Governor Stein meets with small business owners involved in film industry

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Governor Josh Stein met with a group of small business owners who benefit from the film industry.

The gathering at Bespoke Coffee on Princess Street included a camera crew rental company, wood suppliers for set construction, and Habitat for Humanity Restores, where props are often purchased.

The visit also served as an announcement of grants for seven new projects being shot in North Carolina, including the second season of Mr. Beast Games and Top Chef, which was shot in Wilmington.

Stein said the state’s film incentive program helps bring more jobs and money into the state.

“The film incentive program is great because it creates good jobs, it generates economic activity it also has the snowball effect because once you have a good thing going, more comes, and then it just puts Wilmington and all of North Carolina in a really good light so that more people want to come and be tourists in our state,” Stein said.

Bespoke was chosen due to its appearance in two TV shows, including the popular Amazon Prime Video show “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and the Runarounds.

The owner said people have come from several states away just to visit the shop and see where the characters were during scenes featured in those series.