SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - While the world celebrates Hollywood, Utah's role continues to play in Tinseltown's success. It’s a rich heritage starting in 1920 and now, more than 700 films and TV series have used Utah as the backdrop for their productions.
The Deadwood Coach was filmed in 1924, the very first movie in Southern Utah. Utah Film Historian James D’Arc has 30 years invested in researching film making in our state.
D’Arc said, “From the very beginning a match had been struck to start a bonfire of movie production that continues to this day. More than 700 feature films, TV movies and television series."
Utah's film experts say there are three reasons Hollywood has come to our state; infrastructure, great talent and the scenery.
D'Arc said, “They were tired of the familiar Hollywood locations, audiences were seeing the same locations time and time again and they were looking for new territory."
Utah’s Film Commission director Marshall Moore said, “Outside of the obvious, the landscape, mountains and deserts you have an infrastructure here that serves as a turnkey operation for motion picture companies."
Production companies don’t have to bring much with them; Utah provides physically what they need to get the movie shot.
Another bonus: talent is always available.
Oscar-nominated 127 Hours spent 10 months in Utah. One of the stars is from Utah – PJ Wimmer. He is only 4-years-old and plays the toddler son who appears to Aron Ralston in a dream while he’s stuck in the canyon.
Ralston described, “I had a premonition of this child and it empowered me to amputate and get free."
While Utah has much to offer Hollywood, it’s what they leave behind that the Film Commission is working for.
Moore said, “These production companies come in and spend millions of dollars very quickly in the state of Utah"
Last year, it was 50 million dollars, and all of that stayed in Utah.
Governor Herbert has come right out and said, “The economic benefit is significant and the ripple effect can be in the millions of dollars."
While the film industry does mean big money for Utah, like any other business, there is competition for every single film.
Moore said, “As they are looking at Utah they are looking at 5 other places to make the same movie."
Last year, Utah lost a close race to New Mexico for the production of True Grit.
Incentive programs in each state can make the difference for a production company’s final decision. Utah passed the original incentive program a few years ago and right now, they are working to offer more to Hollywood – hoping to continue a tradition nearly 100 years in the making.
D’Arc said, "Hollywood discovered Utah and found it to be a wonderful place and in their own way they made Utah a thriving movie settlement for all of these many years and I don't think it will ever end."
