It’s been a hot minute since the last blog post and well, you know why that is. Besides Season 2 of TNT’s Good Behavior shooting here, there’s not much action film-wise in the Port City. However, it looks like a change (or more like a return) could be right around the corner.
This week, EUE/Screen Gems Studios sent out the news to over 1300 production companies that you can count Wilmywood in for their next production. The email stated that effective immediately, North Carolina has committed to long term, recurring funding which provides grants equal to 25% of the North Carolina qualifying expenditures.
As of July 1, 2017, we have $33.6 million in funding available. On July 1, 2018 we will have $31 million in yearly recurring funding.
Executive Vice President at EUE/Screen Gems Studios, Bill Vassar, thanked our local legislators for having the vision to make changes in the incentive grant to make us more competitive down the road. “This is really hopeful,” he said. “As this has been developing with the legislators and word has gotten out that something was going to change, that there would be positive changes in the incentive, we’ve had an increase of interest of people coming here to shoot.”
Nothing is set in stone at this point. I know that’s the last thing you want to hear. And Bill couldn’t give me specifics to share, so you know how I do. I rely on other sources. So what’s the latest “Rumors from the Lot?”
I am not going to mention specific names of shows cuz, let’s be frank, I’d get in some deep doo-doo. But I can say, there’s a pilot, two television series and a feature that I know for sure are at least considering Wilmywood as their home. The operative word is CONSIDERING. Again, nothing set in stone.
Now I’ve got mixed reports about a project heading to Charlotte. Some people tell me they are gearing up to start in a couple of weeks. Does that mean opening offices in two weeks or start production in two weeks? That, I don’t know. Regardless, I am still marking this as a rumor for now.
I did some digging and last month, it was mentioned that a feature called We Were Liars was going to film in New York and North Carolina. Production was set to begin in August. So, that could indeed be it. If you’ve got more details on this one, holla!
That’s all I’ve got for now. I know it’s not much, but it sure is something to be hopeful about!
As soon as I get more details, I’ll let you know!
The Wilmywood Daily 