That's a Wrap! Wrap! Wrap! Wrap!
By Terri Parsons, Wilkes County Film Commission
Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Film Office has been steadily busy over the past couple of months with writers, producers, location scouts, music videos and short films being made for film festivals.
“VENISON EATERS, a short partially filmed in Purlear at what is known as the old Clarence Benton Farm now owned by Cam Finley, wrapped production on June 10th. Once again we want to give a special thanks to the Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority for providing a grant to the production company to entice them to film here,” said Terri Parsons Film Commissioner for Wilkes County. “VENISON EATERS film crew has plans on returning in the fall to shoot the film as a full length feature.”
Ms. Parsons states, “The Film Commission needs to come up with some kind of Grammy or Golden Globe for Brett Bortle of Weekend Warriors who kick started us two years ago with recording artist Matt Dylan (Red Dirt Rising), then a feature film that was premiered at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Brett also brought Curb Record recording artist Tim Dugger (Sunday Drive) a song which is used as the opening songs for NASCAR races on TV. Later, Brett was here for Sony recording artist Jason Michael Carroll (MEET ME IN THE BARN) which aired nationally on CMT TV on Halloween night hosted by Jason Michael Carroll. This video was shot at a farm located out in the county owned by Bert Hall and his wife and then completed at the Liberty Theatre in North Wilkesboro. North Wilkesboro Town Commissioners Bert Hall and Bart Hayes along with Mayor of North Wilkeboro, Robert Johnson, really rolled out the red carpet for Jason Michael Carroll when they cooked dinner for the whole cast and crew.”
“Brett Bortle returned on June 23rd and 24th with a music video involving recording artist John Stone (MAMA AND BUDWEISER). The shoot took place at Benton Hall in North Wilkesboro, a mobile home park located out by the Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway and a privately owned salvage on Speedway Road. Brett will return yet again on July 24th and 25th with country recording artist Darrell Harwood and he is planning to be back for his sixth production in a few weeks with a band out of Nashville. This shoot is scheduled to take place at Wilkes Regional Hospital,” reports Commissioner Parsons.
“Wilkes Film Office is currently scouting with a major studio for a feature film that is based on a novel. We have been asked to keep all details and names ‘under wraps’ until everything is finalized by the studio,” states Parsons.
"Wilkes Film Commission receives no funding to attract this business to the county,” states Linda Cheek, President of Wilkes Chamber. “Terri Parsons, Film Commissioner, has graciously given days and days of her time and has personally incurred the expense of travel and loads of other costs associated with productions to bring the industry to Wilkes. It is through her expertise, contacts, and overall knowledge of the film industry that has made Wilkes County so successful in bringing in all of these productions. When productions come to Wilkes they bring our county a tremendous amount of economic support as they create overnight stays in local hotels, food purchases at area restaurants, buy retail items, make equipment rentals, and purchase lots gasoline for the vehicles used. Terri reports some of the production staff has purchased larger ticket items such as local property and automobiles while in Wilkes County.”
Film Commissioner Terri Parsons states, “The Mayor of North Wilkesboro, Robert Johnson, has been gracious enough to help scout locations in North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro, and throughout the county over the past two years. Location scouting really ‘takes an eye’ to know what is being described to you, normally over the phone. Someone locally born and raised in Wilkes knows where the little hidden treasures are tucked away.”
Terri Parsons explains, “Our Red Tape Cutting Committee has been the true draw to the Wilkes Film Commission. Once a director or producer, the art director, camera crew, and location scout leave Wilkes and travel to another project, they ‘spread the word’ on how well organized Wilkes was for their film production.” Terri explains, “We help them to receive needed permits within 24 hours and this allows them to get the production work done quicker and with less expense than they could elsewhere. The best part is that even though we have over 100 people on the Wilkes Film Commission Red Tape Cutting Committee, we don’t tie them up with monthly meetings. Our agreement with the committee in the beginning was if the production involves your business or your services, I will contact you. Other than that, we only have one organized meeting per year.”
Parsons further states, “The local people have been so extremely hospitable to the cast and crews. That is all any of the production folks want to talk about. I love talking to the crews as they travel all over and are asked, ‘where was the easiest place you have ever filmed?’ It never fails - they all say Wilkes County. The people are so friendly!”
Linda Cheek reports Wilkes Chamber of Commerce is currently developing a new “Film Wilkes” website. Visit www.ExploreWilkes.com and click on Film Wilkes to view mulitple Wilkes County images, testimonies from production officials, etc. The chamber will announce a photo contest later this year requesting local citizens to compete by submitting photos of the best and most unique images taken throughout Wilkes County. The video and motion picture production is affiliated with the tourism industry and is recognized with incentives provided through the North Carolina Division of Tourism. “We encourage Wilkes citizens to embrace this growing industry as it truly supports our local businesses,” Linda states.
