SALT
LAKE CITY -- Utah's new movie incentives bill has landed the state its first
big-time motion picture project.
Take the Walt Disney company, combine it with Pixar and Utah scenery, and
you're going to have the movie "John Carter of Mars." It's based on a series of
books about a Civil War vet transported to the Red Planet.
Governor's Office of Economic Development Director Jason Perry is stoked.
"This is a place where Disney will start looking as the place where they will
want to do all of their films," he said.
The film will bring hundreds of cast and crew members to the state during
production. "This is over 400 people involved in full-time work for
seven-straight months here in the State of Utah. This is going to put our film
crews to work. It's really going to put us on the map as a place to film," Perry
said.
He continued, "This is exactly what we told our legislature would happen when
we got a better incentive program for film. We will have 400 people coming
constantly in and out of the State of Utah, staying in our motel rooms. They'll
be eating in our restaurants."
Utah approved up to $5.5 million in tax credits for the $28 million of work
done here. Production is expected to begin in November, and Disney believes the
film could become its next big movie series, akin to "Pirates of the
Caribbean.
Updates to follow as we receive them.
Craze Agency