior. Management at the chateau was happy to provide the mansion.
“It’s great because we take all that money from the rental and put it back into the property, so it’s a win-win for everybody – they get a beautiful space and we get some more funding to help fix up the building,” said the Clark Chateau curator Christine Martin.
The filmmakers are delighted with the progress of the filming.
“Amazing, oh, it kind of gets you emotional, it’s been challenging but we’ve done it,” said co-director Steve Saxon.
The film will be ready by next year and presented at film festivals around the country.
