FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNOUNCING THE BEGINNING OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR “NEARLY DEPARTED”
Los Angeles, CA — September 8, 2025 — Ashley Maria Productions is thrilled to announce that principal photography will soon commence on its new short film, ‘Nearly Departed’. The film is being shot on location in and around Missoula, Montana, from September 23 through September 26, 2025.
‘Nearly Departed’ is directed by Ashley Maria (Super Human Anxiety), an Emmy-nominated and DGA award-winning director, writer, and producer, and written by Molly Quinlan Artwick (Mythology).
“Molly and I are incredibly excited to begin production in the coming weeks,” said Maria. “We’re honored to bring to life this story of exploring the diverse, painful, and sometimes absurd ways we cope with loss.”
Inspired by a true story, ‘Nearly Departed’ tells the story of two sisters at odds, armed with a cookie jar of their father’s ashes, who take one last road trip with Dad to find the perfect place to say goodbye.
“I wrote this story after losing both my parents early in life. For my family, humor became a coping mechanism to deal with complicated feelings around grief,” added Artwick.
Maria and Artwick both studied film at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Their partnership on this project began when they attended a writer’s workshop hosted by the USC alumni group Women of Cinematic Arts. Realizing Montana would be the perfect backdrop for this road trip story, they teamed up and submitted to the Big Sky Film Grant.
“Since receiving the grant, we’ve scouted locations and built an impressive team of filmmakers who are helping us bring our vision to the big screen,” shared Maria.
Joining Maria and Artwick on the creative team during the Missoula filming are:
- Producers: Lea-Ann W. Berst, Sara Bruya (from Missoula), and Wendy S. Wilkins
- Associate Producer: Diana Dalke (from Ronan)
- Director of Photography: John D. Nilles (from Missoula)
- Assistant Director: Mason Slider (from Bozeman)
- Production Designer: Kyle Weingart (from Missoula)
- Production Sound Mixer: Travis Kidd (from Bozeman)
- Script Supervisor: Abigail Oltrogge (from Bozeman)
- Wardrobe: Judy Smith (from Polson)
- BTS Videographer: Gage Ball (from Missoula)
- Set Medic: Brianna Lui (from Missoula)
- Production Assistant: Spencer Artwick
- 1st Assistant Camera: Kristin Bloom (from Missoula)
- 2nd Assistant Camera: Aidan Slider (from Bozeman)
- Grip: Seth Shults (from Missoula)
- Gaffer: Aspen Cox (from Missoula)
The production team is working closely with the Montana Film Office, state & federal parks agencies, and local governments to film in the Western Montana region. The setting contributes significantly to this road trip narrative by providing outstanding views of forests, wilderness areas, rivers, and mountains.
‘Nearly Departed’ has a distinctive blend of sincerity and heartfelt humor around grief that makes it a compelling choice for both a global festival circuit and major streaming release. With several streaming services actively acquiring and featuring high quality short-form movies, ‘Nearly Departed’ is positioned to stand out in curated streaming collections, fitting neatly into genre-specific categories like family, nostalgia, and uplifting stories.
About Ashley Maria Productions
Ashley Maria Productions is a woman-owned independent production service company specializing in short and feature length professional video projects, with a focus on contained genres and uplifting stories that maximize the potential for positive impact. For more: www.Ashley-Maria.com.
