Board approves rebate for production of family feature, amends other agreements

A sequel to a popular family feature has been approved for a state incentive.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board, at its November meeting, approved a cash rebate of up to $78,198 for Anxiously Engaged LLC for the production of “Once I Was Engaged,” a sequel to the shot-in-Utah “Once I Was a Beehive.”

The production is expected to spend $390,992 in Utah and involve 44 cast members, 32 crew and 50 extras. Principal photography took place in November and earlier this month in Utah and Wasatch counties. The directors are Maclain Nelson and Stephen Shimek. The producer is David Wulf.

“Once I Was Engaged” tells the story of lead character Bree Carrington as she gets engaged after her freshman year of college. Her mother, Carrie Carrington, is not into it at first, but then comes on board in full swing as part of the “mother of the bride” wedding story.

“I have shot in Canada, the U.K., Romania and in different states all over the U.S., but Utah stands out as the most desirable place to bring our productions,” Nelson said in a prepared statement. “Utah continues to provide talented crew members, beautiful locations and the incentives needed to make any film really come to life.”

The GOED board also approved amendments to three earlier-approved productions at its November meeting.

Salty Pictures Inc. had been approved in November 2019 for the second season of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” The incentive was about $6 million in a tax credit, based on projected in-state spending of nearly $24.4 million. The incentive was upped to more than $6.7 million, based on spending of nearly $27 million. Principal shooting is expected to take place through Feb. 9.

A&P Productions LLC had been approved for a cash rebate of $174,074, based on estimated Utah spending of $870,373, for the episodic documentary “American Crime: The Salamander.” In-state spending has jumped to $1.16 million, so the incentive was increased to $232,099.

The incentive for the second season of “The Chosen,” an episodic drama, was changed from a $350,000 tax credit to a cash rebate of the same amount. The Chosen Texas LLC is the production company. The production is expected to spend more than $4 million in Utah, including during principal photography taking place through Feb. 22.