Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, responded in detail Thursday to an N.C. Department of Commerce statement regarding the state's film incentives. While the state budget contained changes to the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant – including increasing the maximum grant for a feature film from $7 million to $20 million and the maximum state grant for a TV series ...

The Film Partnership of North Carolina will have to wait to see whether it will receive funding from the city of Wilmington. Wilmington leaders discussed a $100,000 request from the nonprofit group that aims to develop the film industry workforce during a regular meeting of the Wilmington City Council on Tuesday night. Council members also considered another $100,000 as ...

To Darla McGlamery, recent news that an ABC TV series would be coming back to Wilmington to shoot its second season is partly a testament to the strength of the local film industry workforce. McGlamery, business manager for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 491, said R.J. Decker is a recent example of productions choosing to return t ...

Though the film industry is experiencing a downturn both locally and nationally, workforce training persists. Factors responsible for a recent slump include film incentives offered by other countries and a decline in the growth of streaming. Duke Fire, the program director of film and video production at Cape Fear Community College, said there’s uncertainty abo ...

The film industry in Wilmington has encountered a slowdown, and it’s uncertain when things will pick back up. While the state has its own film incentive, the slowdown has affected the number of projects being shot in the area, and more attractive incentives offered by other countries have also played a role in the downturn in Wilmington. In addition, between 20 ...

Film productions across North Carolina generated more than $300 million in direct in-state spending in 2024, state officials announced in December. Recently touting its achievements over its first decade, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) mentioned that film production has had a more than $1 billion economic impact on the state since the par ...

Dark Horse Stages' newest soundstages didn’t stay empty for long after opening for business in November. Days after the two, 20,000-square-foot stages debuted, YouTube juggernaut MrBeast set up shop to film, Dark Horse CEO Kirk Englebright said Friday. The Wilmington production facility announced Friday that Greenville’s Jimmy Donaldson, known as Mr ...

It’s 1989 in Wilson, North Carolina, and the crew on a Michelle Pfeiffer movie begins its work. At the same time, 23-year-old Chris Crowder is fresh out of the Navy Reserve and trying to figure out what to do next. He doesn’t know it yet, but his life is about to change. Because the movie industry has discovered North Carolina and is near the beginning of a ...

Wilmington-based production studio Dark Horse Stages recently opened two new sound stages, adding more than 40,000 square feet to its Harley Road facilities. "We are committed to providing world-class facilities that enable creators to realize their visions," said Kirk Englebright, president and CEO of Dark Horse Stages, in a news release. Guests ...

The Cucalorus Film Festival kicks off its 30th year on Wednesday. The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday at Jengo’s Playhouse, Thalian Hall and other downtown venues. “This year’s festival feels like a reunion of sorts. We have some of our favorite performers like Shirley Gnome, Roxana Barba and Alexandra Tatarsky coming to share new work in the ...