Print
Film

Two Pilots Set To Film In Wilmington

By Christina Haley O'Neal, posted Feb 12, 2020
Last year's film activity, pictured above, brought five productions to town. (File photo)

Two pilot film projects are gearing up to roll cameras in the Port City.

The CW's television pilot The Lost Boys and a pilot order by Fox called This Country, are listed on the Wilmington Regional Film Commission's website in pre-production.

“Pre-production basically means they are in the process of opening offices, hiring crew, determining if there are any sets that need to be built … getting everything prepared so they can go to camera,” Johnny Griffin, director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, said this week.

Griffin said he could not disclose details about the timing of the projects or when they will begin filming.

The Lost Boys is a new pilot order by CW for a series based on a 1987 vampire horror movie. Rumors of the project coming to Wilmington started last year.

And This Country is a Fox pilot order based on a BBC series, according to DEADLINEwhich reported the show is being co-produced by Lionsgate Entertainment Co., Fox Entertainment Group, BBC Studios and Feigco Entertainment.

The projects are the first signs of film activity this year for the Wilmington area, which racked up nearly $137 million in direct spending contributed by film and TV productions in 2019. The state overall had a total of $167 million in direct spending last year from film projects statewide. It was the most spending reported in the past five years in the Port City and the state.

Local film industry leaders are also waiting on word of a second season for Hulu's Reprisal, which filmed its first season in Wilmington last year after rolling cameras on its pilot here in 2018.

Griffin, who recently went on a marketing and sales trip to Los Angeles at the end of January, said he met with officials from A&E Networks, the production company for Reprisal, and Hulu, the show's distributorand was "told they are expecting an answer within the next two months," he said.

The visit with the two companies was among 14 meetings he and Bill Vassar, executive vice president of EUE/Screen Gems Studios, had with industry representatives during the late January trip. 

Griffin said he tries to take at least one trip a year to have meetings with potential clients and share information about the Wilmington film scene to attract more projects to the area, he said. 

"During our meetings in LA, clients expressed strong interest in North Carolina, and there are several projects being developed with interest in North Carolina," Griffin said. "Strength of local crew, availability of stage space and availability of incentive funding are currently driving this interest."

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Unknown 7112393341

Why Feasibility is Paramount to Success

Holly Segur - Lead Intuitively – Corporate Coaching
Untitleddesign7

Getting Your Community Ready for Spring and Summer

Dave Orr - Community Association Management Services
Untitleddesign2 4523114356

Cybersecurity and Productivity: Striking the Perfect Balance for Business Success

Barrett Earney - EarneyIT

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

Berries, A Battlefield And More In Pender

The N.C. Blueberry Festival, founded in 2003, is one of several events in Pender County that have drawn more attention over the years....


Expanding Tastes On Castle Street

As John Willse and Beth Guertin, owners of Wilmington Wine bottle shop and now the recently opened Creative Tastings restaurant on Castle St...


Q&A: Andrews Reflects On Leadership

Pender County Manager David Andrews is slated to retire this summer after 33 years in local government....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments