NC Film Incentive

The topic that I have chosen for my research is the North Carolina film incentive. It is a local issue that I find very important because I am a film studies major. It impacts my future because the more movies that are shot within the state of North Carolina, the more likely it is that I can get a job here. There are many jobs that can be found in this field because movies are constantly being made. However, a surplus of these jobs are in major cities such as Los Angeles or New York City. I would move to these places if need be. Nevertheless, it would make me extremely happy if I could stay here. I just find the other cities too big and overwhelming. It may just be a stereotype, but I feel that people who go there end up losing who they are. I think that Wilmington is a better fit for me. The people here are all really nice, friendly, and down to earth.
I also find this topic interesting because it affects the local community. Wilmington has EUE/Screen Gems Studios, located right on North 23rd Street. So, this incentive will not only change things in North Carolina, but also have a major impact on the immediate community. “One Tree Hill” is a major production, but it has been on for seven seasons and will probably be ending soon. This film incentive is critical. North Carolina needs to attract productions in and compete with other states with high tax credit rates.
Over the summer I found out about a local production company called Southern Gothic Productions from a friend of mine. It was started by three local people who are in the film industry. Via twitter they would post links to articles about the North Carolina film incentive. I found them very interesting because I had never really heard anything about it before. I found out that, in 2009, the tax credit given to producers if they made their films here was only 15 percent. Compared to other states, this was low. In June or July Wilmington lost out on shooting the Miley Cyrus/Walt Disney film “The Last Song” to Georgia, whose incentive was at 30 percent. Then Governor Perdue signed a bill to raise NC film incentive to 25 percent. I want to learn more about how films help the North Carolina economy and how raising incentives will aid in getting out of debt.

Until next time.
Maggie