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Home > Archive > Mar 6, 2008

Plans Move Forward for 'Sky of Dreams Ranch' Film Studio
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
A group of film executives are looking to make Southern Utah the permanent home for their “Sky of Dreams.”
Next Entertainment, a new media production company, is in the process of purchasing land in the St. George area for the Sky of Dreams Ranch, a facility that will house film production studios, a studio back lot, sound stages, screening rooms and production capabilities for film, television and video game technology. The Sky of Dreams Ranch will be equipped to accommodate virtually all facets of film and media production, according to a press release.
“Our intention for this facility is to support the independent film industry that Sundance has been behind for a number of years now,” Next Entertainment Executive Producer Mac Adamson said during a presentation at Dixie State College. “What we want to create is a place for independent filmmakers to come and create top-quality movies at affordable budgets, and to really spur the independent film industry from just fringe market penetration to mainstream distribution.”
Adamson and his partners visited DSC on Feb. 21 to speak at the Student Media Center Forum. They discussed their plans for the Sky of Dreams Ranch, which will also include the construction of a Life Healing center, a Native American Heritage Center and five-star lodging for the filmmakers involved. They also answered audience members' questions during the forum and discussed plans to offer internships and educational opportunities for DSC film students, as well as students from other colleges in surrounding areas (such as Cedar City and Las Vegas). Next Entertainment representatives additionally met with St. George City Mayor Dan McArthur later that same day.
“Our intention now is to come here and get the community of St. George involved and Washington County in this project,” Adamson said, “because it is a project that will affect this county down here and the population. We want to be a good neighbor – we want to be involved in the community, supportive of the community and promoting the interests of this community.”
Plans for the Sky of Dreams Ranch were initially announced at the Sundance Film Festival in January. St. George was a favored choice when it came to scouting out locations, Adamson said, because of the scenic qualities of the area, as well as the friendliness and upbeat demeanor of the residents.
“Our first choice was this area down here, because it was beautiful and unparalleled, spectacular scenery,” he said. “I don't think there's a place in the world that can equal this kind of scenery.”
Backed financially by Celerity Investments of South Jordan, Next Entertainment is sinking multimillions into the Sky of Dreams Ranch, and the studio facility is anticipated to cover a minimum of 50 acres. Next Entertainment is currently scouting out a few other parcels of land in the St. George area, and a final location has not been decided upon at this time.
The first project to roll out from Next Entertainment and the Sky of Dreams Ranch will be a film trilogy called “The Mystical World of Nebe,” co-written by Anderson, Executive Producer Jan Myrick and Co-Producer Craig Clyde. Pre-production for the film is tentatively set to begin in April.
The first film in the trilogy, “Sky of Dreams” was the inspiration for the Sky of Dreams Ranch concept. Each of the feature films is projected to cost about $85 million, according to the press release, and Next Entertainment has compared the trilogy to such epic films as “The Wizard of Oz” and “Lord of the Rings.”
“We were convinced that this kind of story could never be told in the Hollywood studio system,” Adamson said. “We'd never get past the censure and all the other things that go on down there.”
“The Mystical World of Nebe” is based on a novel series created by Adamson. Because he didn't feel a Hollywood entity would serve his story well or keep its message intact, Adamson considered not turning his novels into films at all. But then the inspiration came to form an independent production company, and that idea has developed into the Sky of Dreams Ranch.
A nature enthusiast and actively involved in children's charities, according to the Next Entertainment Web site, Adamson wanted to “improve children's lives through the power of nature.” His book, and now screenplay, follows the adventures of a 10-year-old boy, who traverses the veil that separates reality from dreams and learns from his animal friends the “long-forgotten truths that once allowed the inhabitants of the earth to live in harmony,” according to the Web site. Through the story and other endeavors being planned by Next Entertainment, Adamson and his associates hope to bring Native American teachings and stories to the world through the power of media, in an effort to raise environmental awareness and consciousness and further the cause of global unity.
For more information about Next Entertainment, “The Mystical World of Nebe” series or the Sky of Dreams Ranch, visit www.nextentertainment.net.

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