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Show The IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP LEGISLATURE EYEING WITH YOUR HORSE, A-8 LASH EXTENSIONS, A-8 Park Record. Editor: Andrew Kirk business@parkrecord.com 435.649.9014 cx.104 DEER VALLEY NAMED A TOP 2ND-H0ME MARKET According to a press release, the financial magazine Barren's recently named Deer Valley as No. 6 on its second annual "Top Second-Home Communities" list. Aspen, Colo, was ranked No. 4. Sea Island, Georgia is No. 1. The list suggests where to find the best buys in today's luxury real estate market. To see the full list and feature story, visit http://bit.ly/SecondHome2011. Considerations for the ranking include attributes such as beauty, comfort, convenience, a range of lifestyles and value. STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EXPLAINED The Utah Department of Workforce Services will host a free breakfast seminar for all employers on April 13 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at 1385 South State Street in Salt Lake City. The event, organized by the Employer Connection Advisory Board and sponsored by SOS Staffing Services, will give an overview of the Utah Unemployment Insurance •Program. Information will include industry trends, demographics, steps to lower tax rates, the claims processes, federal emergency programs and more. Attendees must register early by emailing awood@stampinup.com. UTAH GASOLINE PRICES HIT $3.31 According to a press release from UtahGasPrices.com, the average retail gasoline price in Utah rose 8.9 cents per gallon last week, averaging $3.31 per gallon last weekend. This compares with the national average that increased 12.6 cents per gallon last week to $3.47 per gallon. Including the increase in Utah last week, prices last Sunday were 60.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago. WED/THURS/FRI, MARCH 9-11, 2011 'Lights! Camera! Joystick!' Video-game makers could soon share the Film Incentive Fund By ANDREW KIRK Of the Record staff In House Bill 99, Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, is asking Utah's film industry to switch to "two-player" mode with its incentives program. The bill, which is currently under debate as HB 99 Substitute, would add "digital media" to the definition of those that qualify for tax rebates under the Motion Pictures Incentive Fund - the program set up to attract more movie and television creators to film or work in Utah. The industry is important to Summit County home to the Sundance Film Festival, several popular filming locations, and possibly Raleigh Studios in the future. The given definition of digital media includes video games and other interactive software - both for education and entertainment. Including "digital media" with the film industry is only natural considering the evolution of movies and television, said Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission. Much of what goes onscreen is produced inside a computer now, he said. It makes sense to potentially share the incentives fund with video-game and educational-software producers because they're essentially doing the same things, and the film industry now considers themed games an important part of its business plans, explained Gary Harter, managing director of business creation for the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). Disney Interactive Studios, for example, owns Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City. Disney movies are filmed in Utah, and Disney video games are made here, too. Using the same fund to entice both industries to the state is already being done in 21 other states, Harter said. Successful video games and their offshoots generate profits for years, he added. Utah companies are already producing some of America's favorites, like "Sims." If the bill is passed, Moore is not anticipating any changes to the film office. The incentive will be marketed by GOED, which will also approve the applications - as it does for the tourism and business-development incentive funds. This idea was proposed by the "interactive digital media" industry, and if it works, why complicate the incentives process? Harter asked. One reason is the money may run out. The fund is allocated by the Utah Legislature and it is a finite amount. The first three years the fund existed it was exhausted every year, Moore said. The last three years it has almost run out. Bryan Clifton, owner of Redman Movies and Stories, has been involved in the Utah film industry for decades. His company rents equipment to film crews. Clifton said he's been a supporter of the incentive fund ever since Canada created one in 1979. But when he first learned that his industry would share the fund with "interactive digital media," he said it was a "real shock." The reason why the money hasn't been exhausted the last three years is because the rebates rates haven't been enough to attract business. Utah was in the top 10 nationally for motion picture economic activity prior to 1999. Since then, the state has dropped into the bottom half and lost market PARK MEADOWS C O U N T R Y CLUB www.packmeadowscc.com share every year, he said. for 10 years, and at this point throwAnother initiative of R e p . ing money at the problem isnt going Hughes' bill is to increase the amount tofixit, he said. of money crews can get back from If Utah's film industry is propped the state. That should improve up with rebates, it's false economic demand for filming here, but poten- growth. tially exhaust the money next year, Creating a viable digital media Clifton said. industry here will be good for the If the money must be shared with film industry, good for universities, another existing industry that is good for graduating students and growing quickly, it could run out fast, good for the whole state, he said. he added. Some sacrifices will have to be But that was only his initial reac- made, but creating a viable economy tion, Clifton clarified. After thinking is kind of like baking a cake - the on it awhile, he concluded it's a good right proportion of ingredients must idea. go into the mix, Clifton said. "We've got to find the right forHB99S01 has passed the House mula," he said. "We're trying to solve and is now in the Senate. an economic problem that affects a lot of people... we're trying to create jobs for graduating students wanting -...•',-••". careers in this -i-rT- ' *•* industry." Utah has been behind the curve Are you r n town ' S^rk Meadows Cinmtry Social Membership Benefits include V;\\\\ ("itv's oi • IVivnto Irnils lor SMOWSIUMMH^. m i s s rounf rv A sk;ilc skiing, |ilus WITKIV "rriM'sd;iv ISIiicsd.iv A " l i l a i k Thursd.tv" downhill ski primps, • Slaiv of Ilir art I'iliirss i v n i r r A: nVlirxr locker moms. World Cl.-iss, casii.-il ,-nnl line dim1 cuisine jiirpnml with only the finest and freshest ingredients hv award winning and innIti-published Kxenilivc Uiel ( lirisShcchaii. 1'JNcMin^ Social rnlrmlar ul'rvcnN *n»'li as (a hard X i , ' 1 ' Wine Pairing Dinners, l!i*1m NijJiNand Kuiiih Tlirmr Nif»lils(tlTcrin^ kill rrirndh niriiiis. iZSTTKe Park Record be the first to welcome you We'll introduce you to Who, What, Where and When in Park City and Summit County Subscribe to the Park Record and get all of your Park City and Summit County News. Delivered twice a week to your driveway or mail box. We now also offer our e-Edition free with any paid print subscription or. , : ; by itself for $48.00 a year. ^:'^&0-•> *'£ • ^Wfit Also includes a complimentary copy of the Sunday Salt Lake Tribune free with your paid print subscription in Summit County. "-•; ; ;•• \ '-^U Subscribe now for $48.00 for a full year of The Park Record. 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