Life in America's (Sci-Fi) Movie Set
A peek into the inspiration behind Issue Five's theme
When I moved from New York to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2022, one of the first “tourist” spots I visited was the Utah State Capitol building. The Capitol functions not only as the seat of the state government, but also as a visitors’ center of sorts for the state of Utah. There was one small exhibit in particular that caught my eye — a display by the Utah Film Commission featuring looping video clips of high-profile movies and television shows filmed in the state.
There was a lot I didn’t know about my new home state at that point, but I definitely hadn’t realized just how many movies get made here in the Beehive State. Utah even boasts the nickname “America’s Film Set.” It also struck me how many of the films and TV shows listed were speculative, and especially works of science fiction.
As I’ve seen more and more of Utah firsthand, I understand why this state has become such a magnet for science fiction films and shows in particular. Part of the reason is simply that Utah’s landscapes are beautiful and diverse, allowing for many different settings to be filmed within a single state, from snow-capped mountains to red rock deserts.
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