• Dino De Laurentiis Passes Away at Age 91
• To-be-filmed Charlotte Pilot Marks Claire Danes Return to TV
• All Star Cast Part of Piedmont-filming Made-for-TV Feature
• Panel at Cucalorus Says NC Film Industry is Healthy
• Carrboro Ready to Roll Out Red Carpet
• If Films Go So Does Business at Local Shops
• Quick Cuts & Did You Know

Dino De Laurentiis Passes Away at Age 91

Dino De Laurentiis, the man who helped bring Hollywood to North Carolina, passed away on November 11 in Los Angeles at the age of 91. One of the last movie moguls, De Laurentiis was best known for his work in the Jane Fonda cult classic Barbarella and won an Academy Award for La Strada. But to North Carolina, Dino will be remembered for building the first stages of what is now EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington and for training the talented crew base the state is known for throughout the industry. Read more about Dino De Laurentiis here.

To-be-filmed Charlotte Pilot Marks Claire Danes Return to TV

Deadline.com is reporting that the Showtime TV Pilot, Homeland, has signed Claire Danes for its lead. The pilot, which mark's Showtime's first greenlighted by president David Nevins, is a psychological thriller from 24 executive producer Howard Gordon. The pilot is scheduled to shoot in the Queen City in early 2011. Read more about Danes and the pilot here.

All Star Cast Part of Piedmont-filming Made-for-TV Feature

Three-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe nominee Sherry Stringfield, best known for her time on ER, and Danielle Panabaker, from the recent box office horror success The Crazies, are part of the cast currently filming in the Piedmont for Hallmark Channel's Beverly Lewis' The Shunning. Scheduled to debut on Hallmark Channel in April 2011, the feature is based on Lewis' first novel of The Heritage of Lancaster County books by the New York Times best-selling author. The production is being directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and is expected to do all of its post-production work in the state as well. Read more about the feature here.

Panel at Cucalorus Says NC Film Industry is Healthy

At what has become one of the Cucalorus Film Festival's most talked about events, the panelists in the "State of the State" discussion agreed that things are looking up in NC and the industry is currently healthy. Panelists talked about how they are seeing more and more production companies taking a closer look at North Carolina as a result of the state's new 25% incentive and that 2011 could shape up to be one of the best on record in the industry for the state. Panelists also encouraged members of the industry to continue to stay up-to-date with new filming techniques as well as letting General Assembly members know there's more to the industry than just movie stars. Find out more about the panel, as covered by the Wilmington Star News, by clicking here OR watch the "State of the State" panel by clicking here.

Carrboro Ready to Roll Out Red Carpet

After receiving a record number of entries, the 5th annual Carrboro Film Festival is set to show 28 shorts this Sunday, November 21 in the Orange County town. The event will take place at Century Center and many of the film makers will be present and participate in a Q&A following the showing of their short films. The festival will present two audience awards this year. For more information, visit the festival's web site by clicking here.

If Films Go So Does Business at Local Shops

In Michigan, the debate is on as to if the state's film incentives are worth it despite the large number of movies, and a major television series, being shot in the Great Lake State. And while the state government decides if they want to help support the industry, local businesses fear that the recent uptick they have seen as a direct result of films shooting in the state will be gone if the incentives leave. Read more about the local business side of the story, one that many studies leave out, in this article from the Oakland Press.

Quick cuts...

The State Film Office hosted a Regional Film Commission meeting in Raleigh this week to discuss potential projects as well as had a representative from the Department of Transportation talk more about working together for road and traffic assistanceEarlier this week NC Film Office director Aaron Syrett participated in an incentives webinar hosted by Variety; this is the third incentives based discussion that Syrett has been a part of in the last montha new NC-filmed NASCAR commercial (shot in the Charlotte area) featuring two trucks racing down a highway is currently airing on the ESPN family of networks other recently shot commercials in the state include BMW in the Western part of the state and Volvo and Scott Tissue in the Piedmont region...Submission deadline for the 2011 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Durham) is November 30.

Did You Know.

While North Carolina has gained a reputation for its piture-esque farmlands, the state ranks 2nd nationally in turkey production, producing almost 15% of the nation's turkeys. Happy Thanksgiving!