Three movies by Utah filmmakers and another season of a supernatural reality show are among the projects getting incentive money from the state.
The Utah Board of Tourism Development announced Friday that six productions have been approved for film incentive money. The board did not say exactly how much each production will receive; incentives are calculated based on how much each spends in the state.
The productions, the Utah Film Commission said, would generate an estimated $7.1 million in economic impact and provide more than 400 new jobs in six counties.
Here are the projects that the board approved:
• “Gabriella,” a low-budget drama directed by Utah filmmaker Rob Diamond, which finished its shoot in July, according to Diamond’s Instagram account. The film, Diamond said in a statement released by the film commission, “has some of the most beautiful locations in the world, and the cast and crew are top notch.” The production received money under the Utah Community Film Incentive program.
• “Halloween Pizza Party,” a comedy to be filmed in Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch counties. The movie, director Brandon Carraway said in a statement, “had to be filmed in Utah — the gorgeous fall colors, crisp autumn air, and welcoming suburban neighborhoods perfectly capture the nostalgic chaos of Halloween night.” The production received money under the Utah Community Film Incentive program.
(Discovery Channel) Duane Ollinger digs for treasure on "Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch." The reality show, now in its fifth season, has received film production incentive money from the state of Utah.
• The fifth season of the reality series “Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch,” which is now airing on the Discovery Channel. The series, shot in Uintah County, centers on a landowner who believes Aztec gold is buried on his property — but encounters strange phenomena as he digs deeper. The production received a Rural Film Incentive.
• The second season of the educational series “Navajo Highways,” filmed in Grand and Salt Lake counties. The first season — which teaches Navajo culture, traditions and language — streams Saturday mornings on First Nations Experience (FNX).
(Andrew Christiansen | The Times-Independent) “Navajo Highways,” a family-friendly puppet TV show teaching Navajo culture and language, shooting the fourth episode in Castle Valley on June 12, 2024. The second season of the show has been approved for film production incentive money from the state of Utah.
• “Slay Day,” a thriller to be shot in Salt Lake County. Director John David Buxton, a film editor based in Los Angeles, said in a statement that “we knew Utah would be an amazing fit from a location standpoint, but the quality and experience of the local team we’re assembling exceeds my wildest dreams.”
• “Strasbourg,” a World War II drama to be filmed in Summit and Wasatch counties. The movie’s director, Jake Von Wagoner, has worked on BYUtv’s “Studio C” and directed the adventure movie “Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out,” which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The production received money under the Utah Community Film Incentive program.