How Wilmington Became "Wilmywood": A Glimpse Into Its Film Industry Roots

For decades, Wilmington has been a hit filming destination. It’s no secret that the city we call home features a number of popular TV and movie locations. Titles like “Dawson’s Creek,” “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “One Tree Hill,” and “The Waterfront,” draw eager viewers in from all over the world. Despite our city’s ideal landscape, why else is it deemed such a hot spot for aspiring filmmakers?

Wilmington has continued to work its magic in the film industry since the early 1980’s. Its long history has evolved into success, ultimately leading to its “Hollywood of the East” nickname. In 1983, film producer Dino DeLaurentiis embarked on the hunt for the best production space to help bring a newly developed movie come to life. This film would later be known as “Firestarter,” inspired by the intriguing Stephen King novel.

After scouting out nearby areas, Dino discovered Wilmington’s warm, sunny climate and was impressed with the city’s versatility. The downtown riverfront, beautiful beaches, and luscious greenery all made for a perfectly fitting movie backdrop. The Italian filmmaker’s choice of the city prompted the launching point for its blooming ideas. The whole experience made such a lasting impact on Dino, that he soon after established DEG Film Studios in 1984.

The flourishing DEG facility produced dozens of films and rented space for other productions during its grand opening. It soared rapidly, fast, and bright, eventually becoming the largest film studio east of California. These projects formed the basis of North Carolina’s widely known film service. Dino brought in highly-skilled craft makers, crew, and workers from around the world. He also taught the local residents more about the film business than they would ever have thought came with it.

Like many industries, Wilmington’s film branch pushed through the face of difficulty. It has struggled with financial instability, bankruptcy, the Covid-19 pandemic, competition, economic shifts, strikes, and more. All of these factors ultimately led to a dip in the line of work. However, this didn’t permanently stop the success from flowing in. The city proved to be resilient; experiencing periods of rebound. Filmmaking activity has remained, and the local business is ready to dodge whatever conflict may come its way.

As of 2023, the DEG studios are now run by Cinespace Company. Even after all these years, it’s hard to believe that the studio faced any hardships. Hopefully, the Wilmington film industry will continue to grow and blossom in the future, and attract new projects to further strengthen the field. To help keep it alive, embrace all your movie and TV watching. Your viewing could make a lasting impact on deeply rooted film history!