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FARMINGTON — The Davis County Memorial Courthouse has transformed into the “Cedar Hills Police Department” this week while Hollywood stars and film crews shoot scenes for an upcoming feature film titled “Brigsby Bear.”
The movie is about a low-budget TV show called “Brigsby Bear Adventures,” a children's show produced for a person named James, played by comedian Kyle Mooney. The script flips when the show James is obsessed with abruptly ends. Mooney’s character realizes everything about his life is a lie, and he must learn to cope with the realities of a new world he knows nothing about.
“It’s a sketch comedy, with a lot of 80s nostalgia,” screenwriter Kevin Costello said.
The movie stars "Saturday Night Live" favorites like Andy Samberg, Beck Bennett, and other big names like Claire Danes and Mark Hamill, who is best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the famous Star Wars films.
But the backdrop of the courthouse in Davis County is only part of the climax to this story. Paul Ruegner, owner of Pig Boys Food Truck and Catering, said the lift it brings to the local economy is also worth an honorable mention.
“The movie business brings a lot of money to the state,” Ruegner said.
Ruegner has been making food for the stars who shoot in Utah for more than 20 years.
“The reality is, this is the bulk of my business,” he said.
In the last 12 months, more than 19 projects have filmed across Utah from a variety of sectors, networks and genres, and had an estimated economic impact of $72 million, the Utah Film Commission reports. The latest six projects expected to film in the Beehive State will rake in an estimated combined total of $10,181,951 in the state of Utah along with employing 113 cast, 365 crew and 1,111 extras with a large percentage of these jobs going to Utah locals.
Ruegner reaps those benefits as a small business owner based in Holladay, and he hopes movie-makers will keep their focus on Utah.
“Brigsby Bear” is slotted for release in 2017.
