First $500,000 rebate from film commission goes to Hopkins flick

Director Roger Donaldson loved shooting his movie on the Bonneville Salt Flats. "It's an amazingly visual location," he said in a promotional brochure for the film "The World's Fastest Indian." The movie stars Anthony Hopkins.

"It's dead flat, it's white, everything gets reflections. . ." Donaldson said. "It has fabulous mountains in the distance that give it a sense of depth." Well, that's what you get when you film in Utah, Mr. Donaldson. That and $500,000.

"The World's Fastest Indian" is the first film to garner the maximum rebate under Utah's new incentive program to encourage television and film producers to set up their cameras here. The Utah Film Commission celebrated "The World's Fastest Indian" with a special preview at the Broadway Theater Tuesday.

Gov. Jon Huntsman was one of those who walked down a red carpet into the theater. He was there, he said, for the motorcycles and for Hopkins and because this movie speaks well of the state's ability to attract world-class filmmakers. Huntsman said he has been out on four or five film shoots in the last few months, talking to producers about why they should make their next film in Utah.

Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the state's Office of Tourism, and Aaron Lee Syrett, director of the Utah Film Commission explained the way the incentives work. The state has one million dollars in incentives to award each year. No one project may get more than $500,000. "The World's Fastest Indian" was actually reimbursed before the new law went into effect, as part of a pilot program to demonstrate to the legislature how the 10 percent incentive would work.

It works like this: After the film is completed, producers submit their bills and the state does an audit. The makers of "Indian" spent over $5 million in the state. They were reimbursed for 10 percent of everything they spent on things like hotels, groceries, equipment rental and purchase, salaries for Utahns and state taxes paid by actors and crew who came from other places.

Line producer Donald Shain spoke to the audience before the movie started saying that when he first met Donaldson in 2004, the director was only planning to spend a week or so in Utah. Shain explained the state's incentive program and "Indian" eventually qualified for it. Donaldson and his crews ended up spending 15 weeks in Utah.

Not every movie gets an incentive. In the last few months only 6 out of a possible 65 productions were awarded incentives, according to the Film Commission. Shain said 22 other states have incentives. Some offer 15 or 20 percent rebates. Some cap the award at $1 million or more.

Director Donaldson was not at the Broadway last night. He is making a tour of film festivals. He did offer a speech via video and reported that "Indian" got a standing ovation in Toronto last week.

"The World's Fastest Indian" is based on the true story of a 1920 Indian motorcycle and the man who loved it. The man, Burt Munro, a New Zealander who began racing in his 60s and came to Utah's Salt Flats in 1967. His speed record is still unbroken.

The movie is expected to be in Utah theaters next January.

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