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Utah will serve as the backdrop for six upcoming film productions.<\/p>\n
The Utah Film Commission announced on Friday the Utah Board of Tourism Development approval of six new productions for state film incentives \u2014 building upon Utah\u2019s growing reputation<\/a> as an entertainment hub.<\/p>\n Together, the six upcoming productions are projected to generate an economic impact of $7.1 million and create more than 400 jobs for Utahns in Davis, Salt Lake, Grand, Uintah, Utah and Wasatch counties, according to the Utah Film Commission.<\/p>\n Among the approved productions are two ongoing television series. A fifth season of the Discovery Channel Series, \u201cMystery at Blind Frog Ranch,\u201d was approved for a Rural Utah Film Incentive and will film in Uintah county.<\/p>\n A second season of Director Pete Sands\u2019 \u201cNavajo Highways,\u201d an educational series for children and families about Navajo culture, will film in multiple counties across Utah.<\/p>\n The remaining upcoming productions are all feature-length films. Productions \u201cGabriella,\u201d \u201cHalloween Pizza Party\u201d and \u201cStrasbourg\u201d were approved by the Utah Community Film Incentive. And the thriller, \u201cSlay Day,\u201d earned approval from the Utah Motion Picture Incentive.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019Halloween Pizza Party\u2019 had to be filmed in Utah \u2014 the gorgeous fall colors, crisp autumn air, and welcoming suburban neighborhoods perfectly capture the nostalgic chaos of Halloween night,\u201d said Director Brandon Carraway.<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cOur producers grew up here and have built their careers in Utah\u2019s film industry. They know firsthand how special this state is and why it\u2019s the ideal backdrop for our story.\u201d<\/p>\n Local filmmaker Rob Diamond, the director behind \u201cGabriella,\u201d praised Utah for its \u201cbeautiful locations\u201d and \u201ctop notch\u201d cast and crew workers.<\/p>\n John David Buxton, the director behind \u201cSlay Day,\u201d was impressed with Utah\u2019s \u201cstrong and straightforward incentive.\u201d He added, \u201cthe quality and experience of the local team we\u2019re assembling exceeds my wildest dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s diverse landscape and neighborhoods have provided backdrop for thousands of movies and other film productions over the last century and continues to entice filmmakers.<\/p>\n High-profile films such as \u201cButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,\u201d \u201cThelma & Louise,\u201d \u201cFootloose<\/a>\u201d and \u201cForrest Gump,\u201d were filmed in Utah, as well as dozens of Disney movies such as \u201cHigh School Musical\u201d and \u201cThe Luck of the Irish.\u201d<\/p>\n