Bigfork filmmaker Christopher Tempel premieres new apocalyptic thriller

BIGFORK — For local filmmaker Christopher Tempel, finishing what he started has been a long time coming.

His new movie, "Leap: A Tale of the Last Days," set to premiere April 13 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, marks the culmination of an idea that began 15 years ago. Originally envisioned in 2010 as a plucky adventure about kids battling dark forces, the project was shelved when Tempel realized it had grown far beyond its original scope.

“I always wanted to come back to it,” Tempel said. “My wife and I were around a campfire one night, and I just thought — it’s time. But I needed to reboot it, to tell a more grounded, meaningful story.”

That story evolved into Leap, a faith-based thriller set during the biblical "last days," where a man named Blake Owens is forced to confront ancient prophecies and life-altering truths. The film explores themes of family, belief, and transformation as the world descends into the seven last plagues.

Tempel, who grew up making movies with a camcorder at age 10 and later worked in the film industry as a visual effects supervisor, poured his experience into the project. He wrote the script in 2022, and began principal photography in August 2023, filming for 20 straight days in the Flathead Valley.

“Flathead is kind of my secret weapon,” Tempel said. “It’s stunning here. I had to ask myself, what do I have in my disposal — and the natural beauty of this place really brought the story to life.”

Despite its breathtaking scenery, Tempel said the production faced its share of hurdles.

“We were still missing two key cast members with just days to go before filming,” he recalled. “But by the end of the day, we had them — and even locked down two locations we desperately needed.”

For Tempel, directing is far more than pointing a camera.

“You’re basically a cheerleader,” he said. “You’re managing people, emotions, logistics. You have to be a people person and a jack-of-all-trades.”

The cast includes Melissa Triano and talent from across the region, including Idaho, where the lead actor also brought his brother along to help with production.

“It was such a team effort,” Tempel said. “I’m grateful for everyone who jumped on board and believed in this.”

A longtime creator of films, Tempel’s past work includes "Wulf," a 2007 reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, and an unfinished autobiographical feature about a period in his life when he experienced homelessness.

“This is my fifth feature,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, especially about visual effects. I had to teach myself workflows and tools I never thought I’d need.”

Those experiences have led him to create a YouTube channel focused on achieving Hollywood-quality visual effects on a shoestring budget — something he applied directly to Leap.

Tempel is working with an aggregator to bring the film to platforms like Amazon and Tubi, while also offering DVDs and Blu-rays.

But for now, his focus is on the premiere.

“The local support has been amazing,” he said. “This is kind of a time capsule — an idea from 2010 that’s finally being realized in 2025. I’m excited to share it with the community.”

Leap: A Tale of the Last Days premieres Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. The event includes a red carpet arrival, screening, and a post-show meet-and-greet with the cast and crew. Tickets and updates are available at facebook.com/leapmovie.

    A screenshot from Bigfork filmmaker Chris Tempel's production of "Leap: A Tale of the Last Days."
  

    A screenshot from Bigfork filmmaker Chris Tempel's production of "Leap: A Tale of the Last Days."
  

    Bigfork filmmaker Chris Tempel.