The new film “Only the Brave” tells the story of the 19 firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona in 2013.
But, the film about one of the greatest tragedies that’s ever hit our state wasn’t filmed here. It was shot in New Mexico. That’s largely because, since the Great Recession, Arizona no longer offers production companies incentives to shoot here. So, they go elsewhere.
The Arizona Legislature closed its state film office when money was tight during the recession and has recently reopened it — but, incentives are still not on the table.
But, a new film celebrating another Arizona native is being shot here. “Wishman” is about the founder of the Make a Wish Foundation and is being shot in Prescott now.
We talked to Wendy Bridges, the film commissioner with the Prescott office, about the new film and the long history of filmmaking in Prescott.
