Incentives bring 3 film productions to Utah

A trio of independent productions have been approved for state incentives to shoot in Utah.

The approvals by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board came during the board’s May meeting.

Two Roads Productions LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $156,620 for “Halfway to Heaven,” a pilot for a family series. The production is expected to spend $783,100 in Utah, including during principal photography set for July 19-27 in Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties and possibly Kanab.

The plot involves a dead man who discovers halfway to heaven that he has an unknown identical twin brother back on Earth whose soul is in jeopardy. He decides to return to Earth in the form of an angel to attempt to heal his brother’s broken life and family.

The production will have 18 cast, 45 crew and 100 extras. The director is Mitch Davis, who is a producer along with Dick Cook.

Riley Can You Hear Me? LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $81,538 for “Riddle of Fire,” a feature comedy expected to spend $407,688 in Utah. Shooting is expected to take place June 14-16 in Summit, Uintah and Salt Lake counties.

“Riddle of Fire” is a modern-day fairytale about three dirt bike-riding children who refer to themselves as the “Three Immortal Reptiles.”

The production will involve nine cast, 28 crew and 12 extras. The director is Weston Razooli, who is a producer along with Sohrab Mirmont.

PGP Slate Holdings was approved for a cash rebate of up to $28,000 for “In the Queue,” a drama short film projected to spend $140,000 in Utah. Shooting for the film took place in April in Salt Lake County.

The production explores the way audiences peruse and are paralyzed by the choices in entertainment.

The production is expected to involve 26 cast, 26 crew and two extras. The director is Joel Petrie. The producer is Ryan Templeman.

“For us, Utah is home,” Templeton said. “Not only is there a generous bounty of incredible crew, cast, locations and production services, but there’s an unbelievable wealth of stories and storytellers with the substance to expand the Utah narrative beyond its borders. If you’re going to make studio-quality independent films, this is the place.”