Print
Film

Film Focus: Trucking To Productions

By Jenny Callison, posted Mar 4, 2022
(Photo by Jenny Callison)

50 States LLC
9265 Old River Road, Burgaw
 

Number of employees: 1
 
Year founded: 2007
 
Top official: Russell Davis, owner
 
What does the company do with regard to film? Davis: “I own eight trucks that I rent for film projects. They provide the driver and a signed rental agreement; they also cover the insurance while it’s in their possession. Four or five of my trucks are road tractors, and I have a couple of box trucks, which are like U-Hauls. I also have a fuel tanker used to fill generators.”
 
Do you have any sidelines? Davis: “I do not rent to other customers. What’s happened over time, the insurance part [of truck rental] has gotten more involved, but there is a company out of Los Angeles that provides insurance for guys like myself.”
 
How did you get into this business? Davis: “In 1987, me and two other guys moved to Wilmington from Charlotte. We were starstruck; we wanted to work out at the [movie] studio. We did what we could and eventually got to work out there. I was hired as a driver – you didn’t have to have experience, just show up every day. I realized that every single item a movie company uses is rented; they don’t own a thing. I thought I could get better trucks than they were using. So, I bought some trucks and rented them to film projects at the same time I was working as a driver. My employment for film projects was separate from my truck rental business.
 
“Over time, I had to create a company, 50 States LLC, in order to get paid. But it’s just me. I do everything.
 
“My customers are good friends of mine. I rarely work for new customers, but I just sent two trucks to Charlotte for a project. There’s big companies out of Atlanta that can provide a lot more [trucks] than I can, but I’m local here in Wilmington and I’m affordable.”
 
You say you retired from driving this year. What did you do most recently? Davis: “I was a generator operator. The last thing I worked on was Florida Man. Movie sets have giant lights. Sound stages have their own power, but on location you need generators to power the lights. After I had been driving for a while, the opportunity arose to drive a generator truck, and the studio asked me if I wanted to do it. The job was 100% on-the-job training.”
 
What are your plans for future growth? Davis: “I am winding down. I say I’m not buying any more trucks, but then I go out the next week and buy one. I’ve been working on my trucks the last couple of days; I have more time to work on them since I’m not working on the sets.”
 
How have things changed in the film industry here during your career? Davis: “When I started, the pay scale was awful compared to other areas like New York and L.A. [The studios] took full advantage of us in the early ’80s into the ’90s. Wilmington kind of cut its teeth on the fact that what [local employees] didn’t know, we made up for in enthusiasm. Now we have labor unions to represent us. Most workers out there now are union members.”
Editor’s note: Film Focus is a monthly series looking at the people and businesses that are local vendors to the film industry. To be considered for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s Film Focus feature, contact [email protected].
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Screenshot2022 01 06at338 162234623

Food is the Foundation for Prosperous Communities

Girard Newkirk - Genesis Block
Headshotrosaliecalarco 1182131047

The Government is Calling? Think Again!

Jasonpathfinder3

What You Need to Know About SECURE 2.0 and Its Effect on Retirement Plans

Jason Wheeler - Pathfinder Wealth Consulting

Trending News

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

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

Rezoning Could Bring 123 Townhomes To Growing Leland Corridor

Emma Dill - Mar 25, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

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

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

In The Current Issue

Park Progress

The planning for Pender Commerce Park began in the early 2000s when the county wanted to create an economic driver on its largely rural west...


INFO JUNKIE: Jack Fleming

Jack Fleming, owner of Socialry Marketing & Scourz and emcee for 1 Million Cups Wilmington, shares his media and tech picks....


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...

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