Investment in SC’s film industry can lead to more starring roles for the Palmetto State

Watching the miniseries was part of life for many of us in the 1980s as we gathered around the television to watch classics like “The Winds of War” and “The Thorn Birds.”

And, of course, “Chiefs,” set in the fictional town of Delano, Georgia.

The series, which featured Charlton Heston and Billy Dee Williams, was largely filmed in tiny Chester, South Carolina, and the 1983 production brought business and positive buzz to the small town.

A starring role on the small screen or the big screen leaves a mark on audiences and often turns otherwise ordinary places (think the fictional Satriale’s Pork Store in The Sopranos) into tourist attractions.

That’s why most states have film commissions and many have incentive programs to draw new productions.

Filming brings both business and buzz, not to mention “There’s still a cool factor,” said South Carolina film commissioner Matt Storm.

The South Carolina film commission has a small crew, just two full-time staff and some part-timers who scout locations, but it’s very active.

Upcoming film projects in the state include “Bull Street” coming to Summerton, the Netflix series “Outer Banks,” and the third season of “The Righteous Gemstones.”

Film productions here can qualify for a range of rebate programs, designed to bring productions to the state as opposed to anywhere else in the country.

South Carolina, for instance, offers film companies a 25% rebate on in-state employee wages and 20% for out-of-state employees, along with 30% rebates for supplies like clothing and portable toilets and 25% for out-of-state.

According to the state website, productions that spend a minimum of $250,000 in the state are also exempt from state and local sales and use tax on supplies.

The rebates are useful, though the total budget for the rebates is about $15.5 million, an amount that is quickly exhausted each year.

Storm added that each dollar the state returns in the form of rebates equals about $4 spent on South Carolina goods, services and wages.

But the rebates are just one reason film crews come here.

“I love working with the local crew here in South Carolina. We’ve been working with some of them for over fifteen years,” said Charleston resident Danny McBride, who chose to film his HBO series “The Righteous Gemstones” in the state.

“I also love that South Carolina isn’t the traditional movie making hub. It gives a chance to expose people who might not realize how accessible working in this industry can be. Plus, it’s beautiful here and everyone who comes here to join us on an adventure has the best of times,” McBride said.

What can the state do to attract more productions?

“Steady work invites more crews to set up shop and that’s what builds a healthy film community,” McBride said. “It’d be great to see the state continue to invest in the people and the artists that want to work here.”

Independent film producer Edgar Bravo also doesn’t just view the choice to film in the Palmetto State as a monetary decision.

His company, No Restrictions Entertainment, was based in California then moved to Atlanta before deciding to move its base to Greenville.

“We checked out Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Austin. We decided to come to Greenville,” Bravo said.

“It has an upbeat energy. The people are really friendly,” he said, “And there’s this entrepreneurial spirit.”

Bravo said those qualities as well as rich history of literature and a bevy of talented people made the area a good fit for his work on smaller budget films.

“There’s incredible talent in South Carolina,” Bravo said as he begins work on a new feature title “The Little Box of Hope.”

Bravo also saw the presence of major corporations like Michelin and BMW as a sign that South Carolina had something to offer.

“We wanted to create and work with people who are still excited about making movies. We found that here,” Bravo said.

That’s good news for Greenville and for the state, and maybe a sign that South Carolina should increase its rebate program to capitalize on all the factors that attracted people like McBride and Bravo.

That could mean more business, more buzz and a lot more of that cool factor.

This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 11:30 AM.