The “Unwritten” impact of Novia Productions

Amidst the roar of the crowd, the Novia Productions team summited the stage. At the Rialto on Oct. 25, the crew of lady rippers, videographers and artists stood with their arms wrapped around each other. With a final cheer, the lights went low and the white screen filled with Novia’s second ski film, “Unwritten.”

Novia Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the goal of hosting female and non-binary ski events. It hopes to create a platform that highlights females in the skiing industry, according to its website. Novia’s journey began in 2020 when junior film major, founder and Executive Director Ellie Huff was assigned by her high school to complete a senior capstone project. Huff explained how instead of following the conventional route, she decided to make a ski movie inspired by her own love for skiing and a desire to see more representation of women in the sport.

“When I was in freeride, I was often the only girl in a lot of situations,” she said. “It’s gotten better over the years, but there was this convention in Taos where they asked for ideas to get more girls involved. That’s when I thought, I'm going to make a ski movie.”

Unlike other skiing competitions, freeride events take place on big mountain natural venues where athletes put their creativity, skill and tricks to the test, ultimately being awarded points in these brackets for the run they put down. Although she was based in Longmont, Colorado at the time, Huff secured funding to bring together a group of girls she had competed against in freeride competitions to film in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Amongst the batch of girls, current Executive Producer and junior English major Lucy Hall recalled being stoked when asked to join the team. Hall explained that as a veteran skier who grew up on the slopes of Purgatory Resort in Durango, Colorado, she instantly saw the potential of this project as a way to offer a fresh perspective on how female presence in skiing could be expanded and celebrated.

"It was about creating something that resonated with our experiences and told the kind of story we all wished we’d seen growing up," Hall said.

The resulting film premiered all across North America, quickly becoming not just a high school project but a chance to rewrite the script for women in a sport they hadn’t always felt welcome in.

"For the first film, we got the typical [response] — there is not enough skiing in this movie,” Hall said. She explained that female-led projects often face pushback. “With Unwritten, we were like, fine you want to see us ski? Here you go.”

From the second film, the crew — many of whom are MSU students — banded together yet again to throw down some ski runs for the big screen. “Unwritten” spanned twenty minutes, incorporating big mountain skiing, technical tricks and stylish park skiing.

Hall explained how there is nothing quite like watching Novia’s message spread.

“To be able to see the girls' faces light up when they're watching the film is incredible,” Hall said. “It’s inspiring to witness the shifts occurring in the industry, and while we aren’t the sole reason, being part of it is pretty cool.”

Beyond the screen, Huff explained how Novia has been far more than just a film, but a pivotal experience shaping the trajectory of the crew. This project has brought her not only career aspirations but a sense of identity, she said.

“Novia helped me realize who I am and gave me a place at the table in a field I only dreamed of entering,” she said. “I realized I love holding a camera and telling stories. Now, I want to move into the humanitarian side, telling meaningful stories that go beyond skiing as well.”

According to findings from the Indie Women’s project from San Diego State University (SDSU)’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, women comprised a mere 37 percent of individuals working in “key behind-the-scenes” roles in 2023-24. First conducted in 2008 by SDSU, the Indie Women project is a research endeavor which monitors the proportion of women working on films at 20 high-profile film festivals in the U.S.

Per SDSU’s findings for 2023-24, women accounted for 41 percent of all producers, 41 percent of directors, 36 percent of executive producers, 36 percent of writers, 34 percent of editors and 20 percent of cinematographers represented.

Huff explained how as someone who grew up with a passion for the arts and skiing, the medium of film has allowed her to enter a creative realm where both can coexist. It’s a realm where one doesn’t need to be competing or throwing double backflips to be an asset. Where, as Huff explained, women can have a place in front of or behind the camera, a space that she is encouraging other creatives to step into.

“There needs to be another Bozeman crew, because we're all moving out,” Huff said.

With eyes set on future projects, they’re inviting others to join the journey, building a legacy of empowerment and camaraderie that reaches far beyond the slopes.

To join the journey, check out: https://www.noviafilm.com/and follow Novia on Instagram @novia.film.