Arts
Film has been an interest of David Leuschen’s for many years. In his home state of Montana, a number of well-known western movies were filmed in and around David’s hometown during the 1970’s and 1980’s; he and his friends occasionally spent time on the sets learning about the film-making process. At Dartmouth, David enrolled in a film course taught by the Hollywood legend Arthur Mayer, which added to his enthusiasm for the subject. Following his time at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Leuschen was able to dedicate more time to producing and funding movies. In all, he has played a role in over a dozen films. In 2004, the film “We Don’t Live Here Anymore”, in which David was the largest investor, won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Over the years, David has donated to the local Montana Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to help programs like “Studio A,” a show that takes a personal look at some of Montana’s most interesting artists, stay on the air. He is also a supporter of film preservation and has been a supporter of Jonas Mekas’ work to save and restore old indie films. A list of some of the films and documentaries for which David was a contributor is included below:
Waters Edge
We Don’t Live Here Anymore
The Deal
Obsession
The Third Jihad
Never Long Gone: The Mission Mountain Wood Band Story
In addition to film, David Leuschen is an ardent supporter of music, especially that played and produced in his home state. In the late 2000s David helped fund the production of a PBS documentary called “Never Long Gone,” which told the story of the Mission Mountain Wood Band, one of the most well-known bands to call Montana home. It was only natural that David got involved with this project; he was long-time friends with several of the band members and would often support the band when they played in New York. He is currently involved in supporting another PBS documentary about the life of cowboy artist Charles M. Russell, whose work was almost entirely based in Montana.
