Hollywood East bringing money, jobs, award-winning projects

WILMINGTON -- The TV and movie industry is a multi billion dollar business and every city wants a slice of the pie. Last year alone $37 million were spent in Wilmington. That's why state officials have Wilmington on their radar. Elected leaders and film commission members normally meet in Raleigh, but Friday they were here. Over 40 influential people in the industry had the opportunity to see firsthand the financial benefits of the industry. Industry insiders say the movie and TV business not only generates jobs in our community, but showcases our City and state and brings tourists and more dollars here. State Secretary of Commerce James Fain said, "It provides hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in North Carolina directly, but you can walk around this lot and see the indirect employment of people who are vendors to the industry who provide everything from catering to carpentry work." State Director of Tourism and Film Lynn Minges said, "It's not just the folks that come here to work on this lot, they actually rent homes or buy homes here they buy groceries at the local grocery store, they buy clothes in the local retail stores and so that money really helps the economy in some pretty significant ways." State Rep. Daniel McComas says the film incentives, enacted in to law two years ago, have made the industry boom possible -- and that's good for everyone. The local film commissioner says the City is on track to receive at least as much as last year.