North Carolina awards six film grants, expected to bring $172M in spending
The North Carolina Department of Commerce announced Thursday that three films and three streaming series were approved for North Carolina Film and Entertainment grants to begin production this year (Photo: )
Smile, North Carolina, you're on camera.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce announced Thursday that three films and three streaming series were approved for North Carolina Film and Entertainment grants to begin production this year. The projects will bring an estimated $172 million in spending to the state and create 8,500 jobs.
The grant, which is promoted by the North Carolina Film Office, does not provide funding in advance, but rather awards production companies rebates after the projects complete. The companies must meet a certain threshold of in-state spending and pass a spending audit to receive the funds.
Shows in the state were awarded around $31 million. "The Runarounds," a musical drama on Amazon aimed at young adults, is set to film in and around Wilmington. The second season of "Blue Ridge," a drama focused on a sheriff in a mountain town on INSP's streaming service, will film in and around Charlotte. "The Waterfront," a Netflix drama about a family's crumbling fishing business, will film in New Hanover and Brunswick counties.
The film projects are set to receive up to around $12 million. "Capsized," about a family's troubled houseboat vacation, will film in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. "Roofman," a drama about real-life rooftop robber Jeffrey Manchester, will film in and around Charlotte, as will a biopic about boxer Christy Martin set to star Syndey Sweeney.
The awards come amid fevered competition between states around the country to attract often lucrative filming projects. Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom put forward a proposal for $750 million in annual tax credits to help bolster his state's film industry. Georgia, which offers unlimited tax credits, has drawn some of the highest-budget productions in the country, paying out more than $1 billion a year to do so.
In North Carolina, no tax credits are offered, but the rebate program allows film productions to recoup up to 25% of their spending once they meet the state's requirements. That offer has drawn some high-profile projects to the state, including the third season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty," among the most popular Amazon original streaming series, which filmed in North Carolina earlier this year and received $15 million in grants.
"A flourishing film industry in our state is a win-win, bringing economic benefits and job opportunities to our residents and elevating North Carolina's presence on the global stage," said Guy Gaster, the film office's director. "We're committed to nurturing this symbiotic relationship between filmmakers and the communities that make North Carolina an exceptional destination for cinematic storytelling."
