North Carolina Boosts Film and TV Industry with $29 Million Rebate

Wilmington, September 11, 2025

News Summary

Governor Josh Stein has announced a $29 million incentive package aimed at enhancing North Carolina’s film and television industry. The rebates are expected to generate approximately $130 million in economic activity and create around 3,800 jobs. Key projects benefiting from the incentives include the ABC pilot ‘RJ Decker’ and the film ‘Driver’s Ed.’ However, inaccuracies were noted in the governor’s remarks, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the film industry’s future in Wilmington amidst fluctuating production activities.

Wilmington — On September 10, Governor Josh Stein announced a significant boost to North Carolina’s film and television industry, revealing a total of $29 million in rebates for seven projects aimed at stimulating Wilmington’s economy. The announcement was made during a press conference held outside Bespoke, a coffee shop and bar that has gained popularity for its appearances in several Wilmington-shot television series.

The film and television sector is regarded as one of the most critical components for economic development in Wilmington. The approved projects under the announced incentives are expected to generate approximately $130 million in economic activity and create around 3,800 jobs. Key productions that will benefit from these rebates include the ABC pilot “RJ Decker,” eligible for up to $2.8 million, and the feature film “Driver’s Ed,” which could receive up to $1.835 million. Additionally, the popular YouTube series “Beast Games” by Mr. Beast will be supported, along with the reality food competition series “Top Chef,” which is primarily filmed in Charlotte.

Despite the success of the announcement, some notable inaccuracies were presented by Governor Stein. He mistakenly referred to “Top Chef” as “Top Shelf” and confused the protagonist’s nickname from “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” calling her “Bella” instead of “Belly.”

The film industry continues to demonstrate a positive impact on job creation and overall economic activity. Following the premiere of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on July 16, the owner of Bespoke reported a surge in out-of-state visitors coming to see the filming locations. Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office, highlighted that online flight searches for Wilmington have surged by 300% since the show aired.

However, production activity in Wilmington has notably slowed this year, with only three major projects taking place in 2025. The current state incentive program provides a 25% rebate on qualifying expenses for productions, which must spend a minimum of $1.5 million for feature films and $500,000 per episode for television shows. Discussions about potentially expanding the film incentive program have emerged to attract more commercial shoots to the region.

During his address, Stein expressed a desire to work with state legislators to modify North Carolina’s film incentive framework. He pointed out that the state lost out on hosting major productions, such as the Marvel Studios facility which was established in Georgia due to more advantageous incentives, resulting from the termination of favorable programs in North Carolina in 2014.

Additionally, he criticized the scenario in which “Outer Banks,” a series set in North Carolina, was largely filmed in South Carolina following legislative changes in 2016 that altered the state’s appeal to filmmakers. Before the conference at Bespoke, Stein spoke at the North Carolina AFL-CIO labor union convention held at Hotel Ballast in Wilmington, focusing on the importance of the film industry for local economies.

Key Features

• Total announced rebates: $29 million
• Estimated economic activity generated: $130 million
• Jobs created: 3,800
• Significant projects: “RJ Decker,” “Driver’s Ed,” “Beast Games,” “Top Chef”
• Film industry impact: Increased tourist visitations by 300%
• Current incentive structure: 25% rebate on qualifying expenses

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Additional Resources

• Star News Online
• WECT
• WWAY TV 3
• WilmingtonBiz
• News Observer
• Wikipedia: North Carolina Film Industry
• Google Search: North Carolina film incentives
• Google Scholar: North Carolina film industry
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Film Industry
• Google News: Wilmington Film Industry

Author: STAFF HERE OUTER BANKS WRITER

The OBX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOBX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in the Outer Banks, Dare County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC VIP Fishing Tournament, and NCBBA Red Drum Tournament. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Outer Banks Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in tourism, retail, and hospitality that power the local economy such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks Mall, and Avon Fishing Pier. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HERERaleigh.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.