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Kelly Mulcaire, University of Michigan information Serve
Missoula – Oregon native and University of Montana alumnus Rachel Gregg quickly fell in love with Montana after taking a summer job at Glacier National Park.
“I took the train from Oregon to East Glacier and worked there for a season,” said Greg, who was a freshman at OSU at the time. “And I never left.”
More than a decade later, Greg still calls Montana home. She is now executive director of the Missoula-based Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. After years of education and experience starting at UM, the role seemed tailor-made for her.
When Gregg attended UM Entertainment Management Programwhere she quickly developed an interest in the backstage and behind-the-scenes workings of the industry.
“They bring in real people from the industry to teach, so you have real-life examples and applications of what you learn in class,” she said. “When you get access to people of that caliber, it’s really a high-value education.”
Greg attended the annual Pollstar conference as a student and found a job at the Wilma Theater helping organize community events. As an undergraduate, she also took classes in the Department of Communication.
“Some of the most respected academics are at Michigan,” she said. “I was really interested in the subject and I decided to make it my focus.”
She went on to complete a master’s degree in Communication and Environmental Rhetoric at UM. Growing up on a farm, the environment has always been a relevant theme in Gregg’s life – a theme she expanded on throughout her studies. Her dissertation focuses on environmental documentary as a tool for social movements.
“As the exchange program progressed, my concerns grew and my interest in learning about environmental policy and issues expanded,” she said.
Before working at the Montana Film Office, Greg worked for a while at the Adams Center box office, eventually becoming a public relations manager there. She helped lay the foundation for Baozhou’s thriving film industry today.
When she saw that the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival was looking for a producer, Gregg jumped at the opportunity to combine her education, professional experience and personal interest in documentaries. Since 2016, she has been the executive director of the festival.
Greg led the festival through two years of pandemic restrictions and is now looking forward to embracing the community element once again in the festival’s 20th year. The range of events includes in-person screenings and discussions, as well as multiple options for virtual participation. Greg is also delighted to welcome back international filmmakers. The lineup has representatives from all 50 states and 42 countries.
For Greg, though, some of the most important members of the festival audience are local Missourians who return year after year.
“Many of them are alumni of the university and work in high-end industries,” she said. “The curiosity that initially brought you to university or bloomed while you were in college carries over into your life, and it’s a A huge part of our audience. They are lifelong learners.”
Greg looks forward to seeing audiences enjoy this year’s selection of films that she believes offer interesting perspectives on how society has changed in the wake of the pandemic. For students looking to enter the ever-growing entertainment industry, Gregg encourages taking advantage of every learning opportunity.
“Try what’s available to you, ask questions, and don’t feel like you have to be super smart right now,” she says. “It’s always a journey.”
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2023 Opening Friday, February 17 with a screening of “Theme” at the Wilmar Theatre. The festival will run until Sunday 26 February and tickets are on sale now.
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touch: Kelly Mulcaire, Digital Communications Manager, UM Alumni Association, 406-243-4658, kelly.mulcaire@mso.umt.edu.
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