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Show Two Movie Firms View Moab as Possible Location Moab is being scrutinized . by two film companies seeking seek-ing a site for summer filming film-ing operations. Paramount Productions of Hollywood, in conjunction with an English film company, com-pany, is looking for an area that lends necessary background back-ground for an early American Amer-ican movie, "Blue," which will be filmed entirely on location. CBS-TV needs a filming site for a new series entitled "Cherokee," based on settling set-tling of the West. All requirements for the first movie, "Blue," were found in or near Moab, according ac-cording to Manly Lincoln, member of the Moab Chamber Cham-ber movie committee, who toured the area with English Eng-lish Director of the film, Silvio Nerizzaro and Hollywood Holly-wood officials, Director Jud Bernard; Associate Director, Direct-or, Pat Casey; and Unit Production Manager, Howard How-ard Roessel. The officials found a suitable water crossing on the Colorado river: farming lands in the La Sal, Wilson Mesa and Castle Valley areas, ar-eas, and desert terrain resembling re-sembling th e Texas-Mexico border near Canyon-lands Canyon-lands Airport. Motel accommodations in the area were certified, and use of the school gymnasiums gymnas-iums and Star Hall were assured for standby indoor studios in case of bad weather. wea-ther. The filming officials toured tour-ed the former Utex Laboratory Labora-tory building on Center street, and found it suitable for u:;e as wardrobe, makeup, make-up, storage and office headquarters. head-quarters. A blueprint of the building has been forwarded to Hollywood. Also needed were Indians, equipment, transportation, stock and rough riders ,all of Which Moab could provide. pro-vide. Mr. Lincoln said Moab could also provide the 125 locals needed as extras, and has active high school drama dra-ma and little theater groups from which the 40 to 50 persons could be pulled for bit speaking parts in the movie. The filming operations for "Blue" will extend over a three month period, which would be ideal for drawing vacationing high school and college student labor. Mr. Lincoln said if Moab is chosen by the studio representatives rep-resentatives as location s'te for the film , advance personnel per-sonnel will move in in about mid-May. CBS officials touring the Moab area found terrain needed for the "Cherokee" series. Also, Mr. Lincoln noted the filming operations Would extend periodically throughout the year, from latter May through November. Novem-ber. A CBS cast of about 75 would toe used, plus a similar number of local extras. The TV officials were looking for river scenery open plateau similar to that on Big Flat, desert country such as is found near Canyonlands Can-yonlands Airport, Mountain background, river meadows, and rolling hills. They were assured of year-round storage stor-age space for equipment, and lodging accommodations. accommodat-ions. D&RG Railroad officials informed Mr. Lincoln that old period passenger and freight cars could be provided. pro-vided. However, the steam engines, one of which is needed for the film, have all been scrapped. Both ilming companies commented favorably on the Moab country, and have requested additional brochures bro-chures and photographs of the area. However, the business bus-iness of hosting film companies com-panies has grown highly competitive, Mr. Lincoln said. The governor of New Mexico has established a special department of state to promote the lucrative business. The Paramount film would be the longest filming operation op-eration Moab has hosted in many, years. Once the chosen site for wetsern film making, Moab has not harbored a motion picture location 'company since 1964. Movie Committee Commit-tee chairman, Norman G. Boyd, said no stone would be left unturned to cooperate cooper-ate with the film executives. |