By Sara Wood
Wilmington, NC – As North Carolina's unemployment numbers rise, the film industry is helping to sustain the state's financial pulse. WHQR's Sara Wood reports that along with several film and TV productions, a small independent movie called "Arthur Newman, Golf Pro" with big-name talent is making its way to Wilmywood.
The film features Emily Blunt who starred in "The Adjustment Bureau" and Colin Firth, who won an Oscar for his performance in "The King's Speech." Bill Vassar, executive vice president of EUE Screen Gems says that "Arthur Newman" is perfect for Wilmington because Hollywood studios usually won't take on smaller productions.
"It's outside the realm of the type of film that they finance. It's not a mass appeal film. Yet the backers are putting the money up because they're taking a chance that it could become a very successful film."
Vassar says a film the size of Arthur Newman could employ between 100 and 130 people. So far this year, Screen Gems has filmed four feature films, three television pilots and six television movies, including projects like HBO's "Eastbound and Down" and another independent movie called "Hick."
"This year alone, not counting Arthur Newman, we are estimated to have 92 million dollars driven into the economy of the Wilmington area. I believe that will be over 100-million dollars before the year is done."
Vassar says there is still a possibility of landing new production contracts in the next few weeks that would reach continue well into 2012.