In Wilmington, North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein, amidst a crowd of small business owners and professionals from the TV and film industry, has made public the latest recipients of the North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants. This recent funding boon is slated to create a sizable wave of employment, over 3,800 jobs, and the approved productions are expected to spend upward of $131.6 million across the state, according to a press release from the official website of the Governor Office. Bespoke Coffee Shop, a Wilmington locale that saw its stint as a backdrop in the third season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and benefitted from a prior grant, served as the announcement's backdrop.
"North Carolina is home to a thriving TV and film industry, and it's only getting stronger," said Governor Stein in a statement. Offering support to a spectrum of small businesses and suppliers, he stressed, "These grants support this vital economic activity." On the roster for TV/streaming series are three projects: the "RJ Decker Pilot" receiving up to $2.8 million, "Beast Games" Season 2 with grants to the tune of $15 million, and "Top Chef" Season 23 getting an earmarked $2.5 million. The productions are filmed in regions teeming with life, from the Greater Wilmington area to Pitt, New Hanover, and the Charlotte region, as per the Governor Office.
The feature film sector is not lagging, with four movies gaining financial injections: "Drivers Ed" with up to $1.835 million, "Bad Counselors" snatching up to $2.03 million, "The Bard" receiving as much as $4.6 million, and "May and the Woodsman" with a grant of up to $412,500. These films capitalized on locales strung from New Hanover, Pender, and Orange counties, to Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and further across the Piedmont Triad and Northwest Prosperity Zones. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley chimed in highlighting the dual perks of direct spending and tourism that films attract, "In addition to the direct spending these productions bring, they also increase North Carolina’s visibility as a tourist destination, visibility that leads to increased visitor spending as well."
Productions buoyed by the grant are notching successes, with "Roofman," "Christy," and "Drivers Ed" all clinching spots in the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. Already, audiences are sampling North Carolina's diverse settings in shows on Prime Video, Netflix, Showtime, and Paramount+. Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office, emphasized the economic and cultural returns, stating, "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." The grant program is tactical, disbursing funds as a rebate only after meeting spending requirements and passing audits, underlining the state's commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the film industry.
For a complete list of grant awardees and additional details on the North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant program, visit the Governor Office's official press release.
