History with ‘Hud’: How the film industry has exploded in Wilmington since the 1980s
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With the hot weather we’re having, going to the movies or staying inside at home to binge your favorite TV show is a great way to stay cool. And there’s a decent chance one of those films or shows has a local connection.
From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Andy Griffith, there have been some big names stars to spend time in the Port City. But it hasn’t always been that way.
Movies have been taking place in the mountains of North Carolina since the early 1900s. But it wasn’t until 1983 when that activity began to push towards the coast. Wilmington saw its first film shot in the region with the arrival of ‘Firestarter’ that year, having the first few TV shows produced in the following year.
At the time, the Port City was a quiet coastal town. However, in the decades to follow, the population exploded alongside the film industry as it began to take off.
A big reason for all the local movie and television success is Cinespace Studios (formerly known as EUE/Screen Gems studios). It was built in the early years of filming success, and initially known as De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, acquired by EUE/Screen Gems in 1996. The lot provided several sound stages in a private area, with shows such as ‘Dawson’s Creek’ in the late 1990s and ‘One Tree Hill’ in the early 2000’s among many others using the space.
But at the turn of the new century, the film industry saw companies moving into international locations to keep costs down. In response to the move and subsequent loss of local revenue, many law makers began creating incentives to encourage filming back in the states.
The moves eventually worked, and films began being brought back with tons being shot in Wilmington. Two of the biggest movies to spend time in the Port City include ‘Iron Man 3’ and ‘The Conjuring’, with some scenes from both being taped in the region.
Dark Horse Studios arrived in 2020 and provided even more opportunity alongside Cinespace Studios for projects to be shot in the area.
The COVID pandemic struck around the same time, leading to a temporary lull in filming activity. But in the half a decade since, the local movie and television scene has bounced back bigger than ever.
With projects filming around the area seemingly year round, Wilmington will likely keep its nickname of ‘Hollywood East’ for years to come.
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each morning on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.
