North Carolina Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in North Carolina? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in North Carolina

For an introduction to shooting in North Carolina see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

North Carolina Film Locations

North Carolina, the Tar Heel state, is a southeastern state that offers a diversity of film locations. The Appalachian Mountains lie in the west. The Atlantic Ocean lies in the east. The state is known for its mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, beaches, lighthouses, picturesque towns, museums, universities, and theme parks. Cities of note include Charlotte, Asheville, and Raleigh.

Agricultural film locations include a wide variety of farms that produce hogs, catfish, tobacco, cotton, soybeans, corn, peanuts, wine grapes, and Christmas trees. Lumber mills are available for filming. Fishing boats are also available for filming. Energy locations include coal and natural gas fired power plants, as well as nuclear plants, hydroelectric dams, and solar power plants.

North Carolina has hosted a long list of productions including Scream (2022), Halloween Kills (2021), The Black Phone (2021), Homeland (2011-2020), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Tusk (2014), The Conjuring (2013), Iron Man 3 (2013), The Hunger Games (2012), Hannibal (2001), The Green Mile (1999), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), The Crow (1994), The Fugitive (1993), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Days of Thunder (1990), Dirty Dancing (1987), Blue Velvet (1986), The Color Purple (1985), and Deliverance (1972).

Charlotte is the state’s largest city. Film locations include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art designed by Mario Botta, Mint Museum, Levine Museum of the New South, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte Museum of History, Billy Graham Library, Ovens Auditorium, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, US National Whitewater Center, abandoned Stonewall Jackson Reform School, Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, and Carowinds amusement park. Charlotte Motor Speedway featured in Days of Thunder (1990). Charlotte was also filmed for Homeland (2011-2020), Tusk (2014), Hunger Games (2012), and The Color Purple (1985).

Raleigh is the state capital. Film locations include the State Capitol building, North Carolina Executive Mansion, North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, Yates Mill, Bain Waterworks Plant, Pullen Park, William B Umstead State Park, JC Raulston Arboretum, City Cemetery, J.S. Dorton Arena, and PNC Arena.

The nearby city of Durham is known for Carolina Theatre, Durham Performing Arts Center, American Tobacco Campus, and Eno River State Park. Duke University campus buildings include Duke Chapel, Nasher Museum of Art, Perkins Library, Bostock Library, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Cameron Indoor Stadium, and Wallace Wade Stadium.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus buildings of note include the Morehead–Patterson Bell Tower, Morehead Planetarium, Louis Round Wilson Library, Davis Library, Graham Memorial Hall, Dean Smith Center, and Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Winston-Salem is known for Graylyn Estate, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, and Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Wake Forest University campus buildings of note include Wait Chapel, Benson University Center, Truist Field, and Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Fayetteville film locations include US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, Fort Bragg, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Market House, and Cameo Art House Theater.

Wilmington film locations include Bellamy Mansion, Burgwin-Wright House, Latimer House, Airlie Gardens, Cape Fear Museum, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington Railroad Museum, Museum of the Bizarre, Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, and USS North Carolina decommissioned WWII era battleship. Scream (2022), The Black Phone (2021), Halloween Kills (2021), Iron Man 3 (2013), The Conjuring (2013), The Crow (1994), and Blue Velvet (1986) filmed in Wilmington.

Asheville is a small city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is known for its vibrant arts scene and historic architecture. Film locations of note include Basilica of St Lawrence, Asheville City Hall, The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville Pinball Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Just outside of Asheville you can find the North Carolina Arboretum, as well as the Biltmore Estate, a sprawling mansion built by the Vanderbilt family, which featured in Hannibal (2001), Forrest Gump (1994), and The Last of the Mohicans (1992).

Picturesque small mountain towns of note include Black Mountain, Bryson City, Franklin, Highlands, Murphy, Saluda, Sylva, Tryon, West Jefferson, and Whittier. Black Mountain was filmed for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, and The Hunger Games (2012). Sylva was filmed for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), The Fugitive (1993), and Deliverance (1972). New Bern is a picturesque riverside town.

Cryptozoology & Paranormal Museum is located in Littleton.

Ghost Town Village is an abandoned Wild West-themed park in Maggie Valley.

Henry River Mill Village featured in Hunger Games (2012).

Museum of the Cherokee Indian is located in Cherokee.

Land of Oz Theme Park in Beech Mountain is a unique location.

North Carolina Transportation Museum is located in Spencer.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is an abandoned location that once featured in Days of Thunder (1990).

Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is located in Claremont.

The Appalachians have two mountain ranges of interest, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Here you can find forests and fall colors, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, winding mountain roads, tunnels and bridges. The Linn Cove Viaduct is especially impressive during the fall season. DuPont State Forest was filmed for Hunger Games (2012), and The Last of the Mohicans (1992). Moses H. Cone Memorial Park was filmed for The Green Mile (1999). Other Appalachian nature parks of note include Chimney Rock State Park, Pisgah National Forest, Clingmans Dome, Hanging Rock State Park, Linville Gorge Wilderness, Mount Mitchell State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Gorges State Park, and Lake James State Park.

Ski resorts of note include Beech Mountain Ski Resort, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Cataloochee Ski Area, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain Resort.

The Atlantic Coast is known for its beaches, piers, marinas, and lighthouses. Film locations include Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Carolina Beach State Park, Fort Macon State Park, and Hammocks Beach State Park. Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station, and Corolla Wild Horses can be found in the Outer Banks.

Lighthouses of note include Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Bald Head Lighthouse, Oak Island Lighthouse, and Frying Pan Tower.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) also filmed in locations including Chimney Rock, Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah National Forest, Asheville, and Weaverville.

The Fugitive (1993) also filmed in locations including Bryson City, Dillsboro, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Color Purple (1985) also filmed in Salisbury, Wadesboro, Lilesville, Marshville, Anson County, Union County, and Ansonville.

Iron Man 3 (2013) also filmed in Kenansville, Rose Hill, Cary, Currie, and Oak Island.

Homeland (2011-2020) filmed in Mooresville.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) filmed in Southport.

Dirty Dancing (1987) filmed in Lake Lure.

Cheoah Dam featured in the famous jumping scene in The Fugitive (1993).

Fontana Dam is one of the largest dams in the United States.

Nuclear power plants include McGuire Nuclear Station, Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, and Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station.

North Carolina Film Location Permits

The state of North Carolina does not generally charge fees for filming on public property. Some fees may be charged by local authorities depending on the project. The permitting process varies depending upon what part of the state you are shooting in and the type of permit you require. In general, permitting is quick, easy and inexpensive. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Spring conditions are warm on the coast and cool in the mountains. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms and fogs. Coastal North Carolina experiences hurricanes. Fall colors can be found in the forests of the Appalachian Mountains. Winters are short and mild with some snow at higher altitudes.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in the United States.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

North Carolina Tax Incentives For Filming

North Carolina offers a rebate of up to 25% on qualifying in-state expenses. Qualifying productions include episodic TV series, TV mini-series, movies of the week, feature films, direct-to-video, reality TV, commercials, documentaries, animation, and webisodes.

North Carolina Film Crew & Talent

Crew. North Carolina has a good pool of local crew. Charlotte and Wilmington are the main production service centers.

Contact us if you are looking for a Wilmington, Charlotte, or Asheville based director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew in North Carolina.

Talent. The state’s population is predominately Caucasian and African American. Film characters synonymous with North Carolina include tobacco-chewing farmers, moonshiners, Asheville hipsters, and NASCAR fans.

North Carolina Film Equipment

Equipment. North Carolina has standard camera, grip and lighting available for hire.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

North Carolina Studios & Post Production