“To.get.her,” a film written and directed by Wilmington-based filmmaker Erica Dunton, premiered in a sold-out screening at the Sundance Film Festival in February. Over the next ten days, the film was screened to seven more sold-out crowds. The success of “To.get.her” isn’t an isolated incident. Thanks to improved tax incentives, as well as the efforts of EUE Screen Gems Studios and the Cucalorus Film Festival, the Wilmington film community is seeing more and more success lately.

July 22, 2010, Governor Bev Perdue expanded North Carolina’s tax incentives for film production, increasing the maximum tax credit per project from $7.5 million to $20 million. According to the North Carolina Film Office, Perdue’s legislation also eliminated the 6.9 percent corporate income tax on that credit.

“Before they passed the film incentives, it was dead here,” said Dave Monahan, interim chair of the UNCW Film Studies Department. “‘One Tree Hill’ was the only thing shooting. But since they passed those incentives, they’re working on maybe two or three major motion pictures in Wilmington. When I talk to my friends in the film industry, they say, ‘Oh yeah, everybody’s working now. I’m having to turn down work.'”

Of course, the $1 million individual salary cap remains, so if Paramount films a Johnny Depp vehicle in North Carolina, they will only be able to report one twentieth of his $20 million salary. That’s why no one is going to film a Johnny Depp vehicle in North Carolina.

Doing away with the salary cap would encourage the production of major motion pictures in North Carolina. States like Louisiana and Georgia have successfully courted Hollywood studios by offering uncapped incentives.

“But I feel that ultimately it would be detrimental,” Monahan said. “Right now, the state actually makes money by giving film studios this tax credit. A film crew generates a lot of money for the community, but one person making $20 million doesn’t generate that much money.”

Despite North Carolina’s limited film incentives, Wilmington houses EUE Screen Gems Studios, the world’s largest film studio outside of California. Screen Gems shoots the CW’s “One Tree Hill”, now in its eighth season, and has hosted dozens of feature films, including “28 Days” starring Sandra Bullock and “Muppets From Space” with Kermit the Frog.