Good evening, Sheridanites. This is a press release straight from Sheridan Travel & Tourism detailing none other than plans for the budding movie business in Wyoming. We’re excited to see our corner of the woods on the big screen in the future! Read on for details:
SHERIDAN, WY, December 7, 2015 – Through a Wyoming Business Council grant awarded to the Sheridan Economic and Educational Development Authority, Buffalo Chamber and Sheridan Travel & Tourism will work with local film professionals Leon Schatz and Francine Russell to develop a plan to entice the film industry to Sheridan and Johnson Counties. This project was selected from many proposals by the Creative Economy Council of Sheridan and Johnson Counties, a coordinating body of local organizations affiliated with the creative economy.
“One of our main concerns with the film industry is that projects that are set in Wyoming are being filmed elsewhere,” said Sheridan Travel & Tourism Executive Director Shawn Parker. “We want to know why, so that we can begin building a plan to attract productions to our communities.”
The goal is to determine what types of film projects are the best fit for Sheridan and Johnson counties and determine what needs must be met in order to entice the film industry.
With over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry, Schatz and Russell plan to gather data from the industry itself. “There are a lot of questions to be answered,” said Schatz. “Luckily we know a lot of people who can help us develop the best fit scenario for Sheridan and Johnson Counties.”
The finished study will include reports on successful film commissions, locations and crew databases, an understanding of community desires, production company needs and a needs-based assessment of the process to educate a workforce.
“Sheridan and Johnson counties have some of the most scenic locations in Wyoming, or anywhere for that matter,” said Colin Stricklin, of the Wyoming Film commission. “They deserve to be in pictures, and this grant is going to help make that happen. These efforts have the full support of the Wyoming Film Office, and we’re excited to do our part helping them succeed.”
Final reports, slated for completion by June 2016, will provide Sheridan and Johnson Counties with the information needed to work toward becoming “film ready” and propose actionable steps to meet the plan’s goals.
“Other communities have tapped in,” said Buffalo Chamber’s Angela Fox. “We are excited to find our niche and develop new creative ways of supplementing our economies through the arts.”
Reach out to the film team via email at sheridanjohnsonfilmplan@gmail.com
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