Colorado Springs home to Hollywood film production

When you film a movie in Colorado Springs, you get a lot of questions.

“What kind of movie is it? Is anyone in it? Can I be in it?” recalls Daniel Sobieray.

Sobieray is one of the stars of “A Tale of Two Sillies,” a movie being filmed this December in Colorado Springs at University of Colorado Colorado Springs and downtown.

Even though the comedy is set in Southern California, the producer, Jan Esten, decided to film here because of several issues near Hollywood. He also found Colorado Springs to be very receptive to the movie-making business.

Esten said their work benefits the community.

“We’ve rented a building, we’ve put all of our visiting actors and crew members in motels and of course we have the meals we have to supply,” said Esten.

The recently enacted “Film In Colorado” program allows production companies to recoup some of the money they put into the state while working. Esten’s movie does not qualify because the budget is too small, but he said it’s a big reason he brought a little bit of Hollywood to Colorado Springs.

The movie has cast 16 actors from all over the country and the world. They also have some local help from UCCS theater students and Sobieray.

Sobeiray has worked on the soap opera “All My Children” and movies like “White Storm” but has never worked from home quite like this.

The Cheyenne Mountain High School graduate got into acting through modeling. He was discovered while at the Mall of America. Several years later, he’s got a Hollywood resume and a role in a Colorado Springs-made movie.

“You think Hollywood is in Hollywood,” said Sobieray. “In this day and age, it’s not like that anymore.”