Great Reasons to Film in the Charlotte Region
There Have Always Been a Lot of Great Reasons to Film in the Charlotte Region
- We have a strong crew base
- We are home to four major equipment houses
- We have an unbelievable variety of locations
- We have great studio and office space
- We have direct flights to almost anywhere
- We have been named a Productions Center in the 2001 and 2006 IATSE Area Standards Agreement
Incentives
In the summer of 2005, both North Carolina and South Carolina passed laws creating new incentives making it more affordable to film in both states. Film projects in the Charlotte region can take advantage of North Carolina film incentives and/or South Carolina film incentives. Please review latest incentive laws for NC/SC in the back pocket of this guide.
Sales Tax Exemptions - Master Tapes
Sales tax exemption is in effect in North and South Carolina on audiovisual master tapes used in the motion picture, television and audio production industries.
Sales Tax Cap
North Carolina. Motion picture production companies are entitled to a cap of one percent on sales and use tax for purchases or rentals of items in the making of films in North Carolina.
South Carolina. Equipment and supplies used in the production of motion pictures and television programs are exempt from sales and use tax in South Carolina.
The Charlotte Region - A Region Like No Other
With its unique combination of urban and rural, foothills and flatlands, small towns and large city locations representing the 18th century through the 21st century, the Charlotte Region is like no other. Encompassing portions of both North and South Carolina, it is a 16-county area with Charlotte as its hub.
The Charlotte Region boasts a superior production environment. In addition to being home to four major equipment companies, numerous sound stages and a strong crew base, the Charlotte Region offers diverse locations and a community that's very hospitable to filming. The fact that there are more than 600 flights daily to almost anywhere adds to Charlotte's production advantage.
Other Charlotte Region Advantages include:
- The Charlotte Region's Cost of Living Index average of 91.8 is lower than areas of comparable size such as New Orleans, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Richmond, New York, and Los Angeles.
- Professional sports in the area include the NFL Carolina Panthers, the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, NASCAR racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, PGA Golf, AAA Charlotte Knights baseball, along with men's & women's professional soccer and East Coast Hockey.
- Recreational assets include two outdoor amphitheaters, Paramount's Carowinds theme park, over 100 public and private golf courses, aquatic centers and equestrian facilities.
- The US National Whitewater Center is the world's largest recirculating artificial whitewater river in the world and the only river of this type in the western hemisphere at this time.
- The Charlotte Region contains numerous rivers and lakes, including Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, which offer year-round water sports and recreational activities. All told, there are 1,770 miles of lake shoreline in the region.
- Four distinct seasons are marked by mild winters. Autumns rival New England's, and our springs are spectacular with blooming dogwoods, magnolias, pear trees, and azaleas. Our 214 sunny days and only 43 inches of annual precipitation make us one of the brightest spots in the nation.
© Copyright The Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc. 2007 The Charlotte Regional Film & Video Guide and the Charlotte USA Design are trademarks of The Charlotte Regional Partnership, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the contents of this guide, in whole or in part, in any medium including Internet Web pages or links, is expressly forbidden without the written consent of the Charlotte Regional Film Commission. This guide book is published by the Charlotte Regional Film Commission as a reference and no endorsement is implied. Information compiled as of February 2007. While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained in this guide is accurate and current, it cannot be guaranteed.