Film Commission touts busy 2018, looks ahead to 2019

The year 2018 was a busy one for the Utah Film Commission, as 550 film permits were approved across the state and 16 productions received incentives to shoot in Utah.

The incentivized productions include feature films, four series, two documentaries and a TV pilot. The commission said an estimated $63 million was spent on productions in Utah, prompting the creation of more than 1,300 local jobs.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

Among the productions debuting in 2018 were Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” starring Kevin Costner; YouTube Red’s “Youth and Consequences”; and second seasons of HBO’s “Westworld” and Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack.” Features “Little Women,” “Trek” and “Jane and Emma” were theatrically released in 2018. Science fiction comedy series “Snatchers” returned to Utah to shoot its third season. Having shot its first season in Utah, the show went on to film its second season in New Mexico before returning to Utah.

The commission also supported and advised on many more productions, including six holiday-genre films for channels including Hallmark and Lifetime, as well as commercials for Google, Wrangler, Ford and Armani.

“We are, of course, always delighted to see big networks returning to film in the state, but it’s equally a major win for us to support smaller-scale, local productions in creating standout content,” said Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission. “We strongly believe in developing opportunities for Utah filmmakers here at home, which is why we launched the Next Level Program this year, to provide funding and training for local directors and producers. We are very proud to have worked with so many talented, hard-working people on both sides of the lens and look forward to a busy and eventful new year.”

The 2018 Sundance Film Festival had a significant in-state presence, with four Utah-made productions premiering at the festival for a second year in a row. Of these, feature film “Hereditary” received rave reviews, many calling it the most terrifying horror movie in years, and the documentary “Quiet Heroes” went on to play at 10 other festivals.

In 2019, Disney Channel will return to film the latest in its “High School Musical” saga in the form of a series titled “High School Musical: The Musical.” In addition, a feature film by Jim Cummings (“Thunder Road”), an animated feature with voiceovers from Emma Roberts and Dennis Quaid, and a documentary about the most remote high school in Utah are all expected to begin production.

Utah has been the shooting location for many episodic series and more than 1,300 motion pictures.{/mprestriction}