The
world’s largest tradeshow of its kind in the film industry was held recently in
Los Angeles and AdvantageWest’s Western North Carolina Film Commission was
there.
The
annual Association of Film Commissions International’s (AFCI) Locations
Tradeshow took place at the Hyatt Century Plaza in March, and WNC Film
Commission Director Amanda Baranski was among the 3,000-plus attendees. The
tradeshow brings together regional, state and national film commissions from
around the world to discuss their respective area’s locations, crew base, tax
incentives and other matters of importance to filmmakers and film
professionals.
“AFCI
was a wonderful platform for presenting North Carolina’s 25 percent refundable
tax incentive to prospective film clients,” said Baranski, who shared booth
space with representatives from the state film office and other regional film
commissions from across North Carolina. “It was also an excellent opportunity
to meet personally with producers and industry personnel who have expressed
interest in filming in our 23-county region.”
Following
the worldwide success of “The Hunger Games,” shot in Western North Carolina in
2010 and 2011 with assistance from WNC Film Commission, inquiries are at record
numbers, says Baranski. “We assisted with 20 film scouts in 2013, which was a
185 percent increase over 2012.”
Baranski
responded to 234 film-related inquiries in 2013 and assisted with completion of
34 film productions. Inquiries can include everything from responding to calls
about locations or crew, helping with permits or a casting call, and assisting
with road closures or with accessing and using public property, such as a state
or national park. Projects come from major studios as well as independent
filmmakers, ad agencies, TV and documentary producers, and more.
Earlier
this year, based on information and metrics submitted by Baranski, MovieMaker
Magazine, a trade publication for the film industry, selected Asheville as
the “No. 1 Town in the U.S. for Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in
2014.”
The WNC
Film Commission is a program of AdvantageWest, the nonprofit regional economic
development organization serving the 23 counties of Western North Carolina. For
more information about filmmaking in the region or opportunities such as film
competitions and casting calls, visit the film industry section of the new
AdvantageWest website, AdvantageWest.com, or follow the Western North Carolina
Film Commission on Facebook.
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