Actors' & writers' strikes likely to hold up film productions in Utah

Brice Wallace 

Another “Animal” could be prowling in Utah in late summer.

A sequel to the 2001 Rob Schneider comedy film “The Animal” recently was approved for a state tax credit incentive, but strikes by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America likely will push back production. SAG-AFTRA members went on strike July 13, joining film and TV writers striking since May.

At the July meeting of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) board, Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, said “The Animal 2” and the production of the horror feature “Blood Peach” likely would be affected by those strikes.

“That will mean that most of the productions that we’re going to get going in the next couple of weeks will likely be on hold,” she told the board. The incentives approved at the meeting will mean “they’re set up to go ahead and get started as soon as the strike is resolved. And we are all hoping for a quick resolution because this does mean a pause on basically the entire industry across the country, so it is quite a big deal,” he said.

The July board meeting resulted in nearly $2.9 million in incentives, in the form of cash rebates and tax credits, being approved for seven productions expected to spend a total of $14.3 million in the state and employ 2,077 people.

Tech Beasts Inc. was approved for a rural tax credit of up to $640,000 for “The Animal 2,” which is expected to spend $3.2 million in Utah. The production had been expected to include principal photography Aug. 7-Sept. 5 and include 27 cast, 88 crew and 300 extras. The sequel will air on a streaming service. Schneider is also directing. The producer is Jake Van Wagoner.

Schneider will reprise his role as a police station evidence clerk whose life has been saved through organ transplants from animal donors, only to find himself taking on strange animalistic traits that helps him solve crimes.

Red Morning LLC was approved for a rural tax credit of up to $1.3 million for “Blood Peach,” expected to spend $7 million in Kane and Washington counties. Twenty-five cast, 100 crew and 1,000 extras are expected to be involved, including during principal photography set for Sept. 11-Oct. 13. The director is Britt Poulton. Producers are Toby Hallbrooks and Bill Karesh.

“Blood Peach,” set in Southern Utah, tells the story of an overlooked and bullied teenage girl who finds safety and solace — and unexpected power — inside an ancient peach orchard that haunts the people, both past and present, of her small town, according to Go Utah documents.

Grizzly Night LLC was approved for a rural tax credit of up to $442,650 for the feature drama “Grizzly Night,” expected to spend nearly $1.8 million in Utah, including during shooting Aug. 20-Sept. 14 in Wasatch County. The production is expected to employ 30 cast, 79 crew and 37 extras. The director is Burke Doeren. Producers are Lauren Call and Kellie Doeren.

Based on a true story, “Grizzly Night” focuses on a 1967 attack by two grizzly bears at Glacier National Park that left two 19-year-old women dead. It follows the people involved in the tragedy over the 36-hour period “that would change how we share natural space with wildlife from then on,” Go Utah documents explain.

The Wilderness LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $212,000 for the feature drama “The Wilderness.” It is expected to spend more than $1 million in Utah, including during photography scheduled for July 31-Aug. 26 in Garfield County. It has seven cast, 30 crew and 15 extras. The director is Spencer King. Producers are Amy Berg and Alexandra Edwards.

“A troubled teen gets thrown against his will into a Wilderness Rehabilitation camp in the Utah desert,” is the Go Utah document synopsis. “Along the way, he discovers his voice, learns to love selflessly, and eventually uncovers a sickening truth about the camp’s leader.”

Buster Brooks Movie LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $136,000 for the feature comedy “Buster Brooks,” expected to spend $680,000 in Utah. Principal photography is scheduled for Aug. 14-Sept. 4 in Salt Lake and Utah counties. The production is expected to employ 20 cast, 24 crew and 150 extras. The director is Savannah Ostler. Producers are Ostler, Carolyn Koskan, Tony Toscano and McCord Larsen.

The plot focuses on a naive farm boy who moves to Hollywood with his pet rooster to try to make it in the movies but ultimately must decide between his family life back home and his Hollywood dreams.

Deadly Gossip LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $98,000 for “Deadly Gossip,” a feature thriller. Expected to air on a streaming service, it is expected to spend $490,000 in Utah. Principal photography is scheduled for Aug. 7-24. It will have 12 cast, 33 crew and 60 extras. The director is Nanea Miyata. The producer is Gary Auerbach.

“Deadly Gossip” tells the story of a woman detective trying to solve a murder based on a gossip website.

Night Moves LLC was approved for a cash rebate of up to $20,000 for “In the Path of Shadows,” a feature thriller expected to spend $100,000 in Utah. The production is expected to employ 15 cast, 15 crew and 10 extras, including during principal shooting scheduled for Aug. 21-Sept. 8 in Salt Lake and Wasatch counties. The director is Taylor S. Doose. Producers are Jonathan Nelson and Matthew Webb.

The production focuses on a woman “haunted by the shadows of her fear.”