Written by on Jan 6, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

TV dramas deliver for North Carolina and could help renew filming incentive

A series of major TV dramas – including the Stephen King miniseries Under the Dome – filmed in North Carolina in 2013 and helped deliver production spending of USD254 million. This could bolster calls to renew the state’s 25% filming incentive, which is set to expire at the end of 2014.

More than 60 productions filmed locally throughout the year, according to the North Carolina Film Office. The biggest shoots included supernatural series Sleepy Hollow and the critically-lauded terrorism drama Homeland, as well as Under the Dome.

“The film industry continues to have a major impact on the state’s economy and provide job opportunities for thousands of North Carolinians. It is great to see our state continue its success in the industry,” said the state’s Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker.

In recent years North Carolina has also had great success with big-budget features. Iron Man 3 and the first Hunger Games movie both filmed locally and were massively successful.

“The past three years have produced unheralded numbers in direct in-state spending and job opportunities,” added North Carolina Film Office Director Aaron Syrett.

Authorities are under continued pressure to renew the state’s generous filming incentive. The existing expiry date will be an issue for TV producers looking for long-term incentive support for television series intended to span multi-season over several years.

The film industry continues to have a major impact on the state’s economy and provide job opportunities for thousands of North Carolinians.

Sharon Decker, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce

North Carolina is one of the East Coast’s main production hubs, along with Pennsylvania, Georgia and New York, but without the incentive programme this would likely change very quickly. New York is in fact one of the top hubs in the US, offering more than four times the filming incentive funding available in California.

(Under the Dome photo: Michael Tacktt/CBS)