Creating a film using in-state resources wasn't just a necessity to the team behind "Jupiter Landing" — it was their driving force.
With so much industry talent in the Beehive State, finding a cast and crew was easy and cheaper for the Utah-based filmmakers. It's not a new concept in the movie-making business, but it's one "Jupiter Landing" said has given them success.
"I think Hollywood's missing out of this huge opportunity, but I'll keep taking advantage of it," "Jupiter Landing" director and co-writer Stacy Dymalski said. "I've worked in California. But I prefer to work here."
The movie makes its debut at the Park City Film Music Festival Thursday, where cast and crew will watch the film make its premiere on their stomping (or filming) grounds.
"I didn't apply to Sundance because we didn't finish the film in time. But I did finish it in time for the Park City Film Music Festival. I never dreamed we'd be able to show the movie on home turf in Park City. Which is great because it's local talent," said Dymalski, who lives in Park City and who is making her first-time directorial debut.
That local talent includes Mary Beth Maziarz, who wrote and produced the score and original music for the movie. Maziarz is a popular singer and songwriter whose music has been featured on TV shows like "Everwood" and "Dawson's Creek." The Illinois native has also achieved her success while in the state for the past 13 years.
"I came straight to Utah. I decided to go to Hollywood via Utah," she said from her Park City home.
"Most of the productions I work on are Utah-based," said Maziarz, including the theme song for a popular European soap opera. "There is such a great talent and creativity. Utah is one of the best places you can be in the country right now for creative, artistic vision. I think the outside world doesn't expect that from us."
"Jupiter Landing" features an eclectic mix of characters who live together in a run-down house (filmed in the Avenues). The character-driven dark comedy displays the dramatic difference between the characters, who are forced to unite when an eviction notice arrives.
Veteran filmmaker Dymalski teamed up with Deseret Morning News reporter and editor Zack Van Eyck, whose original story for "Jupiter Landing" won a screenwriting competition. As part of his prize, Van Eyck's script won a free posting on a popular Web site. When Dymalski rewrote the script, Hollywood took notice.
But after an option deal fell through, Dymalski and Van Eyck were pushed to make the film on their own. The two have since formed an award-wining screenwriting team.
"It just shows that really anybody can make a movie if you're determined," said Van Eyck, an Avenues resident. "We're kind of challenging the idea that you have to be in Los Angeles to be filmmakers."
Production staff raised enough money to make the movie on a tight budget (under $1 million).
As the brainchild of Van Eyck, he still finds it surreal to see his work on the big screen.
"If you take all the five main characters in 'Jupiter Landing' and combine them, they're me," he said. "It's really neat, seeing those characters on screen. It's like seeing my entire personality splattered across the screen."
In addition to the Park City Film Music Festival, "Jupiter Landing" will go on to screen at the European Film Mart at the Berlin Film Festival in February and the Cinequest Film Festival's Online Viewer's Voice Film Competition in March. The wide range of festivals are just the first three the production staff has heard back from. They're hoping more festivals and a distribution deal will follow.
But it's the music festival that Maziarz is naturally excited about. The music includes theme songs for the characters.
"It was incredibly challenging and cool from a music standpoint. It was almost like a big puzzle," she said.
Maziarz described the process as "getting deeper into the characters," since she had to look beyond their obvious physical appearance. For example, the gothic character Amber originally had a dark theme, matching her image. But by choosing a softer theme, "We found her much more sympathetic. The audience could relate to her more. We brought that out with mellow piano and strings."
The Park City Film Music Festival goes until Jan. 29, and tickets are $10 per film. Screenings will be at the Main Street Mall, 333 Main St., in Park City. "Jupiter Landing" is one of three films from Utah and will screen at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, and 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
For information, visit www.parkcityfilmmusicfestival.com.
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com