Wilmington, September 13, 2025
News Summary
Governor Josh Stein has unveiled a $20 million investment aimed at revitalizing North Carolina’s film and entertainment industry. This funding is set to support seven film and television projects anticipated to create around 3,800 jobs and generate an estimated $130 million for the local economy. The initiative comes as Wilmington faces challenges due to a slow year in film production, with only three projects filmed recently, highlighting the need for improved incentives to attract more productions to the area.
Wilmington Announces $20 Million Investment in Film and Entertainment Industry
Governor Josh Stein has announced a significant investment of $20 million to rejuvenate North Carolina’s film and entertainment sector during a meeting with industry professionals at Bespoke Coffee Shop in Wilmington. This infusion of funds is projected to support seven upcoming film and television projects, which are expected to generate an estimated $130 million and create nearly 3,800 jobs in the local economy.
Details of the Investment
The funding will back a mix of three television series and four films. The upcoming projects include:
- TV Series:
- “Beast Games Season Two” with a budget of $15 million
- “Top Chef” with a budget of $2.5 million
- “RJ Decker Pilot” with a budget of $2.8 million
- Films:
- “May and the Woodsman” with a budget of $412,500
- “The Bard” with a budget of $4.6 million
- “Drivers Ed” with a budget of $1.8 million
- “Bad Counselors” with a budget of $2 million
Current Challenges in Wilmington’s Film Industry
This announcement follows a slow year for film productions in Wilmington, where only three projects have been filmed, including the pilot for “RJ Decker,” the feature film “Driver’s Ed,” and the independent film “Pretty Ugly.” In contrast, the previous year saw Wilmington hosting more than a dozen projects that generated over $327 million in local spending. Across North Carolina, 71 projects were filmed in 2021, resulting in $409 million in revenue.
Stein acknowledged that the state’s current film incentive structure may require improvements to attract more substantial productions. Currently, the state’s grant program offers a 25% rebate on production expenses, but specific spending thresholds must be met. Feature films need a minimum expenditure of $1.5 million, while TV series require at least $500,000 per episode to qualify.
Legislative Efforts for Improvement
Pending legislation, known as Senate Bill 301, aims to increase grant limits for feature-length films, television series, and commercials. The grant program was last updated in 2021, which increased total rebates specifically for TV series from $12 million to $15 million.
Economic and Tourism Impact
Stein emphasized the significant tourism impact that film productions create for local businesses. Noteworthy productions such as Amazon’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” have previously drawn significant interest and tourism to Wilmington following their airings. However, he expressed disappointment over Netflix’s decision to film the popular series “Outer Banks” in South Carolina rather than North Carolina, highlighting the challenges posed by the 2016 “Bathroom Bill” which deterred the streaming giant from establishing its base in the state.
During his visit, Stein also discussed broader challenges faced by North Carolina and advocated for better-paying jobs, education investment, and Medicaid protections to strengthen the state’s workforce. He recognized MaryBe McMillan, outgoing president of the NC AFL-CIO, awarding her with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her contributions over the past eight years.
Stein reiterated that a stronger North Carolina necessitates ongoing investment in its people to adapt to an evolving economy, which includes rejuvenating the state’s film and entertainment industry.
FAQs
What is the purpose of the $20 million investment announced by Governor Josh Stein?
The $20 million investment aims to support North Carolina’s film and entertainment industry, specifically funding seven projects expected to generate $130 million and create about 3,800 jobs.
Which projects will benefit from this investment?
The funding will support three TV series: “Beast Games Season Two,” “Top Chef,” and “RJ Decker Pilot,” as well as four films: “May and the Woodsman,” “The Bard,” “Drivers Ed,” and “Bad Counselors.”
What challenges currently face Wilmington’s film industry?
Wilmington has experienced a slow year for productions, with only three projects filmed compared to over a dozen in 2021. Governor Stein highlighted the need for improvements in the film incentive structure to attract more productions.
How does the film incentive program work in North Carolina?
North Carolina offers a grant program that provides a 25% rebate on production expenses once specific spending thresholds are met. Feature films must spend at least $1.5 million and TV series at least $500,000 per episode to qualify for the rebates.
Chart of Key Features of the Investment
| Project Type | Project Title | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| TV Series | Beast Games Season Two | $15 million |
| TV Series | Top Chef | $2.5 million |
| TV Series | RJ Decker Pilot | $2.8 million |
| Film | May and the Woodsman | $412,500 |
| Film | The Bard | $4.6 million |
| Film | Drivers Ed | $1.8 million |
| Film | Bad Counselors | $2 million |
| Total Investment | Sum of All Projects | $20 million |
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Additional Resources
- Port City Daily: Gov. Stein Announces $20M Investment in NC Film Industry
- WECT: Governor Stein Speaks at Convention Highlighting State’s Film Industry
- Star News Online: NC Gov. Josh Stein Appears in Wilmington to Tout Film & TV Industry
- Wikipedia: Film Industry
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Film
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