In 2002, American film director and screenwriter John Dahl cast Montano in The Great Raid after taking notice of Montano's performance in the movie Muro Ami as well as an extensive open call audition and series of callbacks in Manila.
In 2014, Montano tried his knack in songwriting as he also joined the ASOP Music Festival of UNTV 37, and became one of the finalists of the competition with his own original composition entitled "Pagpupuring Walang Hanggan" (Eternal Praise).