Halfway through the 2012 calendar year, film productions in North Carolina have already eclipsed 2011’s recording setting numbers for in-state spending, Gov. Bev Perdue announced today (Wednesday). As of July, the North Carolina Film Office has received notification from more than 35 productions in regards to filming in the Tar Heel state this year. The projects are expected to have a direct in-state spend of more than $300 million while creating 15,000-plus job opportunities, including more than 3,300 well-paying crew positions for the state’s skilled film professional workforce.
“My top priority is creating jobs and the enhanced film credit has created record spending by production companies in this state and resulted in thousands of jobs,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “It’s great to see this industry thriving again in North Carolina and we must continue to build on this momentum by creating even more of an economic impact.”
“We have one of the smartest incentives and, when combined with our talented crew base and diverse locations, make our state a homerun for filmmakers,” said NCFO Director Aaron Syrett.
Production has taken place or is scheduled to take place in 30 of the state’s 100 counties so far this year with highlights including “Iron Man 3,” “Safe Haven,” “We’re the Millers,” “The Warren Files (The Conjuring),” “The Occult,” “Jessabelle” and the independent features “You Are Here” and “Writers.” Television production has also increased with cameras rolling on the second season of the award winning series “Homeland” and two new series, “Banshee” and “Revolution,” as well as the most recent season of “The Bachelorette.” National commercials for Under Armour, ESPN and Mountain Dew have also filmed in the state.
Much of the success of the film industry in the state over the last two years is a result of the bi-partisan legislation that was passed in 2010 to enhance the film tax incentive offered by the state. The General Assembly just extended the film incentive through Dec. 31, 2014.
In addition to these economic numbers, additional spending and job creation has taken place on numerous low-budget projects as well as commercials that have shot in the state but whose cost didn’t meet the state’s minimum spend requirement for the tax incentive.
Established in 1980, the N.C Film Office is part of the N.C. Dept. of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development. Its primary responsibilities are to recruit productions to the state by marketing the many assets – including the film incentive, crew base, infrastructure and locations statewide — North Carolina has to offer. In addition, the film office assists productions with permitting and other logistics and works hand-in-hand with regional film commissions in the Wilmington, Research Triangle, Piedmont Triad, Charlotte and Western regions of the state.