Film production set to bring $45M, 1,700+ jobs to state

Brice Wallace 

Paramount, the movie company whose logo legendarily is based on Ben Lomond Peak north of Ogden, will spend $40 million and several months this year in Summit County as it produces a series in the state.

The untitled project was among three productions approved for state incentives by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) board at the board’s June meeting. In all, the projects will spend about $45 million in the state and{mprestriction ids="1,3"} employ 1,713 people.

“We are excited to see a diversity of productions filming around the state and putting our talented crews and vendors to work,” said Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission.

Details about the Paramount project are scarce, although it will be shot at Utah Film Studios. Go Utah documents lists the project summary as “Paramount Global and 101 Studios untitled project.”

The documents indicate it will have four cast members, 300 crew and 1,000 extras. Work, including prep and post-production, is scheduled for August to November. Principal photography is scheduled for Sept. 18-Oct. 18.

King Street Productions Inc. was approved for a $10 million tax credit incentive, to be spread over three fiscal years.

The producer is David Glasser. The director is to be determined.

“I am grateful to the state of Utah and the state Legislature for their continued support of the Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program,” said Gary Crandall, owner of Utah Film Studios. “We are thrilled that Paramount is returning to Utah and will be providing a cash infusion into rural communities with this new project.”

Another incentive, in the form of a tax credit of up to $1.14 million, was approved for Cantina Productions LLC for an action feature film under the working title of “Oops All Berries.” It will spend more than $4.5 million in Utah, including during shooting this summer in Emery and Grand counties.

The production is expected to employ 140 cast and crew and 60 extras. The production work, including prep and post-production, is expected to take place through October. Principal shooting is scheduled for Aug. 28-Sept. 5.

The film tells about a group of supervillains who are recruited to go on missions for the government.

The director is Jake Schreier. The producer is Kevin Feige.

“In creating a more grounded, globe-trotting film, it was important that we place our characters in as many practical locations as possible,” said Brian Chapek, executive producer. “With that directive in mind, we needed a location somewhere in the United States to serve as the setting for one of our film’s most important sequences. We looked at many options and found that Utah featured such a unique and impressive geography that we hadn’t seen before in a movie. The Utah locations we scouted felt untouched by the larger world, which made us very excited to shoot there.”

Silver Peak Productions LLC was approved for a cash rebate incentive of up to $89,503 for its production of “Destined at Christmas 2,” a sequel to air on Great American Family. The company is expected to spend $447,517 in Utah, including during shooting that took place in May and June in Utah, Weber and Juab counties.

The sequel to a 2022 film involves 24 cast, 35 crew and 150 extras. Work, including prep and post-production, is expected to take place through August.

The plot involves a character named Theo trying to propose to Kim a year after they first met but finding it difficult during the Christmas rush of shopping and traditions.

The director is Brittany Wiscombe, who also is a producer along with Brian Brough.

“We love Utah’s film industry, businesses and people,” said Brough, producer at Orem-based Silver Peak. “By filming in Utah, we’re able to find the hardworking crew, talented actors and beautiful locations to bring our movie to life.”{/mprestriction}