New Feature Film Awarded North Carolina Film Grant Film project in Wilmington and a flight of commercials for Home Depot in High Point will provide job opportunities, economic impact

Two projects have been awarded North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grants to support productions in Wilmington and the High Point area, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The awardees include the feature film "Words on Bathroom Walls," an adaptation of an acclaimed novel, and a set of five commercials for Home Depot.

“North Carolina is excited to once again have cameras rolling in our state on a major motion picture,” said Governor Cooper. “Productions filmed here in North Carolina provide jobs and can pump millions of dollars into local economies. We have the skilled workforce, the diverse locations and a diverse and welcoming people for film to thrive here in North Carolina once more.” 

"Words on Bathroom Walls" is a feature adaption of the book by the same name that tells the story of Adam, a teenager navigating high school while living with paranoid schizophrenia. Luckily, an experimental drug trial promises to help him ignore his eccentric hallucinations so that he can hide his illness from his peers--most importantly Maya, a fiercely intelligent girl he falls for at his new school. The production is expected to have a direct in-state spend in excess of $9.3 million while creating more than 650 job opportunities in the state, including 120 well-paying crew positions. It is eligible for a rebate, funded through the film and entertainment grant fund, of up to $2,349,415.

Work on the feature film is just getting underway and principal photography of the project is expected to begin at the end of this month in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. "Words on Bathroom Walls" is being produced by LD Entertainment, whose former works include the recently released features "I Can Only Imagine" and "Forever My Girl," as well as "Megan Leavey," "Jackie," "The Grey," and the North Carolina-filmed feature "The Devil's Hand." 

“We are thrilled to be back in North Carolina,” said Pete Shilaimon, one of the film’s producers. “We love working here and are excited to be shooting another movie with the amazing crews in this beautiful state.”

In addition to the feature film, Elite Commercial Services has been awarded a Film and Entertainment Grant to produce five commercials in the greater High Point area for Home Depot. The five commercial spots combined are expected to have a direct in-state spend of $2.5 million, qualifying for a potential total rebate of up to $500,000. Production for the five commercials is to be completed by the end of 2018. The production is expected to create 70 job opportunities, including 55 well-paying crew positions, per commercial. 

“We are excited to have opportunities for our renowned crew base to once again work in their home state and we look forward to announcing more job opportunities soon,” added Guy Gaster, the North Carolina Film Office Director, whose operations are part of VisitNC and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. "In addition to providing in-state opportunities for the state’s well-trained film professionals, these projects will also showcase our picturesque locations and provide an immediate economic impact in the filming areas via spending with local business while also making use of the state’s established infrastructure.”
 
The North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant provides financial assistance to attract productions that will stimulate economic activity and create jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet direct in-state spending requirements to qualify for grant funds.