film office type government agency industry film founded 1980 headquarters raleigh north carolina key people guy gaster director number of employees 4 website http www.ncfilm.com the north carolina film office originally called the north carolina film commission is a member of the association of film commissioners international . 1 contents 1 history 2 organization 2.1 responsibilities 2.2 regional film commissions 2.3 staff and film council 3 film incentives program 4 notable films television made in north carolina 4.1 alphabetically listed 5 see also 6 external links 7 references history edit founded in 1980 by governor james b. hunt the office was commissioned to help facilitate and provide a base of operation for north carolina s burgeoning film industry . governor hunt appointed william bill arnold to lead the office . 2 in 1984 producer dino de laurentiis created de laurentiis entertainment group . he built and based a studio complex now eue screen gems 3 in wilmington north carolina . the area quickly became one of the busiest production centers for film and television east of hollywood . the north carolina film office was created during a time when new technology audience demand for location authenticity and hollywood s need for lower production costs were driving filmmakers to search distant sites throughout the united states for fresh places to make movies . 2 with bill arnold leading the north carolina film commission witnessed a dramatic increase in production during the 1980s and the 1990s . notable films during this time include the color purple 1985 4 dirty dancing 1987 5 bull durham 1988 6 days of thunder 1990 7 sleeping with the enemy 1991 8 last of the mohicans 1992 9 the fugitive 1993 10 and the crow 1994 . 11 in 1998 wilmington nc became the home of the wb s critically acclaimed television network series dawson s creek . the series remained in wilmington until 2003 when it was cancelled and replaced with one tree hill a series on the wb cw that calls north carolina home . one tree hill ended in 2012 after nine seasons . 12 while wilmington nc continued to sustain itself with television the international film climate began to shift out of north carolina s favor . in an effort to keep production costs even cheaper early 2000 saw production companies making films internationally . 13 the north carolina film commission was made most aware of this trend when it lost charles frazier s north carolina tale cold mountain 14 to the country of romania . 15 hoping to bring an international industry back to the united states many law makers across the us began creating incentives packages to encourage filming in individual states . north carolina s legislature decided on pursuing a competitive incentive program . 16 on august 8 2006 governor mike f. easley signed into law a legislation offering productions a full 15 % tax credit on a minimum 250 000 spend in north carolina and not to exceed a 7.5 m credit . 17 since this program s inception the nc film office has seen a substantial increase in production as have other state s that have established similar programs . 18 since 2006 the north carolina film office has recruited the following films george clooney s leatherheads 2008 19 nights in rodanthe 2008 20 starring richard gere and diane lane the marc pease experience 2008 21 with ben stiller and bolden 2008 22 a film about the life of jazz legend buddy bolden . in september 2006 commissioner bill arnold retired after 26 years of service to north carolina s film industry . 23 the north carolina film office is now part of the nc department of commerce s division of tourism film and sports development . aaron syrett former director of the utah film commission was hired as director of the north carolina film office in spring 2007 ; his tenure ended at the end of july 2014 . 24 25 while building upon north carolina s legacy syrett is taking a 21st century approach to boost the global visibility of north carolina s resources . 26 organization edit responsibilities edit the north carolina film office has 3 main responsibilities market the state of north carolina serve the film industry and serve the state of north carolina . the office actively works to create a healthy climate in which to grow film industry economic development . a marketing agency as well the film office educates the film industry on north carolina s incentives program promotes the state s infrastructure and showcases north carolina s diverse locations . projects including film television and commercial are actively recruited and nurturted by the office . the office encourages industry related companies to headquarter or have satellite companies in the state . the office ultimately serves the state of north carolina by keeping and creating jobs in north carolina for film crew and related businesses . as such the film office must serve the film industry in an efficient and engaging capacity . the office hosts location scouts for producers and also provides on the ground assistance before and during filming . the north carolina film office is the official liaison between the industry and state agencies for state property use highway assistance and other issues . the office has always maintained sophisticated communications with the film industry . not only has it maintained an informative website but also it has supported the full frame documentary film festival and for 9 years sponsored the american film market . every spring the office participates in the locations trade show hosted by the association of film commissioners international in santa monica ca . members of the office make regular trips to los angeles ca to meet with producers and also visit park city ut every january to network at the sundance film festival . regional film commissions edit the north carolina film office works in tandem with 6 affiliate offices that are both publicly and privately maintained . all are certified by the association of film commissioners international . 27 charlotte regional film commission 28 triangle regional film commission 29 eastern north carolina regional film commission 30 piedmont triad film commission 31 western north carolina film commission 32 wilmington regional film commission inc. 33 staff and film council edit the north carolina film office has a 4 person staff . until july 2014 25 the director of the north carolina film office was aaron syrett 2007 2014 . in addition to working with affiliate commissions the north carolina film office is also supported by a governor appointed group who offer advice and guidance in the interest of north carolina s film industry . notable members include casting director craig fincannon founder of the full frame documentary film festival nancy buirski and former president of universal pictures thom mount . studio executive frank capra jr. was also a member of the council until his death in 2007 . 34 film incentives program edit as of january 2015 north carolina has implemented a new film and entertainment grant program . funds from the 10 million grant will serve as a rebate of up to 25 % on qualified expenses purchases of productions . the previous tax credit ended as of january 1 2015 . complete information on the new grant program is available at 3 notable films television made in north carolina edit alphabetically listed edit 28 days a walk to remember being there blue velvet bull durham the butcher s wife the color purple the crow dawson s creek days of thunder dirty dancing divine secrets of the ya ya sisterhood dream a little dream eastbound and down empire records firestarter forrest gump the fugitive ghosts in the ballpark history of the durham bulls the green mile hannibal homeland the hunt for red october the hunger games i know what you did last summer iron man 3 junebug kiss the girls last of the mohicans leatherheads legacy of the golden leaf a history of tobacco and the dukes of durham main street the marc pease experience message in a bottle mr. destiny muppets from space nights in rodanthe one tree hill patch adams the quality of light north carolina s claude howell revolution richie rich safe haven the secret life of bees shallow hal sleeping with the enemy sleepy hollow surface super mario brothers talladega nights the ballad of ricky bobby teen spirit teenage mutant ninja turtles teenage mutant ninja turtles ii the secret of the ooze to gillian on her 37th birthday under the dome weekend at bernie s see also edit films shot in north carolina external links edit north carolina film office website the hollywood reporter made in america incentive to stay the hollywood reporter north carolina film junkie s guide to north carolina by connie nelson and floyd harris association of film commissioners international afci references edit north carolina film office association of film commissioners international retrieved 2007 11 19 . a b about us north carolina film office retrieved 2008 02 15 . eue screen gems . screengemsstudios.com . retrieved 2013 08 19 . the color purple 1985 filming locations imdb dirty dancing 1987 filming locations imdb bull durham 1988 filming locations imdb days of thunder 1990 filming locations imdb sleeping with the enemy 1991 filming locations imdb the last of the mohicans 1992 filming locations imdb the fugitive 1993 filming locations imdb the crow 1994 filming locations imdb one tree hill filming locations internet movie database retrieved on 2007 11 19 . carvajal doreen the cannes festival a modern twist on location location location international herald tribune may 18 2005 retrieved on 2007 11 19 cold mountain filming locations internet movie database retrieved on 2007 11 19 . fellerath david north carolina gets its close up independent weekly december 13 2003 retrieved 2007 11 19 . sperling nicole north carolina trying to lure more prod ns the hollywood reporter may 22 2002 retrieved on 2007 11 19 . nc film incentive north carolina film office retrieved 2008 02 15 . donnahue ann made in america incentive to stay the hollywood reporter november 1 2006 retrieved on 2007 11 20 . leatherheads 2008 filming locations imdb nights in rodanthe 2008 filming locations imdb the marc pease experience 2009 filming locations imdb bolden 2014 filming locations imdb state film office hires new director north carolina film office march 3 2007 retrieved 2008 02 15 . nc state film office hires new director association of film commissioners international no date retrieved on 2007 11 20 . a b http www.wral.com state film commissioner leaving post 13794133 1 archived january 18 2008 at the wayback machine . regional commissions north carolina film office retrieved on 2007 11 20 . charlotte regional film commission association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2007 11 20 . 2 association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2015 02 18 . eastern north carolina regional film commission association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2007 11 20 . piedmont triad film commission association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2007 11 20 . western north carolina film commission association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2007 11 20 . wilmington regional film commission inc. association of film commissioners international retrieved on 2007 11 20 . north carolina film council north carolina film office retrieved on 2008 02 15 . v t e cinema of the united states films films by year awards and events national board of review award 1909 academy awards 1929 new york film critics circle 1935 national society of film critics award 1966 critics choice movie awards 1996 los angeles film critics award 1975 golden globe awards 1944 guild awards directors guild of america awards 1936 writers guild of america awards 1951 screen actors guild awards 1995 producers guild of america awards 1962 golden raspberry awards 1981 theaters movie theater chains industry by state alaska arizona connecticut florida georgia hawaii louisiana michigan north carolina