The North Carolina Film Office was established in 1980 at a time when light new technology, audience demand for location authenticity and Hollywood’s need for lower production costs were driving filmmakers to search distant sites throughout the nation for fresh places to make movies.
North Carolina’s timing was perfect.
A sprawling land with a stunning variety of locations—300 miles of Atlantic oceanfront; the highest mountains in eastern America; more than a million acres of unspoiled forest, cities, towns and villages that can simulate almost any area of the country (or world!)—the state had been overlooked by filmmakers for nearly a century. The Governor appointed Bill Arnold in 1980 to develop a program to recruit movies, television and other production as part of the State’s economic development operations, a post Mr. Arnold still occupies.
In six years, North Carolina went from virtual non-existence as a film location to hosting 59 features and $655 million in production revenues through 1985 to become the #3 filmmaking state in the U.S., behind long-time major entertainment players California and New York. Our state has retained that ranking for 20 consecutive years, hosting more than 800 films, 14 cable or network television series, and countless national TV commercials, delivering more than $6.5 billion in direct production spending and well over 200,000 production-related jobs to the state since 1980.
With an annual budget of $500,000 and a staff of three, the agency is now a unit of NC Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. The Film Office has helped establish the basis for a substantial infrastructure that includes six studio complexes, 28 soundstages with more than a million square feet of production space—more than any state in the nation except California—and 400 production and support service companies. We’ve helped build a foundation that has created four regional film commissions and one of the foremost film schools in the country in the North Carolina School of Filmmaking and has attracted a resident crew base of more than 1,500 professionals that continues to grow.
As we celebrate a quarter century of serving the industry, the North Carolina Film Office emphasizes its commitment to personalized service. We provide tailor-made, Web-based location packages using state-of-the-art software from North Carolina-based Reel-Scouttm. We're your sole liaison with state agencies and will assist with Federal property needs to expedite and accommodate your production needs. We promote our professional, hard-working crew and service infrastructure through an easy-to-use online directory and handy print directory and provide job information through our online Current Productions - Opportunities and our 1.800.232.9227 Hotline.
We work continually to recruit industry-related business by participating in major industry trade shows and through our affiliations with industry organizations. Please explore our site and/or contact us directly to find out how we can help bring your next project to the screen
Visit the North Carolina Film Bureau website