Stewart Wayne Brumbaugh, known simply as “Stu” to the crews he leads, is currently losing a battle against a pile of dishes. “I got voted to do them,” he laughs, noting the “pointless” nature of a family vote where the outcome was decided before he even reached the table. It is a humble moment for a man who has spent thirty years navigating the high-stakes machinery of Hollywood, from the stunt-heavy sets of John Wick to the rugged landscapes of the Montana frontier.
Now, Stu is back home in Montana, trading the “rhino skin” of the Los Angeles acting world for a new mission: building a sustainable, authentic film industry in the Treasure State through his company, Ladder 5 Films.
For the past two years, Stu has been immersed in a deep- dive research project that has evolved from a single biopic into a sweeping, multi-tribal screenplay. What began as the story of the Blackfeet warrior Running Eagle (Pi’tamaka) has transformed into a broader tribute to the “War Women” of the First Nations.
“The story is no longer just Running Eagle’s story,” Stu explains. “It’s about the legacy of women like Lozen and Chief-Woman who stepped outside standard roles to become warriors. We want to honor them all.”
To ensure the story carries the weight of truth, Stu acted as his own lead researcher. He bypassed the polished exhibits of mainstream museums, choosing instead to travel directly to the source. He spent time on the Blackfeet Reservation, perusing archives at the tribal college and, most importantly, speaking with the elders. By listening to their versions of these histories and sitting with native artists at Western Art Week, Stu gathered the “nuts and bolts” of a narrative that has lived primarily in oral tradition.
While Stu authored the screenplay, he credits his wife for providing a vital female perspective during development. She helped shape how a woman would realistically handle these intense situations and fine-tuned the dialogue to ensure the characters felt grounded and true.
Stu’s journey to this moment began on 10th Avenue in Great Falls. As a teenager, he snuck onto the set of the Leonard Nimoy-directed Holy Matrimony and was instantly hooked by the “controlled chaos” of the monitor and the lights.
With just $340 in his pocket and a toolbox, he left for Denver and eventually Los Angeles. For three decades, he wore every hat the industry offered: hanging garage doors at Denver International Airport, taking acting classes at the Heritage Inn, working the rodeo circuit with Cotton Rosser’s Flying U Rodeo Company, and eventually becoming a sought-after Key Grip.
“You don’t need a PhD to be in this industry,” Stu says. “But every day you walk on set, you’re putting your life in the hands of people who hopefully know what they’re doing.” This belief led to the creation of Sparta Studio Grip, his equipment company which has now been in operation for thirty years and serves productions all over the United States. It was born from a desire to own the tools of his trade so he could make his own films.
Stu’s return to Montana isn’t just about personal nostalgia; it’s about creative independence and honoring the local workforce. He is a vocal critic of “runaway productions,” films set
in Montana but filmed in Canada to save on labor. “It’s like a T-shirt made in China,” Stu says. “If it’s an American story, it should be made by American workers.”
Through Ladder 5 Films, Stu is creating a “moving train” that he hopes young Montana artists will board. He wants to prove that you don’t have to run away to California to be a filmmaker. “In Los Angeles, you’re just going to be a waiter. Here, we can give you the opportunities to be an artist.”
As Stu prepares for principal photography, he remains focused on the “worthiness of the heart.” Whether he is mentoring a newcomer on set or teaching his teenager that he isn’t getting away with as much as he thinks, Stu’s “head is on a swivel,” always aware of his surroundings and the people in them.
The project, which recently received a $75,000 Big Sky Film Grant, is currently moving toward production with 20% of its $10 million budget secured. Stu is no longer just a kid from Great Falls watching a monitor. He is the architect of a new cinematic frontier, making sure that when the “circus” of film leaves town, it leaves behind a legacy of jobs and stories that are finally told with
the respect and strength they deserve. Check out the websites spartagrip.com and ladder5films.com.