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Shelley Osterloh Reporting In his address to the state, Governor Huntsman said he wanted to further enhance Utah's position as a premier film destination.
Utah's film industry is growing with more movies filmed in Utah last year than ever before. Last year, the film industry brought in 146-million dollars and employed nearly two-thousand people. That's a strong showing at a time when many other states are offering huge incentives to film makers.
Leaders in Utah's film industry say Utah will profit by doing the same.
The governor plans to boost the state's economic development by attracting more filmmakers to Utah.
Don Schain has produced nearly 40 films. He is also president of the Motion Picture Association of Utah. His most recent movie, High School Musical, was filmed in Utah and became Disney's fastest selling DVD. It also earned a couple of Emmys. High School Musical 2 is now in the works.
Don Schain, Movie Producer & President, Motion Picture Association of Utah: "We battled Palm Springs and San Diego and Albuquerque and Shreveport Louisiana and the Disney Channel did award High School Musical to Utah."
Schain says Utah's Motion Picture Incentive program helped and, if the legislature accepts Governor Huntsman's recommendations, the incentives will be even greater.
Don Schain: "I think he recognizes two things. Number one, the positive and immediate impact a film can have on Utah's economy. Number two, the ancillary benefits. Tourism benefits enormously."
The governor has proposed 3.5 million on-going and a 1.5-million one-time allocation for the Motion Picture Incentive Fund. It allows for a 10% rebate on every dollar filmmakers spend in Utah. It has a cap of 500-thousand dollars.
Don Schain: "The reason forty-four states have incentives is purely economic. The Utah film commission is calculating a return of 15 to one on that incentive. One dollar spent, 15 dollars comes back into the state, and it comes immediately."
Schain says the scenery and established film industry in Utah are attractive to film makers. The incentive program will help their bottom line, while bringing money to Utah.
The Motion Picture Association of Utah is made up of about 300 people who are dedicated to helping the film industry grow here in Utah.
