When many folks retire they are content to putter around, travel and generally take it easy.

Not Peter Rosten.

by GEORGIA KAY - Ravalli Republic

A former Hollywood movie producer and director, he created Media Arts in the Public Schools in 2004 as part of the Corvallis School to Work Program and spent the next four years in a very difficult profession - teaching.

But now it’s time to move on, Rosten said. He’s recently thrown his hat into the ring for the House of Representatives seat from House District 87 and it may be the end of MAPS, but not media arts in the Bitterroot Valley.

In September 2009 Rosten plans on opening an independent business to continue mentoring artistic development.

MAPS is hosting a free concert next weekend as a way of saying thank you to students, parents and community members who have made their program a success. They will also offer all attendees the opportunity to register to vote.

"Peter is a Bitterroot business owner who has created good paying jobs and improved educational opportunities for our kids," U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said. "He’s a leader who will make a real difference for Ravalli County in the State Legislature."

But the success of the program is evident in the young people - examples of what imagination and hard work can achieve.

Luke McLean started as a student and then became a teaching associate in the program.

"If MAPS worked he is the embodiment of that," Rosten said.

McLean now operates Hamilton-based business which specializes in video editing and is venturing into graphic design. McLean has done work for the Stock Farm Club, a Bitterroot Valley golf, equestrian and residential enclave established in part by investment tycoon and part-time Montanan Charles Schwab.

And then there is Jake Rowley who also started as a student and then became a teaching associate. "He’s a brilliant writer," Rosten said. "In fact I’ve hired him to write a movie for me."

Micah Gravatt-Bigley and Gabe Nevens are working together on a new film to be screened early this fall.

"They’ve made a film written by another student and it’s going to be wonderful," Rosten said.

This September MAPS will screen this year’s movies joining "Soul Sight," a psychological thriller, and "French Love," a romantic comedy as movies Corvallis students have written, produced and directed in past years.

Rosten also lists among the successful students Kori DePauw.

"She is one of those rare people you know is gong to do just fine," Rosten said. "And she’s been a mentor for the younger kids."

When it all began, Rosten had no idea how successful his program would be.

In the first year at Corvallis, the MAPS program served 55 students. Rosten said the short-term goal of the program was to help develop the students’ creative voice and skills through classroom activities and independent study, while the long-term goal was to train and equip the students for future careers in filmmaking and the media.

Then in 2006 MAPS expanded when they contracted with Darby High School to offer an after-school program.

Although MAPS statewide expansion was set for 2007, Rosten, who lives in Darby, said he wasn’t about to say no to his home town high school. Rosten also said that one compelling reason to expand earlier than planned was the ability to hire recent MAPS graduates to help teach the course.

Darby High School students and MAPS created a powerful documentary, " A Fatal Addiction," depicting the human consequences of smoking seen through the eyes of the terminally ill, life-long users of tobacco.

Among other accolades, in December 2007 MAPS announced that it was a recipient of a 2007 Award of Excellence in the "Education Division" of the Society for New Communications Research Awards program.

Through affiliation with the Montana Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, the program also functions after school or on weekends at some locations outside the Bitterroot Valley.

But with his run for the legislature, Rosten has decided to close down the program and open again as an independent business.

By September 2009, Rosten hopes "to get a brick and mortar warehouse, with an open space for an artistic environment. It’ll be a training facility and a business, but we’ll also train adults now."

He had originally envisioned a facility for students but while campaigning and talking with people all over the valley and he had a conversation with Andy Kehmeier, a local dentist, who he credits with the idea of including adults in the school.

Kehmeier, Rosten said, was looking for something to occupy his time in the winter months since he doesn’t ski anymore.

"But I won’t be in the classroom teaching," Rosten said. "I’ll be doing business development."

The business will create perhaps five local instructional jobs, while also providing training to students and others interested in video and related media arts.

The concert will be Friday, Aug. 22 at 5 to 9 p.m. in the Claudia Driscoll Park at the band shell. The ticket price is free. Joan Zen, will be the main event with the opening act Genghis Khran.

Georgia Kay can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or 363-3300.