When the financial crisis hit in 2008, Shera Konen jumped at the chance to leave the real estate industry for an opportunity in television and film. After a healthy dose of ‘almost’ reality TV, and several adventures wrangling mountain men, Shera eventually found her niche in location scouting. Shera talks about her experiences in Butte, Montana’s film boom, casually getting a call from actress Helen Mirin inviting her for a drink in an uptown dive bar, and creating Jon’s murder-house. She also shares the successes and challenges of being a first time festival organizer with the Northwest 360 Film Festival.Shera is a driving force behind the blossoming arts culture in Butte. If her hopes come true, the narrative of this place will, no doubt, be one of mining, architecture, authenticity, along with festivals, and film, and comedy, and music, and food. We’re fortunate to share Butte’s “beautiful grit” with Shera and the world. 

Of all the places, Shera Konen calls Butte, Montana home.