Matt Drago – Somewhere in Montana

By starrymag | February 10, 2025

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film Somewhere in Montana.

 

A) Somewhere In Montana is a story of the times. And one that dives deep into what legacy means as well as discovering how to find mutual respect for people that may be different from you.

Fabian is a West Coast Director, who is driven by his dreams of making a few great films in his time on this planet and John (Graham McTavish) is a Montana Rancher whose legacy exists in the many generations of his vast ranch in the Montana Hills.

Their paths cross when the two of them are put in an impossible situation. They both need each other.

Fabian needs John’s ranch for the main scenes in his film and John needs money from the film production to keep his ranch alive.

The conflict arises when they both butt heads as John sees this film as part of his legacy as well and Fabian is in a heightened state as he is on the precipice of losing his investors and possibly this vision that he has fought so hard for.

 

Q) How was your character Fabian Verdugo originally described to you?

 

A) The best part of getting to build the character of Fabian Verdugo is that I got to take a lot of elements within my own life and workshop them collaboratively with the writer and director of Brandon Smith. We would jump on Zoom calls together and talk through each scene and it helped me to discover a deeper meaning of this character. These were very special times that I reflect on fondly all the time as I was not only building the character of Fabian but also the relationship I have with the person who created him.

Fabian is a fighter, a dreamer, extremely passionate, but a collaborator that will go down with his own ship. First and foremost, he believes in legacy and his legacy happens to be film. His family is his cast and his crew and, while he may come across as overly obsessive to some, his deep compassion for leaving a couple great stories behind is the core principle that drives him in life.

 

Q) What was it about the role or the subject matter that drew you to want to be a part of the movie?

 

A) I fell in love with Brandon Smith’s script the first time I read it. As an actor, I had always dreamed of telling stories that would resonate and become conversation pieces based on the issues and challenges that were happening in the world.

I had read the script three times before I even put myself on tape for it because I felt its importance and its power in the times that we are currently facing. Simply put, I think the story is an extraordinary conversation piece where two people in opposing worlds come together and need each other. The depth of what is examined within this challenge is something that I believe anyone, especially in America, can glean from which will hopefully spark a meaningful conversation.

I have always ascertained in my life that respect is the highest form of love, and I believe Somewhere In Montana does an extraordinary job of getting to the heart of that, despite the differences that these two opposing forces face.

This is truly a story of the times and one that has now become part of my legacy.

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them here?

 

A) Absolutely! I’ve known Graham McTavish‘s work as well as Michelle Hurd’s, but it wasn’t until I met them and started collaborating with them that I truly understood what it means to be a true pro as an actor. I say this all the time, but I feel like I’ve already won just being a part of this film.

The relationships that I’ve made with up-and-coming actors like Kaleigh Macchio, Tasha Gates and Mick Szal as well as more established actors like Jonathan Stoddard, Kate Orsini, Andrew Roa and Michael Monks has been one of the true gifts of my life. I feel like everybody in the cast really needed this movie and when we were not filming, we would spend so much time together going on hikes, breakfast and dinners because I feel like we all really needed this movie collaboratively.

I give full credit to Brandon Smith, Eden Matson and Joe Borden for creating such a wonderful atmosphere where we could all thrive and tell the story that is bigger than all of us.

 

Q) Fabian is determined to make this movie and on John’s land. What makes this particular spot so important to him?

 

A) Phenomenal question and one that is not easily answered. Fabian is a perfectionist and Kat (Michelle Hurd), his producer, knows this. Because of this every element to his film has to be perfect. Because he doesn’t just look at this as another film, he looks at this like a big part of his legacy.

When he sees John’s ranch, he knows wholeheartedly that this is the place where he can realize this dream in making the film as close to perfect as he possibly can.

 

Q) Talk about going head-to-head with Graham McTavish in the film.

 

A) I’ll reframe this because the person I now know is Graham. Graham and I grew close off screen in the development of these opposing forces and while on screen, it showed as a head-to-head matchup this dynamic was as synergistic as it gets. It was only because of the deep conversations that we had off screen were we able to develop the ability to make sure that we were having these important conversations on screen authentically, honestly and with integrity.

The second I met Graham at the local Walgreens as we had ironically showed up there at the exact same time, I connected with him instantly. Even though our energies are so vastly different, I could tell right off the bat that telling a story with him was going to be a true honor in my life.

Because we both felt the weight of these two opposing forces colliding, we fully committed together to making sure that our scenes were done as grounded and realistically as possible. I will be forever grateful not only to have Graham as a collaborator in this film, but someone in my life who has become a true friend in the process.

 

Q) The cinematography for the movie is just outstanding. Where were some of your favorite places to film?

 

A) I have to give all the credit in the world to AJ Young, who brought so many innovative ideas and incredible shots to the table in this film. He found these unique anamorphic lenses that would capture as much of the Montana landscape as possible well, also giving it a grainy texture similar to that of film.

Because Montana is simply put, “God’s Wallpaper,” and all the actors reveled in playing within its vastness and beauty, I’d have to say that my favorite location has to be the ranch. Not only because of the majesty that it bestowed in so many different areas from the main house to the barn to the mountains and land, but also because of the real owners of the ranch and how they made it feel like home while we were shooting there.

 

Q) Which scenes challenged you the most whether emotionally or physically as an actor?

 

A) It’s a rare feat in modern cinema, but I have to go with the 10-page scene with just Graham and I. The scene is the scene that made me fall in love, not only with my character, but with the film itself. Also speaking as an actor, because it covers so much, there are many specific beats within it and pauses and moments of understanding that I felt were imperative to bring its true meaning to life.

 

Q) There is a “Yellowstone” vibe to the movie where rural areas are being diminished more and more by the need for technology and progress. What do you hope viewers take away from watching Somewhere in Montana?

 

A) That both can exist in harmony. Regardless of the times that we’re in – “It’s people that make a difference in your life – it’s not things, it’s not ideologies, it’s people.”

If we can truly hold on to our values, especially in times like these, maybe “there’s hope for the rest of them.”

 

Q) What other projects have you been busy working on lately?

 

A) This role has truly been a gift in my life and one that I continue to keep close to my heart. Because of that, I have now co-founded a production company with my wife named Dragon Hunter Productions as her maiden name is Hunter and mine being Drago, so Dragon & Hunter Productions.

Because of the massive impact this experience and Fabian Verdugo has made in my life, I am now looking forward to telling stories in corners of the country that feel like they don’t have a voice.

In addition to this, I continue to audition, but my main goal in this life is to tell as many meaningful stories as I can – just as I was able to with Somewhere In Montana.