Wilmington film production slows as industry faces nationwide slump

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — If you drive around Wilmington, you may come across some film production crews working but there aren’t as many projects happening now as there have been in recent years.  

The production slump isn’t just happening locally. 

So far this year, there hasn’t been as much lights, cameras, or action in the Cape Fear. 

Johnny Griffin, executive director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission says production is a lot lower compared to recent years.  

“We had productions that have spent probably somewhere between 20 and 25 million. Last year, all total we were at 200 million. So, we’ve still got the rest of this year to go, we could definitely raise that number and see more but it looks like it’s definitely going to be a slower year for us,” Griffin said. 

Susi Hamilton, the CEO of the Film Partnership of North Carolina says the slump goes beyond the tar heel state. 

“Los Angeles has had a record low of occupancy on its studio’s lots over the last really 90 days,” Hamilton said.  

“Nationwide right now the industry is very slow,” Griffin added. 

“There’s a lot of international competition as well as the competition that occurs between states within the United States and those things make it difficult sometimes to compete,” Hamilton shared. 

This year we’ve seen a few series be released that were filmed in the Cape Fear including Netflix’s the Waterfront and Amazon Prime Video’s anticipated Runarounds.  

Hamilton says productions like these could help. 

“Filming begets more filming and I think that it really does. So to show our best side of North Carolina and the crew base here that we have and the professional level work that we produce. I think that’s an important marketing tool as much as anything,” Hamilton said. 

Griffin says the state hasn’t changed, just the business. 

“Every reason they had for coming before still exists now it’s just that they gotta get back to doing business again. Once they do, the North Carolina will certainly be a place that they look at just like they did before,” Griffin shared.  

Hamilton says, they are constantly working with the general assembly and local government groups to find ways to enhance their grant program and entice productions to come to the state.