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 23^rd and 24^th 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 24^th and 25^th 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. 

ENTREPRENEURISM - IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUTH

Written by Linda Cheek, President

The definition of an entrepreneur is an enterprising individual who builds capital through risk and/or initiative.  A further decription says entrepreneurs emerge from a population on demand, and become leaders because they perceive opportunities available and are well-positioned to take advantage of them.  Wilkes County for years has touted the “spirit of entrepreneurism” and this designation remains prevalent as we research the roots of the many locally owned businesses and industries.   The statistics from the 2010 US Census indicate over 5800 businesses and industries are located in Wilkes County.   From this number, we can safely say the majority began with an individual or group of individuals with an idea and from that idea, were willing to take a risk. 

Recent business reports indicate an increase in entrepreneurs and in small business development, especially in rural communities.   As a chamber, we recognize our membership growth is primarily generated by locally owned small businesses.   This same type of rural community entrepreneurial growth is being embraced by many and appears to be prevalent throughout the United States.  Don Macke, Co-founder and Director of Strategic Engagement with RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, wrote the following in 2011 article, “This slower rate of job creation may be structural and permanent, not just part of the recession and recovery cycle. Coping with these changes will most likely require an expansion of small-scale entrepreneurship, enabling rural residents to enjoy the quality of life benefits of “rural living” and also to tap economic opportunities. Some of these opportunities are even created by the outsourcing of work by larger employers. Our work with the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship over the past 10 years suggests that the rise in self-employment – small-scale entrepreneurship – and slow job creation are related and could present a development “silver lining” opportunity for many communities in the United States.  The potential behind this phenomenon can best be observed in the rise of necessity entrepreneurship. Necessity entrepreneurs are driven into business by the lack of jobs in their region – many clearly would prefer to take a job if those opportunities were available. But, once in business, these entrepreneurs could help create the foundation of a whole new generation of ventures that will help re-invent and renew the rural American economy.”

In this article, Wilkes Chamber features two very young entrepreneurs, Joseph and Dodi Kamperman of Moravian Falls.  Joseph, age 13 and Dodi, almost 12, became certified Master Gardeners through Wilkes County Cooperative Extension in May 2012. With an interest in seed catalogues and encouragement from their father, they began collecting heirloom seeds nearly seven years ago.  In developing their inventory, they were fortunate to receive unique heirloom seeds from friends, neighbors, and people who heard of their interest.  In 2010 Joseph and Dodi began their own business, J & D’s Heirloom Seeds.  Much of the inventory is created by heirloom seed purchased.  These young gardeners plant the seeds, grow the produce, and then save the seeds.   Joseph and Dodi are continuing to learn more about the seed business and agribusiness overall through their participation in propagation classes at Wilkes Community College and such as grafting that are offered through Wilkes County Cooperative Extension.  

Today in their heirloom seed 2012 catalogue, you will find “Big Boy Pumpkin,” a 40 year old seed acquired from an elderly lady friend from down the road and “Aunt Maude,” a dark pink colored tomato plant from seeds passed on by family members of friends from southwestern Virginia for over 100 years.   These young men have over 14 varieties of tomato heirloom seeds available for purchase.    Their catalog includes a variety of seeds such as herbs, beans, melons, collards, flowers, and even loofah.  Joseph and Dodi created their packaging and designed and printed the labels.  Joseph stated, “We receive help from our 9 year old sister occasionally.  She helps with the counting of the seeds included in the packets.  Some seeds such as the loofah seeds are sold by weight because of their size.  Dodi stated, “We’re working on time saving methods to package seeds, using measurement rather than count for smaller seeds.”  When asked how they determine prices, Joseph stated, “We determine by the seed age and by the demand, the greater the demand the lower the price, the less the demand, the higher the price.  The older the heirloom seed, the higher the price.  We also compare packet prices with other seed catalogs.”  Joseph and Dodi have particpated in the Wilkesboro Open Air Market on Friday nights to sell J & D’s Heirloom Seeds.  

In our interview with Joseph and Dodi Kamperman, we found these young entrepreneurs have a very interesting family.  Their parents, mother born in Italy and father in Holland, met and married in Australia.  While living in Australia the oldest daughter was born. The family later moved to the US and Joseph was born.  A few years after that, they moved to Italy and Dodi was born.  They later returned to the US and the Kampermans settled in Wilkes County in 2003. Joseph and Dodi aren’t the only young entrepreneurs in the family, their 16 year old sister who is a member of the Wilkes Quilters Guild, started a sewing business producing handmade aprons, pot holders, fabric wrap bowls and known as “Sew B’s.”   We asked Joseph and Dodi about the challenges they faced.   They indicated finding the heirloom seed varieties was their greatest challenge.  What are Joseph and Dodi’s future plans?  Joseph wants to own another business when he grows up.  Dodi, he wants to keep the seed business and continue to build on it.  To receive a 2012 J & D’s Heirloom Seeds Catalogue, contact Joseph and Dodi at jdheirloomseeds@gmail.com.