JDDemers

Important update for North Carolina filmmakers, crew, actors, and media professionals:

There is a House version of the film incentive bill — House Bill 1116 — but the bill we especially need to pay attention to and support is the Senate version:

Senate Bill 1002 — “Micro-Budget Productions & Film Grant Changes”
Filed by Senator Michael Lee, District 7
Email: [email protected]

Why does SB 1002 matter so much?

Because it adds language specifically targeting North Carolina-based production companies and the hiring of North Carolina-based actors, crew, contractors, vendors, and media professionals.

This is not just about bringing large outside productions into the state, although that matters too. This is about finally creating a pathway for smaller, legitimate NC-based producers who are already set up as businesses, already working through the NC Department of Revenue, and already trying to build real production activity here at home.

The micro-budget portion of SB 1002 could support smaller NC-based productions — including short films, documentaries, vertical productions, proof-of-concepts, and other qualifying audiovisual works — at budget levels that are actually realistic for ultra-low-budget and emerging-market producers.

This matters for the growing vertical production space as well. Many “vert” projects operate at budgets far below traditional studio films, yet they still hire actors, crew, editors, locations, vendors, and post-production professionals. SB 1002 appears to recognize that smaller productions can still create meaningful economic activity in North Carolina.

One of the strongest pieces of the Senate bill is that the micro-budget section appears to reward productions that:

are headquartered in North Carolina,
film substantially in North Carolina,
hire North Carolina residents,
and operate at budget levels accessible to true independent producers.

That is a big deal.

To all NC-based crew, talent, producers, editors, vendors, and film-friendly small businesses:

Please contact your state representatives and senators. Ask them to support Senate Bill 1002 and, specifically, to protect the micro-budget component as the bill moves through the legislative process.

This provision could help keep more production dollars in North Carolina, create more work for local professionals, and give homegrown NC projects a real path forward.

Let’s speak up now while this is moving.

Wilmington could become more attractive to filmmakers with proposed NC legislation New legislation could make North Carolina more attractive to filmmakers.

Senate Bill 1002 moving through the NC legislature could be a GAME CHANGER for indie producers in North Carolina.

The micro-budget provision in this Senate version is exactly the kind of thing many of us have needed for years — a way to support smaller, legitimate NC-based productions that want to create the work right here, with North Carolina actors, crew, vendors, contractors, editors, and production companies.

For productions under $1 million, we do not need to bring everybody in from somewhere else. North Carolina already has the talent. We already have the crews. We already have the producers. We already have the locations. What we need is a structure that helps more of that work happen here and keeps more of the revenue here.

I’ve been advocating for this kind of micro-budget opportunity for a long time. This is where real growth can happen — idea to script, script to production, production to post, and then out to distribution.

I posted a longer write-up through Carolina Arts and MediaPros, Inc. about why SB 1002 matters so much. If you are an NC actor, crew member, producer, editor, vendor, or film-friendly business, please read it and contact your state representatives and senators.

Ask them to support Senate Bill 1002 and protect the micro-budget component as the bill moves through the legislative process.

This could open the door for more homegrown NC productions — and that is good for all of us.

Wilmington could become more attractive to filmmakers with proposed NC legislation New legislation could make North Carolina more attractive to filmmakers.

Driving down which interstate to a booking in Savannah. Where did I stop?

Al Dente is in the house. Texas Pete Hot Sauce what a great group of people and an amazing hot sauce

As a busy working actor staying healthy and able to work long and bizarre schedules led me into doing runDisney races and jeffgallowayolympian was the official run guru for runDisney. Also my late brother Rex Allen Demers wanted me to do runDisney races and I always said no while he was alive. Nonetheless after Rex passed I started doing runDisney with the help ofJeff Galloway and his training method. I have done half marathons and 10ks 5ks too. And will finish the d***y in 2027 as he kept showing me how I could Jeff thank you for the encouragement. No wore than ever hearing you on theJeffing app on my phone will truly be inspirational. God speed brother.

Today on location

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Watch this story by Rene Olmos on Instagram before it disappears. 44K Followers, 2,085 Following, 124 Posts

Rest in Peace. I saw him once while I was in Wilmington, he was not on set, he was interacting with some locals. HE seemed from my observation to be a nice DTE fellow. Rest in Peace.

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