Yellowstone Times

Ben Leonberg, an assistant professor at Montana State University, premiered his horror film "Good Boy" at the SXSW Film and TV Festival in March. The movie features Leonberg's own dog, Indy, as the leading character. Indy's performance was recognized with the Howl of Fame Award for its authenticity and impact.

During the festival, Leonberg described the audience's reactions at the screenings, saying, “It was really satisfying to see people gasping at the right times, ahhing at the right times, screaming and cheering. Probably every artist feels this way: You don’t believe anything you’ve made is good until the general population sees it.”

"Good Boy," inspired by "Poltergeist," taps into the uneasy moments pet owners experience when their animals react to unseen entities. Throughout the film, viewers are shown Indy's perspective as ghostly elements threaten his owner in a remote location.

Despite lacking dialogue or formal training, Indy’s performance was praised for its emotional resonance. “Dogs have no ego, and they have no hang-ups,” Leonberg said. “They are a method actor the way Daniel Day-Lewis could only dream of being. They can only be themselves.”

The film was created over nine months, with the constraint of shooting only three hours per day. It was filmed in Leonberg’s former New Jersey residence, where he and his wife Kari Fischer, who is also the film’s co-producer, lived on set for three years.

Leonberg's journey in film includes a master's degree in directing from Columbia University and a career involving commercial filmmaking and virtual reality projects. His experience includes collaborations with NASA, Fashion Week, and the International Rescue Committee.

With plans to show "Good Boy" at other festivals in Louisiana and Canada, the film currently remains exclusive to festival screenings.

Alexis Pike, director of MSU's School of Film and Photography, highlighted the value of professors with industry experience. “The students look up to Ben,” Pike said. “As he described his experience at SXSW to the seniors in film, their eyes just kind of lit up, wanting to know more. What an amazing opportunity it is for Ben to mentor our students and help them on their path to becoming filmmakers."

Leonberg also aids students in their pursuits, as exemplified by his mentorship of Tristan Fraise, a junior film major. Fraise appreciated Leonberg’s insights into his portfolio work, benefiting from Leonberg's practical knowledge.

In reflecting on his path, Leonberg said, “Horror can be so effective and so life-changing. You’re orchestrating a new version of reality or life that doesn’t naturally exist, other than that you want it to.”