Performing Arts
On Location In North Carolina
"Hollywood East" is a Major Attraction for Filmmakers and Visitors Alike. North Carolina was a favorite location for filmmakers as far back as the 1920s, even before the industry boomed in Hollywood. The state's unmatched geographic diversity and climate attracted New York movie moguls looking for sunnier locales and more favorable conditions. The Conquest of Canaan (1921) is just one of the silent films made in North Carolina in the pre-Hollywood era.
The trend continued, and over the years an entire film and television community has grown, bringing soundstages, studios and accompanying crews, craftsmen and artisans to North Carolina. Wilmington - host to hundreds of productions including feature films, TV series, commercials and music videos - has even been nicknamed "Hollywood East."
The long-established tradition of filmmaking in North Carolina is largely attributable to the state's geographic diversity and natural beauty, as well as its four-season climate. These same attributes attract more than 40 million travelers to the state each year, many who clamor for that behind-the-scenes perspective on past and present NC productions. Guides at Bob's Marina in Lake Lure offer a pontoon boat tour of the Dirty Dancing location. And diehard film fans may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the exquisite scenery found in The Last of the Mohicans can be the backdrop for their next trip to North Carolina.
Film, television and commercial production companies spent more than $160 million in North Carolina for 2007. More than 800 features have been filmed in North Carolina since 1980 including movies like Nights In Rodanthe, Leatherheads, The Color Purple, Bull Durham, Days of Thunder, Nell, Dirty Dancing, Forrest Gump, A Walk to Remember, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Patch Adams, Last of the Mohicans, The Hunt for Red October, The Green Mile and The Fugitive and television favorites such as Matlock, Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill.
added: January 4, 2009
updated: January 29, 2009
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