What It’s Like To Get Killed By A Shark On A Montana Movie Set

Whether lured by the tantalizing prospect of getting killed by a shark in Montana or simply eager to join the fun, a motley crew found their way to the Lost Horse Lodge last week.

There were friends and family of the masterminds behind the comedic horror film “Sharktana,” there were actors with credits on “Yellowstone” and “Baywatch,” and even a pair of newlyweds still in their wedding finery honeymooning in one of the lodge’s 16 cozy cabins.

Then, there was me.

Save for the newlyweds, most of us had made the pilgrimage to the historic lodge south of Hamilton to be part of a different kind of history: a film featuring a shiver of sharks, liberated from their icy tombs, that have embarked on a macabre mountain massacre.

“There are going to be some deaths today,” Zuzu Weingart, co-owner of 99 Productions, announced to the dozens of us decked out in winter gear and itching for our 15 minutes of fame. “It’s going to be super fun!” 

Minutes later, I got a tap on the shoulder and the sort of confirmation you just can’t script: My request to be killed by a shark had been noted. I was officially on the kill list.

Setting the Scene

When Cowboy State Daily sent me on some other reporting excursions — to the National Buffalo Wing Festival or Josh Allen’s homecoming in Laramie — I was in my element asking a ton of questions.

But an assignment that involved acting? Oh boy.

Luckily, I was matched for the first scene with Chad Farrenburg and Scott Stiegler, two guys with far more acting experience under their belts. Farrenburg acted alongside the film’s director, Christian Ackerman, at the Hamilton Playhouse, while Stiegler had a small role in the film, “Cuisine de la ‘Pocalypse” that, again, featured Ackerman and much of the same crew as “Sharktana.”

As the three of us sat at one of many small tables on the lodge’s deck, the film’s three leads — Ackerman, Matt Mhoon, and Emily Branch — began grappling with the horrific realization that sharks had come to life in Montana.

It quickly became obvious that while we were in the backwoods, this was no "backwoods" operation. 

The scene was meticulously storyboarded, blending expertly timed cues for the background cast while leaving room for creative inspiration.

And before every take, a crew member would mark the scene with a black-and-white clapper — and from that first iconic snap, I could tell I was part of something special.

Pantomiming with the Pros

Next time you watch a movie or TV show, pay attention to the extras in the background.

Hint: They’re doing a lot of pantomiming

Farrenburg and Stiegler coached me through the art of the hushed, exaggerated conversation necessary to be a good background actor. 

Take after take, we debated what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in whispers while reacting, when appropriate, to Mhoon’s antics. 

Even a greenhorn like me didn’t need acting tips to give a once-over to Mhoon’s character, Earl, who peacocked around the deck in a “Stud Muffin” T-shirt and dangerously short denim cutoffs.

(Mhoon later confirmed — no surprise — that filming in that getup was exactly as cold as you might imagine.)

While our trio had some solid facial reactions, our job wasn't to steal the spotlight, but to build a believable world for the leads — even if that world unbelievably involved sharks in the snow.

Stiegler’s done a fair bit of background work, having appeared in several episodes of “Yellowstone,” including as a stand-in for Kevin Costner when the crew was setting up shots.

As the film’s official snowmobile wrangler, Stiegler was on-set earlier in the week to whisk the leads into the woods in search of sharks and to serve as a stunt double for Mhoon.

If “Sharktana” proves to be a successful pilot for future creature-features like “Bigfootana,” Stiegler is uniquely prepared: As the first-ever “Monte” mascot for the University of Montana, he’s already a veteran of performing in big, fuzzy costumes.

While a new acting credit is a nice bonus, Stiegler said he was also here for a love of the craft — watching how the crew works, how scenes come together, and imagining how the final product will look once the CGI sharks are added in post-production.

“This is amazing,” Stiegler said of the experience. “The memories alone...”

‘Like My First Kiss’

Watching the proverbial sausage get made was nerve-wracking for Robert Shippy, the first-time screenwriter who dreamed up putting ravenous sharks on a Montana ski slope.

“I’m a nervous wreck,” Shippy said after the deck scene wrapped. “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach like my first kiss.”

For Shippy, seeing years of creative dreaming materialize was surreal and he could be found off-camera during scenes marveling at the professionalism of the production.

Before a fortuitous introduction to Ackerman and Kyle Weingart, the film’s producer, Shippy had intended to film “Sharktana” on a GoPro with friends. Now, he was watching a professional crew execute his vision — including a kill scene filmed the night before.

“It was amazing,” Shippy said. “It’s overwhelming how good of work they do.”

Takes and Breaks

Even on a low-budget, independent film set, a few seconds of screen time could require hours of takes.

Minor flubs necessitated a few re-takes, though the crew also repositioned the cameras to capture shots from different angles and perspectives.

But for the cast, this downtime is where the "family" is formed, as I learned.

Warming up in the lodge after filming for the deck scene wrapped, Mhoon said he’s excited to be part of "Sharktana" as he has his sights set on landing more leading roles. 

From his start in high school drama to theater stages and bit parts on “Yellowstone,” Mhoon has built a steady resume, but he jumped at the opportunity to be part of this project — including the three-hour drive from Helena and freezing in those short-shorts — because the entire experience is about more than a role. 

“I love a set,” Mhoon said, noting that the freedom to ad-lib and bond with the crew makes it so fun. “It’s almost like a family.”

A Family Affair All Around

Indeed it was a family affair. Ackerman’s wife, Danielle, is also a producer of the film, and their kids, along with the Weingarts’ kids, will all have credits in “Sharktana.”

Shippy even recruited his cousin, Rico Austin, owner of Bajarriba Tequila, to come up from Arizona to play a real stretch of a role as a "tequila tycoon" and supply some tequila for after-filming revelry. 

For Austin, it’s yet another "bad guy" role to add to a resume that includes a 90s-era drug dealer bit on “Baywatch” during Carmen Electra’s era.

Creativity courses through the family, as Austin has authored 10 books, so he wasn’t altogether shocked to hear his cousin had written a movie script.

“I knew it would be great because he takes pride in everything he does,” Austin said of Shippy.

My Time in the Limelight

But the family fun wasn’t over, and I soon was tapped on the shoulder again.

This time, I was called to play the mother of a young girl who narrowly escapes an attack. 

In this scene, Branch’s character was frantically clearing the skiers and snowboarders from the mountain — and I’m panicking that my daughter could be one of the shark’s victims.

Ackerman gave some brief acting tips to me and my daughter, “Alice,” and then cameras were rolling. With a 90-minute drive home looming, I realized I might miss the big massacre scene, so I gave this performance my all.

You’ll have to wait for the premiere to judge my acting chops, but when Ackerman told me one of my takes was “great,” well, let’s just say I took it as a compliment.

For a split second, I wasn't in the Montana woods; I was on a stage in Hollywood, accepting my first Academy Award.

I’m not sure if I have a future in acting, but I do know this: Being part of “Sharktana” was more fun than I could have imagined.

Anna-Louise Jackson can be reached at: Jackson.Anna@gmail.com