Rally pushes for continuation of NC film incentives

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Film equals jobs. That’s what hundreds of people were chanting at today’s NC Film rally downtown.

Film industry employees and supporters worried about their future came out in full force. Organizers says more than 1,000 people turned out.

Signs, T-shirts and even some costumes supporting the film incentive could be seen all along Water Street.

Rep. Susi Hamilton (D-18th District) says there is no reason the state should pull the rug out from under more than 4,000 people’s jobs.

“Forty-two-hundred Jobs in the state of North carolina that are clean jobs, well paying jobs. It will be a large sucking sound,” Hamilton said. “They’ll all be going to Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana.”

Hamilton says the average wage for film workers is about $20,000 higher than the average state income.

Opponents to the tax incentives for film projects scheduled their own counter protest at the same time as the film rally around the corner at Front and Market streets, but according to a Facebook post, the even was canceled.