Will discuss Utah's rich filmmaking history and mission to promote the state of Utah for film

Formed in 1974, the Utah Film Commission is part of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Utah Office of Tourism. Their mission is to promote the entire state of Utah for film, television and commercial production and foster the development of local talent, crew and industry. Although audiences around the world may know Utah’s landscapes from films like Thelma & Louise, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or even High School Musical, Utah’s rich filmmaking history began long before those films hit the big screen. Once known as “Little Hollywood,” Utah’s unique landscapes have made the state a popular backdrop for filmmakers since two 1924 silent films, The Deadwood Coach, shot on location in Zion National Park, Cedar City, and the newly formed Bryce Canyon National Monument; and The Covered Wagon, shot in Northern Utah. These movies were the first of Hollywood’s star-studded Westerns to shoot in state. Over the years, Utah has slipped into countless roles, sometimes as different states or even different planets.