Hollywood East
Wilmington is a Hub of Movie-Making
While walking the docks in Southport or the streets of Wilmington, don’t be surprised if you experience a little déja-vu. You’ve probably already seen many parts of the region—on the big screen, that is.
Hundreds of films, television shows, commercials and music videos have been shot here in the area, giving it the nickname, “Hollywood East.” Motion pictures such as A Walk To Remember, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Empire Records, 28 Days, and the most recent film, Nights in Rodanthe, have all been filmed either on the shores, streets, or simply in the studio in the Brunswick Islands and Cape Fear Coast. The newest television show to grace the scene is the HBO hit Eastbound and Down.
Wilmington is also home to a handful of top celebrities, who enjoy the sunny, laid back lifestyle while shooting their films, in addition to the famous basketball legend Michael Jordan. The city is also the birthplace for many stars, such as Charles Kuralt, Sugar Ray Leonard and David Brinkley.
Wilmington has been the heart of the state’s film industry for more than two decades, due to its major studio, EUE Screen Gems Studios. As the largest full-service motion picture facility east of California, the studio has more than 20,000 square feet of production and office space and nine sound stages across 48 acres. A one-hour public tour allows visitors to tour the studios, including the set of the CW Network hit One Tree Hill. Acting and film students (many of them actors in locally-filmed movies and TV shows) lead the tours and provide many interesting facts about what goes into the filming and set process. Public walking tours of the studio are available Saturdays at noon and 2 p.m., year-round, except for the weekends of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Memorial Day. From May to September, tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 2 p.m. Get there early—there will be a crowd waiting in line as early as 20 minutes before the tour. For more information, call 910-343-3433 or visit www.screengemsstudios.com.
The series Dawson’s Creek was perhaps one of the most famous television shows to come out of Wilmington. A tour offered by Hook, Line and Paddle Canoe and Kayak Outfitters allows Dawson fans to see the location of the house in a very appropriate way—from a kayak in the water. Learn about the house that served as the main character’s home in the show, as well as other interesting tidbits about local history. For more information, call 1-877-91-KAYAK or visit www.hooklineandpaddle.com.
The Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington is also a great way to see some of the real locations and sets of dozens of movies and TV shows. The 90-minute guided tours are nearly as entertaining as the movies themselves. They’ll even point out where celebrities like to hang out while working here. Tours take place rain or shine Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. throughout the year. Tours are available on additional days during different seasons. For more information, call 910-794-1866 or visit www.hollywoodnc.com.