‘Tower Theatre’ is a Love Letter to Salt Lake City’s Cinematic Gem

Filmmakers craft their stories anticipating to premiere in movie theaters. Utah has few options for filmmakers to screen their film on the big screen as larger budget Hollywood films have a monopoly on screen space. However there are a few cinema houses that are champions of indie filmmaker such as Maven Cinemas in American Fork and the Town Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The Tower Theatre is a cinematic landmark nestled in the heart of Salt Lake City and serves as the inspiration of the new short film, aptly titled ‘Tower Theater.’ Directed by Austin Thomas Wood, this comedy/drama unfolds a unique narrative that blends humor and drama, showcasing the love and passion for independent cinema.

The story behind ‘Tower Theater’ emerged from Wood’s personal connection with the real Tower Theatre. Having recently moved from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Wood found solace and inspiration in the single-screen theater with its quaint DVD rental store.

“I would spend my days perusing the criterion collection or watching great independent films I have never heard of” said Wood. “This place became like a second home to me and since I have worked in a movie theater in the past, I thought this particular theater is the perfect setting for a film. So I started writing a feature length Tower Theatre screenplay. I wanted to write a love letter to Tower and to SLC and showcase amazing artists in the film.”

The film follows the escapades of Sarah and her film enthusiast colleagues, who, instead of focusing on their work at Tower Theatre, decide to create a horror movie of their own. The cast, led by McKenzie Steele Foster as Sarah, delivers a delightful performance, bringing humor and drama to the 18-minute and 30-second runtime. The crew, including writer/director Austin Thomas Wood and producer Conner Rickman, successfully crafts a film that celebrates the spirit of Tower Theatre.

During the interview, Wood expressed his favorite aspect of the filmmaking process.

“My favorite part about making Tower Theatre was making a comedy and working with such talented improvisational actors. I am used to making more dramatic films so this has been a breath of fresh air to make something that is comedic with some drama mixed in. It was awesome to see the jokes on set come to life and also shooting the VHS montage scene may have been some of the most fun I have ever had on set. We were just playing pretend like we used to do when we were kids and that made for the best last day of filming. I think we had a great crew and cast that had fun making this. It felt like a family making something for the love of it.”

However, every production comes with its challenges. For Wood and his team, the most demanding task was creating the DVD/VHS rental shelves that fill the lobby of Tower Theatre in the film. The intricacies of replicating an authentic video store setup tested Wood’s woodworking skills, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to the project.

Reflecting on the experience, Wood shared that if given the chance to go back in time, he would shoot the film at the real Tower Theatre, lamenting its closure due to the pandemic. Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with the chosen location, Maven Cinemas in American Fork, and the overall outcome of the project.

As for the audience, ‘Tower Theater’ is set to have screenings in the Salt Lake City, Park City, and Provo areas through the winter, fostering a sense of community and connection with local audiences. Wood envisions the feature film adaptation of ‘Tower Theatre’ as a community-building experience, involving Salt Lake City businesses and institutions in the filmmaking process.

Wood encourages film enthusiasts to stay tuned for future screenings and updates on their Instagram page @TowerTheatrefilm and the official website www.austinthomaswood.com/towertheatre. Tower Theatre’s journey is also documented on the Utah Film Center website as a Fiscally Sponsored film.

‘Tower Theater’ stars McKenzie Steele Foster as Sarah, J Attridge as Spencer, Dave Martinez  as Abe, and Alexander Woods as Eddie. The crew includes Austin Thomas Wood serving as the Writer/Director, Conner Rickman and Joel Davis served as the Producers. Matthew Wozniak was the director of photography, Michal Thomas James was the editor, location sound  by Liam Bice, Scott Neff as the Supervising Sound Editor, and Jose Perez as the re-recording mixer. Aura Martinez was the Production Designer, Nicholas Brightwell was the On Set Dresser, and Cassie Powell was the Art Assistant. Cayden Turnbow and Sai Nitish served as 1st Assistant Camera positions, Chris Anderson was the Gaffer, Zach Robertson was the Key Grip, and Chad Harrell was the 2nd Unit Gaffer. 

‘Tower Theater’ hopes to be more than just a film; serving as a love letter to independent cinema, a celebration of Salt Lake City, and an invitation for the community to join in creating the ultimate Utah film. And as I wrap up this interview I am filled with gratitude to venues such as the Tower Theater and Maven Cinema that continue to support indie filmmakers, both local and beyond. Now it’s time to hit the road and discover the next story behind upcoming films. See you on set. 

About Austin Thomas Wood

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Austin Thomas Wood is a writer/director and founder of Red Creek Films. He specializes in narrative film, and story driven music videos. He has an eye for the obscure and somber moments in life. In his films, he prefers to focus on the breath in between words or the lingering stare… 

Austin has worked in the film industry since early 2012, spanning across all departments, learning and understanding all aspects of production. He has worked on films including Gone Girl and TV shows such as FaceOff, and Twin Peaks. 

He founded Red Creek Films in 2015 alongside his crew of longtime collaborators. They write, produce, and package content for clients of all needs.

About Warren Workman

Warren Workman is the founder of the Utah International Film Festival. Workman’s passion is to share the stories of the filmmakers behind the movies and to encourage the next generation of filmmakers. Workman provides these services through ReelVibe PR.