A close look at the film industry in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah isn’t new to the film industry. From “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” to “Footloose” to “Hereditary,” many iconic movies have been filmed in Utah over the past 100 years.

According to Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce, the film industry has generated $614 million for the state in the past five years alone. 

What’s the draw?

Pearce said Utah’s appeal has to do with its beautiful locations, proximity to Los Angeles, and its tax incentive program.

“You get preliminary approved for your project and then you do an audit and submit all of that information and we give some funding back based on what you spend in Utah,” said Pearce. 

While the program doesn’t count for cast and crew from other states, it accounts for everything else. 

According to Pearce, the demand has been so great that the state usually runs out of funds for the program within a few months into the fiscal year.

This year, however, has been slower.

“So we still have funds to spend and we’re actively talking to some great projects about coming in later in the year.”

How do projects get approved?

Pearce said that filmmakers have to submit scripts, budgets, and planned filming locations.

“We really take in location… So we’re looking at ‘Where are you shooting? Can you shoot in a rural county?’ Pearce said. “We have specific incentives just for that.”

Pearce said the film commission also looks at the quality of the project and who’s involved.

All of that information is submitted to the Utah Film Commission and must be approved by the state tourism board.

Pearce said some people take issue with the tax incentive program because it gives money back to film production companies.

But that’s an industry standard, Pearce said. Every state does it.

“So if we don’t offer it, we’re not even in the ball field.”

Although some money goes back to filmmakers, the local economy still sees a benefit.

“These projects come in and they invest locally, they’re spending $100,000 to $250,000 a day in the region where they’re shooting. So it has a big impact on local,” Pearce said.

Looking at the film industry through an actor’s eyes

Claybourne Elder is a Utah-born actor known for his roles in “The Gilded Age” and “The Carrie Diaries.”

Although Elder is from Utah, he is just now getting his first experience of making a movie in the state.

Elder spoke to KSL at Night while on location in Utah for an upcoming Hallmark movie.

“I think that there’s [a] benefit to shooting it here in that the crew is mostly local people… I say this often about actors who come from Utah; they’re nicer,” Elder said.

“What we’re doing is very stressful and they have to get it done in a quick timeline, but everyone is so lovely that it’s been such a pleasure to work here.”

Is Utah’s film industry in trouble?

Utah has been working to keep the Sundance Film Festival since the announcement in April that the festival would seek proposals for its future location.

Earlier this month, the Sundance Institute named Salt Lake City/Park City as one of three finalists to host the festival after 2026.

Pearce told KSL at Night that in her opinion, Salt Lake City/Park City was the top choice.

“The idea of flipping most of the festival to Salt Lake City is what we’ve been pitching and hopefully will resonate with them when they make their decision,” she said.

Elder said that the Sundance Film Festival has been a big help in drawing the film industry to Utah.

“I think that a lot of film people have an experience coming to Utah because of Sundance for one reason or another,” Elder said.

The Sundance Institute will make its decision in early 2025.

Beyond the fate of the festival, Elder said Utah has the potential to see an entertainment boom.

“There is more and more production that’s moving to places that are not in New York City, that are not in LA, and I think that it’s really important to be competitive to make sure that we are drawing those people,” said Elder. 

Utah is already appealing because of the variety of landscapes it provides. 

“We can be Afghanistan, we can be in the mountains. We can be in a small town anywhere in the country. And then we also have cities and we also have airports and we also have places to shoot here.”

Elder said supporting incentives for the film industry could provide even bigger opportunities for Utah.

Related:

• A ‘huge mistake’? Cox says moving film festival would ‘devastate’ Utah, Sundance
• Utah nonprofit receives National Endowment for the Arts grant

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