Utah Wants Filmmakers to Come and Make Movies in the State

The Sundance Film Festival is in its 31st year but Utah has been playing host to film-making since long before that. Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce said, ‘We became famous in the 1940s for the John Wayne westerns that were shot in southern Utah. But, ever since Sundance got here it really has risen our visibility in the independent film world.’ Pearce says a liberal tax credit for filmmakers helps draw productions to Utah that might otherwise be shot in Hollywood. From Los Angeles, Pearce said, ‘You can get in and out in a day which is very appealing for talent and executives and we have great resources. You don’t have to bring your entire crew.’ Right now, Pearce says the state works with about 30-40 productions a year and she says she’d like to see that number grow. TheStreet’s Ruben Ramirez has details from Park City, Utah.