NC Movie Advocates Shift Focus To Grant Program

Film supporters have changed their tactics to lobby for more money in the grant program. Many people in favor of the old film tax credit program are moving in this direction rather than trying to restore North Carolina's 25 percent tax credit.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo told the StarNews of Wilmington that advocates prefer the tax credits, but they recognize the GOP-controlled General Assembly won't restore it.

Instead, bills have been filed in the House and Senate to earmark $66 million for the film grant program in 2015-16. The program has $10 million in it for the first half of 2015.

In 2014, nearly $170 million was spent by film and television productions in southeastern North Carolina. This year, the newspaper reported that best estimates put spending at only $40 million to $50 million.

Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity has announced a series of anti-film incentive radio ads.