Wanna be in Iron Man 3?

While I was visiting my mom in San Francisco last week, a friend at dinner spoke about her son, who is a successful cameraman in the film industry.  Not surprisingly, he lives in Hollywood.  What may surprise you is that none of the filming he does is in Hollywood.

Because of tax breaks, movies are now filmed in cities like Toronto, Detroit, and (I knew she was about to say it) Wilmington, North Carolina.  Her son is actually leaving the film business because he's tired of the travel.  

It's true, Wilmington, NC is the Hollywood of the East.  "Empire Records", "Nights In Rodanthe", "The Crow", "Sleeping With the Enemy", "Weekend At Bernies", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", and "Blue Velvet" were all filmed in Wilmington.  TV shows?  "One Tree Hill", "Eastbound and Down", "Dawson's Creek", and "Matlock" have all called Wilmington home.

Next month, filming begins on their biggest get yet - "Iron Man 3".  

Thousands showed up at Crabtree Valley Mall last weekend for an open casting call, and there's one more this Saturday, April 21st from 10a-1p at Independence Mall in Wilmington.  

So....RTP is the new Silicon Valley and Wilmington is the new Hollywood.  Poor California.  And I mean that literally.

Foster 

Radio 96.1