Film grant incentives to receive boost in latest state budget

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –  State lawmakers are one vote away from sending a clear message to the film industry that they want it back.

That’s because new funding will increase how much a motion picture production could receive in grant funds. The changes come as reports show the grant program has been underutilized.

More than $30 million is up for grabs for Hollywood East to return to our state. That’s the full amount allocated in the Film and Entertainment Grant Program under the state Department of Commerce. That is not subject to change in the latest state budget, but the individual incentives are.

It’s lunch time on day 18 for those shooting “Words on Bathroom Walls” in Wilmington.
The food they eat is all local. It’s provided by Art Hoover’s movie catering business, Ken and Art’s Motion Picture Catering Services.

“We like to feed them good and we’d like to see the movie industry come back and thrive like it was in the late 80s and 90s,” Hoover said.

Hoover has been a part of the Wilmington film industry dating back to 1985. He, like many, lost dozens of friends, employees, and business when the tax incentives were removed from state leaders. It’s a welcome sight for Hoover to feed the dozens of cast and crew.

He says they’ve had no film work in Wilmington since the past summer.

“If we can figure out how to give the productions a better incentive, to bring them in North Carolina, to increase our revenues in Wilmington and the whole state of North Carolina. I think it will be so much better for the movie industry and for everybody,” he said.

Recently state lawmakers are seeing the writing on the wall. Last year they made the 2015 film grant indefinite, and now they’re looking to increase its offering.

“You know it’s not any additional money at this point, but it does tinker with the grant program to make it what I feel will be much more attractive to prospective productions,” said Tony McEwen who serves as the legislative affairs assistant to the city manager’s office in Wilmington.

The latest state budget increases the film grant from $5 million to $7 million dollars for feature films. It also reduces the requirements on how much they have to spend from $5 million to $3 million.

TV projects will also see a grant increase from $9 million to $12 million covering costs once filming is complete. TV projects would need to prove they will spend around $1 million per episode to be eligible.

“That’s a big plus for productions to come in and get that. I mean that’s what they’re looking for,” said Hoover.

The state senate voted along party lines approving the 2018 budget Wednesday. The state house of representatives is expected to vote on the budget Thursday.