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Lights , Camera ,
Appalachia
Filmmaking in West Virg inia
ANNA MOORE ROBERT TINNELL
From the small screen to the silver screen , and probably on your smartphone screen , the state of West Virginia is amping up its push for more high production film projects to be shot within the Mountain State . The film industry has created an unprecedented creative economy across neighboring Appalachian regions from Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to Wilmington and Atlanta , says Dave Lavender , apprenticeship program coordinator with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development . Lavender works within the West Virginia Film Office , which assists crews looking to film in the state and helps promote the state ’ s potential as a location for filming .
“ Our office helps production companies locate workforce and crew , locations and professional services to help bring their creative project to life . The office also promotes West Virginia made films , TV projects and film festivals ,” Lavender says . “ In terms of economic development , we ’ re identifying film industry infrastructure needs to help strategically build out more film and creative industry here in the Mountain State .”
In July 2022 , one of the largest film tax credits in the country went into effect in West Virginia . Known as the Film Industry Investment Act , the tax credit was created to scale up the state ’ s film industry , offering up to 31 % of qualified in-state spend to be transferable in tax credits , with a 27 % base and then an additional 4 % if 10 or more fulltime talent or crew members are West Virginia residents . Projects that are eligible for the incentive include feature length motion pictures , TV films and series , post-production , music videos and commercial photography .
What sets West Virginia apart as a great filming destination , aside from the tax incentive ? Location , location , location .
“ West Virginia is somewhat of a geographical and geological chameleon and so it can really serve as a location for a lot of different places whether it be a midwestern or southern city , a northern rustbelt river town , a European village or a neighborhood from the 1950s or 1970s ,” Lavender says . “ We have a lot of unique locations as well , such as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum , Moundsville
“ The Mountain State offers up a diverse landscape and population , interesting and varied architecture , incredible scenic beauty and fresh locations that are a valued bonus to networks and studios .”
– Robert Tinnell , Writer , Director and Producer , Allegheny Image Factory
122 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE