Jump to content

Films and television shows produced in Wilmington, North Carolina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EUE/Screen Gems Studios (now Cinespace Wilmington) in November 2022

Film and television shot/produced in Wilmington, North Carolina, are usually independent and/or low-budget films, mainly due to Wilmington being relatively more affordable than other cities to film in. Other reasons for Wilmington's appeal include its local university (UNCW), its location on the coast, the presence of many historic buildings/sites, and vast swamps and waterways outside of Wilmington.[1] It has remained the largest film and television production area in North Carolina since the 1980s, when the first major productions started to be made in the region.[2]

Producer Dino De Laurentiis first came to Wilmington to film Firestarter, which was released in 1984.[3] He would later create De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), build a studio complex (operated by a subsidiary called the North Carolina Film Corporation[4]), and found its headquarters in Wilmington; the film studio began releasing films in 1986. After it declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1989, most of the company as well as its studio complex in Wilmington was sold to Carolco Pictures.[5] The company would later declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the same studio complex was sold to EUE/Screen Gems in 1996.[6][7]

In 2013, Marvel Studios' Iron Man 3 was released to theaters; some places used in the film were the Port of Wilmington, Cape Fear River, and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. It remains the largest film to be shot in Wilmington and North Carolina.[8][9] In the mid- to late-2010s, the city's film industry slowed due to the North Carolina General Assembly not extending pre-2014 film incentives and Governor Pat McCrory signing the controversial House Bill 2 (HB2) in 2017.[10][11] Most of the business went to other major cities, including Atlanta, Georgia, where EUE/Screen Gems also had a studio complex.[12][13][14][15]

Around the early 2020s—after the COVID-19 lockdowns, repeal of HB2, and changes to state film incentives—filming in the area began to increase again, with 2021 being the industry's biggest year to date, breaking the previous record set in 2012.[11][16][17][18] 2021 was also the biggest year for the whole film industry at large in the state of North Carolina.[18] In 2022, Dark Horse Studios—which became Wilmington's second film studio in 2020—planned a 20-million-dollar expansion to their studio complex in Wilmington, set to be complete in 2024.[19][20][21] On September 27, 2023, Cinespace Studios announced it had purchased two EUE/Screen Gems Studios locations in Wilmington and Atlanta.[22]

As of 2020, 138 films and 162 television shows/series have been shot/produced in the city.[3] Wilmington has been many nicknames refencing its film industry, including "Wilmywood" and "Hollywood of the East" or "Hollywood East".[23][24]

Feature-length films

[edit]

Feature-length films released between 1984 and 2024.[25]

Television shows and TV movies

[edit]

Television shows/series and TV movies released between 1988 and 2024. (Excludes news stories, documentaries, or television shows that filmed a single episode in Wilmington; only notable TV movies are listed below.)[99]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Wilmington, NC Studio". euescreengems.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "North Carolina's History in Film". Island Life NC. February 25, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "History". Wilmington Regional Film Commission. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "Collection Selections: Filming in Wilmington". nhcgov.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Carolco Signs Deal for DEG: Carolco Pictures..." Los Angeles Times. April 21, 1989. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Company Town Annex". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1996. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  7. ^ WECT Staff (October 18, 2023). "Old logo removed after sale of local movie studio to Cinespace". WECT. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Spiers, Jonathan (May 3, 2013). "'Iron Man 3': You won't see much of Wilmington, but Hollywood will". Port City Daily. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ingram, Hunter. "WilmOnFilm Flashback: 'Iron Man 3'". StarNews Online. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Guarino, Alex (April 12, 2018). "Film industry in NC still struggling more than a year after repeal of HB2". WECT. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Dean, Korie (August 22, 2022). "From talkies to tax credits: A timeline of the film industry in North Carolina". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Pineda, Arturo (October 14, 2021). "Plot twist or tease? NC film industry showing signs of resilience". Carolina Public Press. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Marsh, Tierra (February 28, 2018). "'Hollywood of the East' is disappearing, and Wilmington along with it". UNC Media Hub. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Could Georgia's own divisive politics send filmmakers flocking to a post-HB2 North Carolina?". Port City Daily. April 17, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "Atlanta Studios". euescreengems.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  16. ^ Woods, Kiley (January 14, 2021). "Wilmington's film industry makes a comeback after COVID-19 lockdown". The Seahawk. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "TOP STORIES: Biggest year ever for film industry". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Cosgrove, Elly (December 31, 2021). "Wilmington's film industry enjoys record-breaking year". WECT. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "About Dark Horse". darkhorsestudios.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "More space to film: Dark Horse Studios plans $20M expansion". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  21. ^ WECT Staff (August 3, 2023). "Dark Horse Studios holds groundbreaking ceremony for two new sound stages". WECT. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  22. ^ WECT Staff (September 27, 2023). "Cinespace Studios buys EUE/Screen Gems studio in Wilmington". WECT. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "Hollywood of the East Coast". Forsyth Woman Magazine. August 1, 2017. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  24. ^ Brothers, Sheila (April 22, 2014). "EUE/Screen Gems Studios Tours Begin April 26, 2014". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  25. ^ "Movies Filmed in Wilmington, NC". Wilmington Regional Film Commission. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  26. ^ The Swirl Group (November 10, 2009). ""20 Funerals" Trailer". Facebook. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  27. ^ Yumpu.com. "Bystander Films presents THE 27 CLUB - The 27 Club Movie". yumpu.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  28. ^ "Alan and Naomi (1992)". www.ldsfilm.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  29. ^ Commerce, Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of. "Amos and Andrew (1993), United States, North Carolina, Southport | Southport Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce". www.southport-oakisland.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  30. ^ Brothers, Sheila. "The Angel Doll". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "Betsy's Wedding". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  32. ^ a b Swilley, Jim (June 23, 2019). "In Wilmington North Carolina Movies are Made Everywhere". Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  33. ^ Debnath, Utsav (January 26, 2022). "Where Is Black Dog Filmed? Location Revealed". OtakuKart. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  34. ^ Brothers, Sheila. "Blood Moon". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  35. ^ WECT Staff (September 27, 2021). "Indie film 'Breakwater' to begin shooting in Wilmington next week". WECT. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  36. ^ "Bruno". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  37. ^ West, Ti (September 23, 2009), Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (Horror), Tonic Films, Morningstar Films, Aloe Entertainment, retrieved June 3, 2022
  38. ^ "'Cabin Fever 2' returns to Wilmington for screening". StarNews Online. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  39. ^ "Cat's Eye (1985) Movie Filming Locations - The 80s Movies Rewind". www.fast-rewind.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  40. ^ "Chasers, Part 1, N/A | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". archivesspace.uncw.edu. Retrieved July 3, 2022.[dead link]
  41. ^ "Film Locations for Crimes of the Heart (1986), in North Carolina". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  42. ^ "NC Filmmaker Series: Crimes Of The Heart With Jeff Schlatter". WHQR. February 20, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  43. ^ Jinadra, Bhavesh (April 1, 1993). "Actor Brandon Lee Killed During Movie Shooting". scholar.lib.vt.edu. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  44. ^ Heyward, Giulia (January 20, 2023). "Actor Brandon Lee was killed by a prop gun, years before the 'Rust' shooting death". NPR. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  45. ^ Henderson, Jenny (July 21, 2017). The North Carolina Filmography: Over 2000 Film and Television Works Made in the State, 1905 through 2000. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5545-4.
  46. ^ "Date With An Angel". TCM. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  47. ^ Coppola, Christopher (July 2, 1988), Dracula's Widow (Horror, Thriller), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), retrieved June 2, 2022
  48. ^ "EUE / Screen Gems Studios". VisitWilmingtonNC.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  49. ^ "Locals remember when Corey Haim filmed in Wilmington". wect.com. March 11, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  50. ^ Kosikowski, Ashlea (April 2, 2021). "Independent film shot in Wilmington comes to Amazon Prime Video". WECT. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  51. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  52. ^ "Wilmington, NC Continues as the Home of Horror Films". www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com. October 4, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  53. ^ Kosikowski, Ashlea (November 21, 2019). "New Russell Crowe movie filmed scenes along Front Street". WECT. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  54. ^ Fitzgerald, Paul (January 23, 2006), Forgiven (Drama), retrieved June 3, 2022
  55. ^ Ebert, Roger. "From the Hip movie review & film summary (1987) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  56. ^ "The Grave". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  57. ^ Staton, John. "Wilmington film update: When to see locally made projects set to drop in the coming months". StarNews Online. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  58. ^ ""Hick" takes Carolina road trip". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  59. ^ "Hiding Out (1987) Movie Filming Locations - The 80s Movies Rewind". www.fast-rewind.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  60. ^ Savoca, Nancy (September 15, 1993), Household Saints (Drama), Jones Entertainment, Peter Newman Productions, retrieved June 2, 2022
  61. ^ Flaherty, Courtney. "Idle Fever: Locally filmed movie features Outkast". The Seahawk. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  62. ^ "Southern Movies on Location". Visit The USA. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  63. ^ "Locally filmed 'Journey 2' hits the big screen on Friday". StarNews Online. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  64. ^ "King Kong Lives". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  65. ^ Singh, Prerna (October 30, 2020). "Where Was Little Monsters Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  66. ^ Brothers, Sheila. "Loose Cannons". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  67. ^ "Filming Locations for Manhunter (1986), in Georgia; North Carolina; Washington DC and Missouri". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  68. ^ "Manhunter (1986) Movie Filming Locations - The 80s Movies Rewind". www.fast-rewind.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  69. ^ Donaldson, Roger (September 27, 1985), Marie (Biography, Drama), Dino De Laurentiis Company, retrieved June 2, 2022
  70. ^ "HBO releases details on 'Mary and Martha,' filmed in Southport and Wilmington". WWAYTV3. July 16, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  71. ^ Pillsbury, Sam (November 27, 2001), Morgan's Ferry (Crime, Drama), Morgan's Ferry Productions LLC, Oregon Trail Films Ltd., Platform Entertainment, retrieved June 2, 2022
  72. ^ Pavia, Mark (February 6, 1998), The Night Flier (Fantasy, Horror, Mystery), New Amsterdam Entertainment, Stardust International, Medusa Film, retrieved June 2, 2022
  73. ^ Eisenberg, Eric (January 12, 2022). "Adapting Stephen King's The Night Flier: The 1997 TV Movie Is Mean, Cynical, And Underappreciated". CinemaBlend. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  74. ^ "No Mercy". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  75. ^ Reid, Tim (January 26, 1996), Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (Drama, Romance), BET Pictures, United Image Entertainment, retrieved June 2, 2022
  76. ^ "Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  77. ^ "Rambling Rose". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  78. ^ Staff Writer. "Illness invades the local set of 'Red Means Go'". StarNews Online. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  79. ^ Scala, Casey La (September 24, 2014), The Remaining (Drama, Horror, Mystery), Affirm Films, Cinematic, Triumph Films, retrieved June 3, 2022
  80. ^ Kosikowski, Ashlea (June 20, 2014). "'The Remaining' releases first trailer". WECT. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  81. ^ Styron, Susanna (September 23, 1998), Shadrach (Drama), Millennium Films, Tidewater Pictures Inc., retrieved June 2, 2022
  82. ^ "'Max Steel,' 'The Sin Seer' film in downtown Wilmington; 'How and Why' starts production". Port City Daily. April 30, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  83. ^ Zambrano, Alberto (February 26, 2022). "Where Is 'Sleeping With The Enemy' Filmed? All About The Locations & Plot". OtakuKart. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  84. ^ Myers, Paul; Shroff, Brennan, Southern Belles (Comedy, Romance), LaSalleHolland, Southern Belles LLC, retrieved June 3, 2022
  85. ^ B, Brian (August 25, 2004). "Anna Faris toplines Southern Belles". MovieWeb. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  86. ^ Young, Roger (July 10, 1987), The Squeeze (Action, Comedy, Crime), TriStar Pictures, retrieved June 2, 2022
  87. ^ "The Squeeze". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  88. ^ "The Squeeze". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  89. ^ "Stateside". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  90. ^ Chappelle, Joe (March 15, 2000), Takedown (Biography, Crime, Drama), Dimension Films, Millennium Films, Hacker Productions, retrieved June 2, 2022
  91. ^ Oblowitz, Michael (July 11, 1997), This World, Then the Fireworks (Crime, Drama), Balzac's Shirt, JVC Entertainment Networks, Largo Entertainment, retrieved June 2, 2022
  92. ^ "This World, Then The Fireworks". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  93. ^ Gary, Jerome, Traxx (Action, Comedy), De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), retrieved June 2, 2022
  94. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  95. ^ Staton, John. "11 legendary movie characters that made Wilmington a film destination". StarNews Online. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  96. ^ "Weeds". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  97. ^ "Where the Devil Hides". The Wilmywood Daily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  98. ^ "New Invention Featured in NC Film Now Making its Way to Atlanta Show". PRWeb. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  99. ^ "Television Filmed in Wilmington, NC". Wilmington Regional Film Commission. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  100. ^ Commerce, Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of. "American Gothic (1995-1996), United States, North Carolina, Southport | Southport Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce". www.southport-oakisland.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  101. ^ Staton, John. "Country series 'George & Tammy' names new star, set to resume production in Wilmington". StarNews Online. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  102. ^ Kosikowski, Ashlea (July 28, 2021). "First look at FOX's Wilmington-filmed show 'Our Kind of People'". WECT. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  103. ^ Carver, Shea (June 9, 2023). "Netflix's season 4 of 'Outer Banks' to film this summer in greater Wilmington area". Port City Daily. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  104. ^ WECT Staff; Crooms, Reyna (November 16, 2023). "Season four of 'Outer Banks' to begin production in Wrightsville Beach". WECT. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  105. ^ Scott, Tony (May 16, 1994). "Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics". Variety. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  106. ^ Ingram, Hunter. "A Wilmington viewing guide to Hallmark's 'USS Christmas'". StarNews Online. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  107. ^ WECT Staff (October 6, 2023). "Locally-filmed TV series "Welcome to Flatch" cancelled". WECT. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  108. ^ "Windmills Of The Gods". TCM. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  109. ^ Staton, John (November 29, 2021). "10 unforgettable characters who made Wilmington a TV destination". StarNews Online. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
[edit]