Utah raises its motion-picture tax incentive | The Cricket | The Salt Lake Tribune
Get breaking news alerts via email

Click here to manage your alerts
The Cricket
Sean P. Means
Sean is the movie critic and columnist for The Salt Lake Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @moviecricket.
Photos
Utah raises its motion-picture tax incentive
image
James Franco plays rock climber Aron Ralston in "127 Hours."
Published on Mar 29, 2011 08:24AM

Hollywood now has more incentive to film in Utah.

On Monday, as reported by the Tribune's Robert Gehrke, Gov. Gary Herbert signed into law HB99, which bumps Utah's motion-picture incentive from a 20 percent tax rebate to 25 percent.

That puts Utah even with the incentive offered by New Mexico, which in recent years has been Utah's toughest competition in landing Hollywood productions that require red rock or desert landscapes.

Two movies, the Coen brothers' "True Grit" and this summer's "Cowboys & Aliens," chose New Mexico for its locations after briefly considering Utah.

Utah has brought in its share of movies under the 20 percent incentive, including "127 Hours" (pictured) and the 2012 sci-fi movie "John Carter of Mars."

HB99 also makes two changes to the motion-picture incentive that should make the program more visible.

One removes the program's sunset provision, which makes the incentive more attractive to TV production. TV studios were wary of taking advantage of Utah's tax break, because they weren't sure the program would still be there if the TV series was renewed for another season.

The other change is a provision requiring film productions that use the incentive to put the Utah Film Commission's logo prominently in the closing credits. Other states do this all the time (Georgia's peach logo is a common sight for dedicated credit readers), and it provides a free ad for the state.

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, click the red "Flag" link below it. See more about comments here. What are those badges some users have next to their names?
 
Jobs
Shopping
Missing your paper? Need to place your paper on vacation hold? For this and any other subscription related needs, click here or call 801.204.6100.
Affiliates and Partners
MediaOne of UtahUtah RidesMoving CompaniesKen Garff Hyundai
Willey HondaWise Food StorageVivint Inc. Inside Sales JobsUtah Business Magazine
MediaOne Real EstateWasatch WomanUtah Real EstateDiscovery Gateway
Local MoversCustom Gaming ComputersTeleperformanceUtah Cars
Utah UtesICU MedicalHometown ValuesHolmes Homes
Hanks & Mortensen, P.C.UtahsRight.comClark PlanetariumSalt Lake Valley Buick GMC
Now Salt LakeBathroom VanitiesMoversIn This Week