Incentives launch pair of film productions

A pair of Utah film productions recently approved for state incentives have stories ranging from a surprise bridal shower to “a legendary force of evil.”

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board recently approved the incentives for “More Than I Wished For” and “Cold Dead Hands.”

The lighter of the two plots is “More Than I Wished For.” Happy Wives LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $98,000 as part of the Community Film Incentive Program, based on in-state spending of $490,000. The production involves 18 cast, 35 crew and 60 extras.

GOED documents indicate the plot centers on a perpetually single woman “who makes a fake wedding registry, hoping the shopping spree with the scan gun will be cathartic. When the registry is discovered and the whole town throws her a surprise bridal shower, she’s too embarrassed to tell the truth. Instead, she finds a fake fiancé to help her navigate all of the holiday festivities, but pretty soon real feelings develop.”

The director is Ryan Little, who also is a producer along with Adam Abel.

“The Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program was instrumental in our decision to film ‘More Than I Wished For’ here in the state,” Abel said in a prepared statement. “Without the incentive, we would have produced the film elsewhere. The qualitied crew base available to us in Utah is unmatched. We are thrilled to be shooting another feature film in the state.”

Principal photography took place Jan. 11-23 in Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch counties.

“It’s interesting to see the holiday film market has gotten so big that they’re looking for new and better ways to shoot these films, and relying on fake snow and shooting in the summer for a quick, six-month turnaround, [instead] they’re shooting a year in advance to take advantage of real snow and real winter locations, so this one would premiere most likely on a Lifetime/Hallmark-type platform next year,” Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, told the GOED board.

The board also approved a cash rebate incentive from the Community Film Incentive Program for up to $70,000 for Top Dead Center Films for “Cold Dead Hands,” a feature thriller. The production is expected to involve three cast, 30 crew and four extras and spend $350,000 in Utah. Principal shooting was scheduled for Jan. 4-22.

The film tells the story of billionaire sportsman Buddy King, who unwinds by hunting at his remote mountain estate. “Ava Bravo, his latest victim, is no easy target,” GOED documents state. “Ava strikes back at her captor, triggering a battle that draws the attention of something lurking deep within the snowy woods — a legendary force of evil that is now coming for both hunter and prey.”

The director is Gary Auerbach, who also is the producer along with Chris Copier.

“We are excited to be working with Mexican actress Kate Del Castillo,” Auerbach said in a prepared statement. “This film is a journey of a woman’s quest for redemption set against the backdrop of Utah’s beautiful winter snow. Shot in Park City, ‘Cold Dead Hands’ will bring Utah to an international audience.”