Pair of film productions set to film in Utah, thanks to Go Utah incentives

Brice Wallace 

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) board approved a pair of film incentives at its April meeting, with the projects expected to result in Utah spending of nearly $3 million and employment of 543 people.

The two incentives follow three projects approved for incentives in March.

In April, OBHF LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $425,000 for its production of “One Big Happy Family,” a feature comedy expected to spend $1.87 million in Utah. Principal photography is scheduled for May 2-24 in Salt Lake County. The project is expected to employ{mprestriction ids="1,3"} 20 cast, 58 crew and 200 extras.

The film tells the story of a DNA test upending a woman’s life and her then embarking on a hilarious journey with her eccentric mother to find out who she really is.

The director is Matt Sohn. The producers are Lisa Brenner and Grace Lay.

Camera 40 Productions LLC was approved for a rural film incentive in the form of a tax credit of up to $274,995 for the pilot of “The Wayfinders,” a science fiction project expected to spend just over $1 million in Utah. Shooting is scheduled for July 10-17 in Juab County and possibly along the Wasatch Front.

The production is expected to employ 10 cast, 55 crew and 200 extras.

“The Wayfinders” focuses on three Gen Z high school students in a brutal medieval fantasy world of magic and monsters as they fight for their lives and search for a way to get home.

The director is Glen Winter. Producers are Justin Partridge and Jennifer Griffin.

Among the projects approved for incentives in March are “Image of You.” The Go Utah board approved a tax credit incentive of up to $750,000 for Image of You Productions Inc. for the feature thriller expected to spend $3 million in Utah. Shooting in Tooele and Juab counties is expected to take place May 15-June 9.

The production is expected to employ 20 cast, 125 crew and 300 extras.

“Image of You” tells the story of twins Anna and Zoe, who are are identical in appearance but utterly different in personality. Nothing can rip them apart, until Anna meets charismatic Nick, and Zoe will stop at nothing to discover the truth about him.

The director is Jeff Fisher. The producers are David Wulf and Brad Krevoy.

The Chosen Texas LLC was approved for a tax credit of up to $638,787 for the fourth season of “The Chosen,” an episodic drama telling the life of Jesus. The project is expected to spend nearly $3.2 million in Utah and employ 20 cast, 30 crew and 400 extras. Principal photography is scheduled for June 26-July 28, mostly in Utah County.

The director is Dallas Jenkins. Producers are Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen.

Snow Falling LLC was approved for a tax credit of up to $542,802 for “A Tree Fell in the Woods,” a feature drama expected to spend $2.17 million in Utah. It is expected to use 97 crew and 83 extras during shooting taking place May 8-June 2.

The dramas story focuses on people learning the secrets of their relationships after a couple of people return home early to their vacation rental, only to catch their respective partners having an affair.

The director is Nora Kirkpatrick. Producers are Lynette Howell Taylor and Samantha Housman.

Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, told the Go Utah board at its most recent meeting that as many as eight productions could be up for incentives consideration at the May board meeting. They would be seeking incentive funds for projects that would take place during the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.{/mprestriction}