Lake Tahoe and Carson City area becoming popular Christmas movie locations

Lights, Camera, Action! These three words beginning the filming of any movie and they've been heard quite a bit recently around the Lake Tahoe and the Carson City area. The beautiful scenery the area provides has been the prefect holiday backdrop for romantic Christmas movies this season.

"Feliz NaviDAD," "Dear Christmas," and "Once Upon a Main Street," were all filmed in the area this year, following last year's "Christmas Reservations" and years of Hollywood movie hits.

Feliz NaviDAD starred Mario Lopez, Once Upon a Main Street had Vanessa Minnillo Lachey, Patrick Duffy and Ryan McPartlin headline the movie, while Dear Christmas saw Melissa Joan Hart, Jason Priestley, and Ed Begley Jr. take the starring roles.

There are two reasons for the increased recent interest of filming movies around Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Carson City: North Shore resident Melissa Joan Hart and the tax benefits Nevada brings to film makers, according to Eric Preiss, director at the Nevada Film Office/Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

Family owned television and film production company, HartBreak Films is run by Hart and her mother Paula. They produced all of the holiday movies listed above. Melissa Joan Hart, her husband and three sons have called Lake Tahoe their full-time home for the past three years. Preiss said producers prefer to produce where they live or close by, so its a great choice for Hart to make her movies in Nevada.

"In addition, the benefits of filming in Nevada for these productions were significant enough for the company to be able to produce here, including the tax benefits, the available crew and qualified vendors, and the beautiful locations that Northern Nevada has to offer," said Preiss.

As Feliz NaviDAD was being filmed in Carson City, South Lake Tahoe resident Kelsey Adams was hired as an extra for the movie. If you happen to catch it, watch for the scene where Mario Lopez and co-star AnnaLynne McCord have a coffee date. Kelsey is their barista.

Filming during COVID was a different experience for the stars and crew, keeping in a quarantine "bubble" and testing often for the coronavirus. Preiss said they aren't aware yet of next year's holiday movie making schedule.

"It’s hard to say with COVID. Everything is less predictable due to lock downs and restrictions that they can’t be planned for these days," said Preiss about future filming. "My sense is that with the recent successes of these films in Carson City, we will see more opportunities and more interest. Those successes will hopefully beget more successes, which will bring positive attention and opportunities for employee to the area."

Just as the El Dorado County Film Commission does for the California side of the lake, the Nevada film office is typically the first contact a production will make when looking to film in Nevada, or considering where to film their next production.

"Creating awareness around Nevada through film, tv and other content contributes to the robust tourism industry, and is a vital part of our economy," said Preiss.

And cut.....