If it’s true that we learn something new every day,
then since we first began
researching the best places
to live and work as an independent
American moviemaker
we’ve learned approximately
2,192 new things
(counting two leap years)…
which, of course, is an enormous understatement.
In compiling our list of the 10 best places to make
movies, we speak with hundreds of people—film
commissioners, directors, writers, actors, location
scouts, etc.—to find out just what makes their city
tick, especially with regard to quality of life issues
of interest to moviemakers. Beyond the influx of
dollars and number of production days (which are
important) or the films that have defined the city in
the past and will in the future, or the number of film
festivals, organizations and education programs,
what remains? When you strip away the glitz and
glamour (or dirt and grime, depending on where
you’re shooting), what do you find? What is the soul
of the place? The answer to that very subjective
question, divined from mostly objective sources, is
the question we work hard to answer each year.
As in past surveys, there are a few expected cities
in this 2006 edition—and a few surprises, too. New York and Austin continue to battle it out for the top
spot, but there’s strong competition from Chicago,
Portland, Oregon and Philadelphia, as well. The
south is also rising, with cities such as Atlanta,
Miami, Wilmington and Memphis all accommodating
the needs of independent moviemakers in excellent
fashion. And the west coast should never be counted
out—both Los Angeles and Portland are edging
upward in our rankings.
So, without further blather, we give you the 10
best cities to be in if you’re an indie moviemaker in
2006. (As always, we look forward to hearing your
comments.)
 |
|
New York City’s Central Park |
1. NEW YORK, NY
LAST YEAR: #1
If You Can Make it Here…
Just when you thought the city
of New York had done everything it
possibly could to secure its place at
the very top of this list, they do such a good
job plugging their new incentive program
that they have a banner year—bringing
$600 million into the city and creating jobs
for more than 6,000 New Yorkers, according
to Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and
Broadcasting.
Spurred on largely by the city’s revolutionary
“Made in NY” program—where qualified
film productions receive a five percent tax
credit from the city in addition to the state’s
10 percent credit, along with free advertising
on bus shelters, the NASDAQ Marketsite
Tower, in Times Square and beyond—New
York’s moviemaking community just keeps
growing. Moviemakers looking to use the
Big Apple backdrop are finding this to be a
very good thing; the enthusiasm within the
community seems contagious, and nobody
wants to see it end.
“The ‘Made in NY’ incentive program has
made it an incredible year for production in
New York,” says film commissioner Katherine
Oliver. “Not only has the city been successful
in retaining the films set in New York, but we
have also lured projects such as The Departed,
which is set in Boston, and Fast Track, in
which Staten Island doubles for Ohio.”
Writer-director Bart Freundlich was one
of the first moviemakers to benefit from the
program, which he says “really, really benefitted”
his indie production of Trust the
Man. (Though he notes that the city’s natural
beauty, or “built-in production design,” is the
best part of shooting in his hometown.)
Based on the success of the program,
which was introduced by Mayor Bloomberg
on January 3, 2005, in June the city
announced an additional component, the
Made in NY Discount Card, which entitles
its carrier to discounts with more than 400
citywide vendors in 27 categories.
So is all this a genuine, long-term attempt
at bringing moviemaking back to the city
or is it just an elaborate political rouse
designed for short-term attention and headlines?
Why would anyone—let alone a government
entity—invest the time and money
into such an artistically-minded endeavor?
The answer, of course, is simple: Economics.
The film community gives back, big time.
“New York City’s production industry
employees 100,000 New Yorkers, contributes
$5 billion to our local economy on an
annual basis and brings our city to audiences
around the world,” enthuses Oliver.
As part of their new outreach initiative,
the Mayor’s Office is even adding an education
component to their offerings, which
it hopes will assist local moviemakers in
advancing in their careers.
In association with the Independent
Feature Project, the film office also
announced the Independent Film Training
Grant Initiative, which will encourage moviemakers
to personally train their crew to
advance their careers to the next position.
(With production grants of up to $25,000
per person offered to offset the cost of training,
moviemakers are going to be begging to
help their crewmembers learn.)
“With the ‘Made in NY’ incentive program,
Mayor Bloomberg and Katherine Oliver have
effectuated the single most important change
in New York City’s viability as a film and television
destination,” says Dick Wolf, creator
and executive producer of “Law & Order.”
Oliver and company remain steadfast in
their commitment to make the Big Apple
the place to make movies once again in
2006. “We are committed to building off
of the successes of 2005 to continue to
strengthen and grow the city’s media and
industry sector,” says Oliver.
“New York City has always offered filmmakers
free permits,” Oliver says, “along
with free police assistance, free access to
unparalleled locations, the finest crews and
richest talent pool. Now, with a rich incentive
program, there is no reason to not ‘make
it in New York.’”
RECENT FILMS: The Devil Wears Prada, The Inside Man,
Across the Universe, The Squid and the Whale, Trust the Man
SEMINAL FILMS: Manhattan, Mean Streets, Do the Right
Thing, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Godfather
LOCAL
LEGENDS: Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Wes
Anderson, James Toback
FILM FESTIVALS: New York Film
Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Independent Feature Film
Market, New York Avignon Film Festival
FILM EDUCATION:
Columbia University, New York University, New York Film
Academy, School of Visual Arts
FILM ORGANIZATIONS:
The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Tribeca Film Institute,
IFP, New York Film/Video Council
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE OF FILM, THEATRE &
BROADCASTING 1697 Broadway, Suite 602 – New York,
NY 10019 – 212/489-6710 – www.nyc.gov/film
 |
| Cinematographer Dan Parsons shoots in Austin. |
2. AUSTIN, TEXAS
LAST YEAR: #2
Indie Stalwart
Holding steady in our number
two position, in lauding Austin
we could tell you all sorts of
things. We could talk about the work of the
Austin Film Society and their first-class
facilities at Austin Studios. Or we could
mention the Hollywood players who are an
indelible part of the city’s film community. But Austin’s placement on this list—and its
reputation as a genuine indie moviemaking
haven—isn’t anything you don’t know about
already (particularly if you’re a regular
reader of this magazine).
In the six years we’ve been ranking the best
places to be an indie moviemaker, the city
has cracked the top five every year without
breaking a sweat. But unlike what you may
hear about those laidback Texans, popularity
has not bred complacency with these folks.
Each year, the Austin Film Commission
manages to outdo itself in bringing exciting
new programs and initiatives to the city,
from the smallest detail to the biggest.
For example, the Austin Film
Guide got a makeover for the
new year, looking just as impressive
on the outside as it is, information-
wise, on the inside. (It
will soon be available online at
the Film Commission’s Website,
www.austinfilmcommission.org,
which is getting a revamp of its own.)
Also new to the city is their utilization
of Reel-Scout location management
software which, according
to Film Commission director Gary
Bond “has absolutely changed my
life and increased my productivity
by a ton.” Reel-Scout is a program
with unlimited storage capabilities
which streamlines the location
scouting process, cataloging photos
and data on filming locales. “We’ve
got about 600 locations, thousands
of photos and something like 80
active projects in that system right
now,” says Bond. Which translates
to a faster response for moviemakers looking
for that perfect Austin setting.
Best of all, the city respects the passion—
and pocketbooks—of its indie community.
They know that moviemaking is a
win-win situation, whether you’re making a
multimillion-dollar feature starring Sandra
Bullock or a $250 production with your
dad’s digital camcorder.
“The city has virtually eliminated all
charges for street, sidewalk and alley closures,”
says Bond “so long as the production
company complies with the permit as
issued.” We don’t think they’ll have much
trouble in that department.
RECENT FILMS: How to Eat Fried Worms, The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre: the Origin, Fast Food Nation,
Revolver, Grind House, Idiocracy, The Ringer
SEMINAL
FILMS: Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Blood Simple, Sin
City
LOCAL LEGENDS: Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater,
Mike Judge
FILM FESTIVALS: Austin Film Festival, Austin
Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival, SXSW
FILM
EDUCATION: Austin Community College, Motion Media
Arts Center, University of Texas
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: The Austin Film Society, Reel Women
AUSTIN FILM COMMISSION 301 Congress Ave.,
Suite 200 – Austin, TX 78701 – 512/583-7229 –
www.austinfilmcommission.org
 |
| Portland, Oregon is home to a close-knit group of indie moviemakers. |
3. PORTLAND, OR
LAST YEAR: #5
Best Unkept Secret
Ask a portland moviemaker why
he or she chooses to live and make
movies in Oregon’s capital city
and you’ll get a laundry list of reasons. Then
you’ll be asked to keep it quiet.
Like the twist ending of a Hollywood
blockbuster, Portland’s indie community
wants to keep their secret safe—and sacred.
“The best thing I can say about Portland
is that I don’t want anyone else to shoot
movies here,” confides Dog Hole Pictures’
Todd Freeman. “Portland is me and my
friends’ clubhouse to make movies. Please
do not come here unless you know the
pass phrase. That being said… the secret
to Portland’s success is that if you visit, you
never want to leave. It’s just one of those
places. Around every corner lies inspiration and enthusiasm for everything you
could ever want to shoot.”
Freeman’s not alone in his appreciation
of this magical city, where independence
is the norm. (It is, after all, the home base
of iconoclastic directors Todd Haynes and
Gus Van Sant, as well as novelist Chuck
Palahniuk and many other well-known artists
and original thinkers.) Last year, the
city brought in almost $20 million just in
out-of-state productions. They’re so busy, in
fact, that they’ve had to hire a “one-stop film
permit person” to help facilitate all the filming
requests.
In addition to their Oregon Production
Investment Fund, which affords a 10 percent
rebate on production-related expenditures,
the state legislature recently approved
a new labor rebate incentive, which will give
a tax credit of approximately 6.2 percent to
all qualified productions spending at least
$1 million.
But you don’t have to spend $1 million to
take advantage of all this area has to offer.
“You could never find a more suitable location
for finding the most talented crews, the
best actors and the most exciting indie films
being made for under $1 million,” boasts
Freeman. “But don’t tell anyone about how
awesome I think it is; I don’t want to let the
cat out of the bag. Well, just in case you tell
a few of your close friends, the pass phrase
to get in is: You, Me and Every Drugstore
Cowboy We Know From Heaven.” Better
write that one down!
RECENT FILMS: Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, Thumbsucker
SEMINAL FILMS: Mean Creek, Drugstore Cowboy, My Own
Private Idaho
LOCAL LEGENDS: Todd Haynes, Gus Van
Sant
FILM FESTIVALS: The 48 Hour Film Project,
Northwest Film & Video Festival, PDX Festival, PISS! Fest,
Portland International Film Festival, POW! Fest
FILM
EDUCATION: The Art Institute of Portland, NW Film Center,
Portland State University
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: NW
Documentary Arts & Media, Portland AIVF Salon, Portland
Community Media
THE OREGON FILM & VIDEO OFFICE One World Trade
Center – 121 SW Salmon, Suite 1205 – Portland, OR
97204 – 503/229-5832 – www.oregonfilm.org
 |
| Chicago, Illinois is a city famous for its acting talent. |
4. CHICAGO, IL
LAST YEAR: #6
Homegrown Talent
Maybe it’s the lure of seeing
Jennifer Aniston dining and
shopping about town while
filming Derailed and The Break-Up here.
Or the fact that “Prison Break,” one of
television’s hottest shows, is shooting here.
Whatever the reason, after several years
of moving up and down in these rankings,
Chicago seems to have landed firmly back
on its feet as one of the nation’s most filmfriendly
destinations. A lot of the credit
goes to the city’s creative community, which
seems to love the city enough to either stay
here to work—or return from places like
Hollywood to get their movies made. As a
result, much of the work made here is done
so independently.
But putting Chicago’s homegrown artists
aside, as well as the Illinois Film Production
Tax Credit Act (which offers a 25 to 35 percent
tax credit on wages), there is one shining ing
reason why Chicago makes sense: The
talent! “A lot of actors gain their training in
Chicago before heading out to New York for
theater and Los Angeles for film,” says director
Niles Maxwell of Balanced Productions.
“There is an amazing pool of talent to choose
from, in particular for directors and producers
seeking actors with comedic training.
We have three major improv comedy venues
here: Annoyance Theatre, Improv Olympic
and Second City.”
Ricardo Islas of ALPHA Studios concurs:
“Chicago is a great place to shoot for indie
filmmakers not only for its locations, but
also because, along with New York, it has
the best acting schools in America. That
means a huge pool of talent looking to get
a first chance.”
But the talent does not just lie with
Chicago’s thespians. “There is also Columbia
College, which churns out people who are
highly skilled in the technical side of filmmaking.
For these reasons, it’s been easy
to find cast and crew members to join my
team,” says Maxwell.
“I don’t think I would want to make films
anywhere else,” Maxwell says. We certainly
understand that passion.
RECENT FEATURES: The Amityville Horror, The Break-Up,
Derailed, King’s Ransom, The Weather Man, Proof
SEMINAL FILMS: Adam’s Rib, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,
BackDraft, The Untouchables
LOCAL LEGENDS: John
Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Vince Vaughn, John Hughes
FILM
FESTIVALS: Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago
Underground Film Festival, Women in the Director’s Chair
Festival
FILM EDUCATION: Columbia College Chicago,
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The University of Chicago
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: Facets, Cinema
Chicago, Women in Film Chicago
CHICAGO FILM OFFICE 121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 806
– Chicago, IL 60602 – 312/744-6415 – www.cityofchicago.org/FilmOffice
 |
| Philadelphia hero M. Night Shyamalan directs Paul Giamatti in Lady in the Water (2006). |
5. PHILADELPHIA, PA
LAST YEAR: #3
There’s No Place Like Home
We’ve said it before and we’ll
say it again: If these rankings
were based on sheer excitement
alone, Philadelphia would come out
on top every time. But even with all the
other criteria mixed in, they’re not doing so
poorly. (Particularly considering the entire
Greater Philadelphia Film Office is helmed
by fewer than 10 people.)
In July, 2005, the state legislature ruled
to base its generous 20 percent tax credit
on a first come, first served basis. Which means that it pays to shoot
early in Pennsylvania. The
upside, according to the
Greater Philadelphia Film
Office’s executive director,
Sharon Pinkenson, is
that this credit applies to
“every dollar spent on the
ground in Pennsylvania,
even equipment rented
elsewhere but used in PA
and hires from other states
for every day they work
in PA. Consequently, this
year there was a tremendous
rush for production
to begin as soon as possible
after July 1, 2005, when the
annual allotment became
available.”
Those films lucky enough
to cash in on the deal—literally—
included M. Night
Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water, starring
Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard
and Disney’s Invincible, with
Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear.
In addition to its film work, which
includes everything from the tiniest indie to
the largest studio film, the city also snagged
a new television series, “The Block.” “The
creator and director, Sri Rao, is a PA native,
University of Pennsylvania graduate and
another wonderful example of how we are
nurturing our local talent to be able to have
blockbuster careers without leaving home,”
says Pinkenson.
Why would they? With no permits
required to shoot on city streets, sidewalks
or alleyways, the city of Brotherly Love
offers that major metropolitan background
that adds legitimacy and production value
to so many films, with a variety of distinct
neighborhoods that can easily work for any
genre of film. (Shyamalan’s filmography
alone pays tribute to this diversity, having
shot all of his films in the area). “The key is
being able to have a home base that you’re
comfortable in and be able to go wherever
a project may take you,” says director Don
Argott of 9.14 Pictures.
As for any new developments: The film
office is working with the mayor to develop
a specific City of Philadelphia incentive
program, in an effort to “drive production
directly to the city,” says Pinkenson. Though
they hope to have this in place in early
2006, at press time, no confirmed details
were available.
RECENT FILMS: The Lady in the Water, Shadowboxer,
Invincible, In Her Shoes
SEMINAL FILMS: Philadelphia,
The Sixth Sense, Dawn of the Dead
LOCAL LEGENDS: Lee
Daniels, M. Night Shyamalan
FILM FESTIVALS:
FirstGlance, Philadelphia Film Festival, Philadelphia
International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
FILM
EDUCATION: Temple University, University of the Arts
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: Philadelphia Film Society
THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA FILM OFFICE 100 S. Broad
Street, Suite 600 – Philadelphia, PA 19110 –
215/686-2668; 215/686-3663 (Hotline) – www.film.org
 |
| Micah Marie, Brandon Green, Bjorn Noren and Anthony Solorzana shoot on an LA rooftop. |
6. LOS ANGELES, CA
LAST YEAR: #7
The Invisible Moviemaker
“I’ve always found it curious that
when people speak of regional
filmmaking they mean filmmaking
outside of LA, as if we who are from
Los Angeles are all somehow tainted by
Hollywood,” says writer-director Brandon
Wilson (The Man Who Couldn’t).
As the epicenter of big-studio moviemaking,
it can be easy to forget how many indie
moviemakers thrive in LA, too, taking coffee
orders by day and making movies by
night—and making them their way, not the
Hollywood way.
“The first two things many regional filmmakers
talk about is 1) the thrill of shooting in virgin locations and 2) the enthusiasm
many people have toward their endeavor
since the idea of shooting a movie in Town
X is exotic and thrilling,” continues Wilson.
“Neither of these is particularly applicable
to shooting in LA. But what many people,
including many of us who live here, fail to
appreciate is that Los Angeles is a huge and
diverse metropolis. And while many of the
more photogenic areas have been used by
others, there are plenty of areas where no
one ever shoots.”
Add to that the fact that Angelenos
are surrounded by some of the world’s
most fabulously talented craftsmen—from
actors, writers, DPs, editors, etc. still looking
for their first big break to the
skilled musicians, post people and
effects gurus who can put those
perfect final touches on your
project—and you’ve got yourself
one hell of a talent pool (which
can be easily accessed, especially
from the local film schools, where
tomorrow’s stars are busy honing
their techniques). Plus, the
amount of competition keeps
prices low–and most companies
are willing to negotiate even
beyond that.
Offers Wilson: “While Angelenos
may not greet your filming with
excitement and magnanimity, the
trade-off is that in LA, if your crew
is small enough, people, including
the cops (and we shot my feature
without permits) leave you alone.
That invisibility may be just what you need
to make your day and make the best movie
you can.”
RECENT FILMS: Crash, Something New, Thank You for
Smoking, Fun with Dick and Jane, Kissing Katie Holmes
SEMINAL FILMS: Clueless, Swingers, The Player, To Live
and Die in L.A., Pulp Fiction
LOCAL LEGENDS: Steven
Spielberg, George Lucas, John Singleton
FILM FESTIVALS:
AFI Fest, FirstGlance, Los Angeles Film Festival,
Screamfest LA
FILM EDUCATION: AFI, Columbia College
Hollywood, UCLA, USC, Los Angeles Film School
FILM
ORGANIZATIONS: IFP West, AFI, DGA, SAG, WGA, Los
Angeles Filmmakers Alliance
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
1201 W. 5th Street, Suite T-800 – Los Angeles, CA 90017
– 213/977-8600 – www.eidc.com
 |
| Miami’s natural beauty provides a gorgeous backdrop. |
7. MIAMI, FL
LAST YEAR: #8
Coming Full Circle
There’s no denying the heat in
Miami—both in terms of the
weather and the buzz that has
returned to the city in recent years. Once a
playground to the rich, the city took a downturn
in the ’80s, in its “Miami Vice” days
when it also had the dubious distinction
as the murder capital of America. But the
recent influx of A-List star power has once
again made Miami, Florida the place to be.
Though its industry is still dominated by
commercials and television, motion pictures make up about 10 percent of the action,
which isn’t bad considering the entertainment
industry brought in approximately
$165 million in 2005 alone.
What’s the draw? What isn’t the draw
would be an easier question to answer. The
city offers one-stop permitting for most local
municipalities (including Miami-Dade, the
City of Miami, Miami Beach and beyond)
and even offers online permitting, so that you
can do it at your convenience. The state does
not charge any sales tax on production equipment
rentals and purchases, nor on goods
manufactured or produced in Florida (even
if they’re being used outside of the state).
Florida’s Discount and Deals program offers
discounts and special pricing to moviemakers
on a number of local services and goods.
Considering the city’s rise to fame in the
1980s with “Miami Vice,” it seems as if Miami
has come full circle: One of the biggest and
most anticipated features coming out of
Miami this year will be Michael Mann’s bigscreen
adaptation of the classic cop drama.
RECENT FILMS: Miami Vice, Meet the Fockers,
Transporter 2, Red Eye
SEMINAL FILMS: Scarface, Bad
Boys, Out of Sight, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, There’s
Something about Mary, The Birdcage
LOCAL LEGENDS:
Andy Garcia
FILM FESTIVALS: Miami International Film
Festival, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Miami
Children’s Museum Film Festival
FILM EDUCATION:
University of Miami, Miami-Dade Community College,
Florida International University
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: Miami Beach Film Society
MIAMI-DADE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF FILM &
ENTERTAINMENT 111 NW 1 Street, #2540 – Miami, FL
33128 – 305/375-3288 – www.filmmiami.org
 |
| Baltimore’s Little Italy Film Festival. |
8. BALTIMORE, MD
LAST YEAR: #9
Getting to It
Since relocating his business from
Los Angeles to Baltimore, Elvis
Avrum Cohen, president and CEO
of Hennessey Entertainment, Ltd., a boutique
marketing, advertising and PR firm,
has been “overwhelmed with more pitches,
e-mail, snail mail, etc. I think a lot of folks
are fed up with the Hollywood way of treating
people.”
Perhaps that’s why Charm City has been
a hotbed of independent activity since even
before “independent film” as we know it
existed. Of course, no conversation of movies
and Baltimore would be complete without
the mention of the city’s well-known
patron saint. “Baltimore is a fantastic place
to make an independent film and to be an
independent filmmaker,” says moviemaker
Jon Jolles. “Why? We’re the friggin’ home of
independent moviemaking, for chrissakes.
John Waters was doing it here before people
even knew what an independent film was—
before there was a name for it. Back then it
was a ‘midnight movie.’”
But Baltimore offers great diversity, too.
Some of the city’s recent offerings include
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s documentary
The Boys of Baraka, Shane Felux’s Star
Wars: Revelations, Lee Tamahori’s xXx:
State of the Union and Steven Gaghan’s
Syriana, proving once and for all that you
really can do it all in Baltimore.
Concludes Jolles: “Our cost of living is
probably the cheapest of all the big east
coast cities—perfect for the indie filmmaker.
Add to that great artists, musicians,
actors, characters, eccentrics and just plain
crazy-ass freaks and you’ve got the place
any indie filmmaker should be. You can
struggle in Los Angeles or shell out all your
dough in New York City. Or you can come to
Baltimore and get to it.”
RECENT FILMS: Ladder 49, A Dirty Shame, xXx: State of
the Union, The Boys of Baraka
SEMINAL FILMS: Diner,
Pink Flamingos, Home for the Holidays
LOCAL LEGENDS:
Barry Levinson, John Waters, Divine
FILM FESTIVALS:
Maryland Film Festival, Microcinefest
FILM EDUCATION: University of Maryland, Towson University
FILM
ORGANIZATIONS: The Creative Alliance, Women in Film
and Video of Maryland
MARYLAND FILM OFFICE 217 E. Redwood Street,
9th Floor – Baltimore, MD 21202 – 800/333-6632;
410/767-6340 – www.marylandfilm.org
 |
| Making movies is a way of life in Wilmington, NC. |
9. WILMINGTON, NC
LAST YEAR: UNRANKED
People are Talking
It’s a funny thing. In the six years
we’ve been compiling this list,
Wilmington has only made it on here
once (and that was as an honorable mention).
Though there’s a ton of activity here,
much of it is in the television sector, which
is why the city has always been on the short
list but never quite cracked the countdown.
What’s different this year? Part of the reason MovieMaker initiated this “Best Places
to Live” feature series was to create a conversation
in the national film community—
one where we could learn about places outside
of Los Angeles and New York that were
experiencing a moviemaking renaissance.
Perhaps the place we hear about most is
Wilmington, North Carolina.
Each year, we receive countless letters
and phone calls about the city’s exclusion,
with what seems like a community-wide
effort to let us know just what we’re missing.
They’ve sold us. This list is as much about
living in a place as it is about working there,
and Wilmington offers excellent opportunities
on both counts.
Opportunities for work abound, says
director Bo Webb (Dead Heist), who moved
to Wilmington in 1992 and quickly found
work. “It was booming here at the time, and
I became friends with a bunch of people like
me who wanted to make movies,” he recalls.
“We all worked on big (usually awful) movies
to pay the rent, then would work on each
others’ short films for fun between shows. It’s
a perfect setup for what I want to do in life.”
When pressed for specifics, Webb is happy
to oblige: “It’s not LA or New York, but
there’s still a thriving film business here. You
can make a living at it. Rent and mortgages
are cheap. Filmmaking infrastructure is in
place here—sound stages, camera and lighting/
grip rental, high quality post-production
services, film-friendly locations and a large
crew base. The crews here work on big shows,
but are not snobby about working on little
projects ‘for the love’ between paying jobs.
Locals enthusiastically support the idea of indigenous NC filmmaking. Most here agree
that although large, out-of-town productions
taught us to ride, we’re anxious to ditch the
training wheels via independent film.”
From the city’s most recent output, it
sounds like this transformation is already
happening. Three Wilmington-shot films
will premiere in Park City this January: Paul
Fitzgerald’s Forgiven, Erica Dunton’s Find
Love and D.B. Sweeney’s Dirt Nap.
“With beautiful beaches and a historic
downtown, Wilmington provides the perfect
getaway for filmmakers looking to escape the
stress and expense of working in larger, more
expensive regions,” says Legion Production
Services’ Neil Boone.
RECENT FILMS: Find Love, Forgiven, Dirt Nap
SEMINAL
FILMS: Blue Velvet, The Crow, A Walk to Remember, The
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
FILM FESTIVALS:
Cucalorus, Port City Animation Festival, Sometime in
October Film Festival
FILM EDUCATION: UNC Wilmington
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: Cape Fear Independent Film
WILMINGTON REGIONAL FILM COMMISSION 1223 North
23rd Street – Wilmington, NC 28405 – 910/343-3456 –
www.wilmington-film.com
 |
| Memphis’s renowned Beale Street is a great place to eat, listen to music–and make movies. |
10. MEMPHIS, TN
LAST YEAR: UNRANKED
Moviemaking with Soul
You don’t attract the business of
Hollywood’s elite (including Milos
Forman, Sydney Pollack, James
Mangold, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu,
Robert Zemeckis and Joel Schumacher)—or
rave reviews, for that matter—by eating barbeque
on Beale Street all day. The difference
in Memphis is in the details.
It’s just like a Southern city to promote
such thoughtful details as Fed Ex drop-offs
as late as 11:30 p.m. (the city is home to the delivery giant’s corporate headquarters) and
the wide availability of local musical talent as
some of their key benefits. (The Film Office
tells the story of Cookie’s Fortune co-producer
David Levy simply walking to Beale Street to
find the music for the film’s soundtrack.)
But just like the big guys, Memphis offers
some serious cost savings, too, including
hotel tax exemptions after 30 days and a
complete refund of sales and use tax on goods and services (currently 9.25 percent).
Dollars aside, Memphis has a surprising
variety of diverse locations, as the city is just
minutes away from farmlands, flatlands and
the Mississippi Delta. It’s not any city that
could work equally well for Mangold’s Walk
the Line, Iñarritu’s 21 Grams and Craig
Brewer’s Hustle & Flow. (Brewer pays further
tribute to the city that inspired him on
the film’s Website, www.hustleandflow.com,
where he has created a separate page for his
favorite Memphis hangouts.)
“Memphis has everything a big city does
but is still small enough to be welcoming
to filmmakers,” says director Matt Beickert
(Dummy… A Love Story). “Most importantly,
it’s got that special Memphis vibe
that has fostered so much of the most powerful
music ever recorded.”
RECENT FILMS: Hustle & Flow, Walk the Line, Forty
Shades of Blue
SEMINAL WORKS: Mystery Train, Great
Balls of Fire!, The Client, The People vs. Larry Flynt
LOCAL
LEGENDS: Craig Brewer, Morgan Freeman
FILM
FESTIVALS: Indie Memphis Film Festival, Memphis
International Film Festival
FILM ORGANIZATIONS: Live
from Memphis, Tennessee Film & Music Commission
MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY FILM COMMISSION 50 Peabody Place, Suite 250 – Memphis, TN 38103 –
www.memphisfilmcomm.org
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