When Tanya Lewis earned her degree in media arts from the University of Montana in 2020, she was ready to dive headfirst into filmmaking.

With her company, Coffeybean Productions, she set out to build a career in independent cinema. But the pandemic, followed closely by the SAG-AFTRA writers' strike, threatened to halt her momentum just as it began. Despite the setbacks, Lewis kept going.

Now based in Superior, she’s preparing for her most ambitious project yet -- "They Prey in the Night," a feature film inspired by a chilling true story from her own family history. Set to begin filming this fall entirely in Mineral County, the film will be a homegrown production, using a local Montana cast and crew, and featuring Montana-based companies throughout.

“This is really a passion project,” Lewis says. “It’s based on something that happened to my dad and his friends about 15 years ago when they went hunting at night in Oregon. They didn’t come back until the next afternoon. Three of their hounds ended up dead, and they realized they were the ones being hunted.”

The memory stuck with Lewis. Years later, she sat down with her father to collect every eerie detail. 

“Whenever I had questions — ‘How did this happen?’ or ‘Who did what when you realized this was taking place?’ — he was there to fill in the gaps.”

The result is a tense, survival-driven thriller that explores friendship, fear and the fine line between hunter and hunted.

Lewis is proud that her film is not just set in Montana, but made by Montana. All cast and crew hail from within the state, and many local businesses will be featured in the production. Outlaw Brewing in Bozeman, for example, has supplied products for the film. Local company Rugg Outfitters has provided accommodations for cast and crew.

“We want this to be a Montana story in every way, from the people behind the scenes to the names on the credits,” Lewis explains. 

The cast includes a few actors Lewis has worked with on past projects like "3 Women," "Cuisine de la ‘pocalypse," and a recent Carhartt short film featuring Luke Grimes, shot in Hamilton.

“Derek Sorrell is a member of Pend d’Oreille and the CSKT while living in St. Ignatius and brings comedic charm to his role.“He’s just a goofball and completely embodies the character,” said Lewis. “Jeremiah Ishman, from Stevensville, is a thoughtful and nuanced performer.” 

Lewis previously worked with him on "Cuisine de la ‘pocalypse," when she was pregnant, and recalls how he helped lift heavy gear as a production assistant.

Patrick Carter and David Coleman II, both new collaborators for Lewis, round out the primary cast. Carter wrote a fictional short story as a child with a shockingly similar premise and is excited to join the cast. Coleman, who lives in Butte, will portray Lewis’s father. 

“He’ll need to really get into the role and learn my dad’s quirks. Luckily, my dad will be around to help,” she said.

Like most independent films, "They Prey in the Night" is a labor of love with a lean budget. The team will shoot using a Blackmagic URSA Mini camera and CFast converters. With long days ahead, battery life — roughly two hours per unit — will be a challenge. 

Filming is scheduled to start on Wednesday, Oct. 1, for one month to capture the vivid atmosphere of fall, which is true to the timing of the real-life events. Lewis is also partnering with a local houndsman to manage the trained dogs featured in the film. By filming on private property, they’ll avoid the lengthy permitting process.

For Lewis, this film represents several firsts. 

“It’ll be my first time behind the camera,” she said with a smile. “I’ll be directing, producing, and editing. I’ll also be learning VFX techniques — things like green screen, object tracking, and removing the hound leads from the shots in post-production. It’s a big learning curve, but I’m excited.”

And she’s already thinking ahead. Lewis has the premiere planned for the Dennison Theater on the University of Montana campus. But first, she’s focused on telling the story that’s haunted her family — and now, it’s ready to come to life on screen.

    Derek Sorrell
  

    Jeremiah Ishman
  

    Patrick Carter
  

    David Coleman II