Two new movies to be shot in Utah

The Governor's Office of Economic Development Thursday approved tax incentives for two movie productions that will be shooting in Utah next year.

"Cloud Nine," a Disney Channel movie begins filming in the state Jan. 14 for nearly six weeks, in a project the Utah Film Commission hopes will do for the state's ski resorts what "High School Musical" did for Salt Lake City's East High School.

"The local ski resorts are going to get a lot of exposure," film commission executive director Marshall Moore said. "It's a snowboard competition movie about a girl who doesn't make the snowboarding team when she thinks she should and works her way back up."

The production is expected to generate more than $7.5 million in spending in the state. The film, which will be entirely shot in Utah, is produced by Salty Pictures, the same Utah-based company that made the "High School Musical" films. Producers could receive as much as $3.4 million back from a tax incentive and cash rebate, depending on how much they spend in the state.

GOED members also approved a tax incentive for "Need for Speed," the newest film based on a popular video game franchise. That film, billed as a racing movie similar to the "Fast and Furious" franchise, is reportedly going to star Aaron Paul, who won an Emmy recently for the hit cable TV show, "Breaking Bad."

The film is shooting for more than a week in Utah, beginning May 28. Moore said the production company has been scouting the mountains of northern Utah and the Bonneville Salt Flats. The movie is expected to bring more than $1.6 million in local spending and producers could get $321,000 back in tax credits.

Movie and television producers can receive either tax credits or cash rebates if they spend a certain amount of money while shooting in Utah. The 18 productions shot last fiscal year resulted in 1,026 production jobs and 698 working days for local crew members, Moore said.

vince@sltrib.com