Two brand-new 20,000-square-foot studios now compliment the studio’s existing 42,500 square feet of state-of-the-art production space, enhancing Wilmington’s vibrant film scene

WILMINGTON, N.C., Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a grand opening event complete with legendary rock stars, politicians, film industry veterans, and more, Dark Horse Stages, one of North Carolina’s premier production studios, last week officially opened two brand-new sound stages, Stages 3 and 4, adding more than 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art production space to Wilmington’s vibrant film scene. This significant expansion enhances the infrastructure supporting North Carolina’s film industry, already renowned as a traditional and reliable stalwart in the film space, with experienced production crews as well as stunning and diverse landscapes.

The event garnered more than 550 attendees, including industry leaders, state and local officials, and film professionals, underscoring Wilmington’s status as a key player in the film and television sector.

“We are committed to providing world-class facilities that enable creators to realize their visions,” said Kirk Englebright, President and CEO of Dark Horse Stages. “The turnout reflects the excitement surrounding our expansion and the bright future of film in North Carolina.”

Guests were treated to an unforgettable evening featuring live music, thrilling stunts, and special video messages of congratulations from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect, Josh Stein, currently the state’s attorney general. Rock legend Dee Snider also made a special appearance, revealing plans to bring his production company, Defiant Artists, to North Carolina. To cap off the celebration, Snider electrified the crowd with a powerful performance of his iconic Twisted Sister anthem, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

For photos from the grand opening, click here.
For a video highlight from the event, click here.
For a video about Stages 3 & 4, click here.

*Photos should be attributed: Courtesy of Dark Horse Stages

“The expansion of Dark Horse Stages brings tremendous value to North Carolina’s film industry by enhancing our capacity to meet the diverse needs of today’s productions,” said North Carolina Film Office Director Guy Gaster. “The continued evolution of this outstanding facility elevates North Carolina’s appeal as a premier film destination to both major studios and independent filmmakers, alike, providing a modern and attractive entertainment hub that will foster creativity, efficiency, and true collaboration for years to come.”

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Key Features of Stages 3 and 4:

– Size and Capacity: Each stage is 20,000 square feet, complementing the existing 42,500 square feet of stage space at Stages 1 and 2, providing filmmakers with ample room to create.
– Height and Design: Standing 55 feet tall with a 45-foot to the grid height from the floor, these soundproof stages are built with 12-inch-thick concrete walls and a soundproof roof, ensuring optimal acoustics for various productions.
– Power and Technology: Each stage is equipped with 2400 amps of power and a total suspended live load capacity of 500,000 lbs., accommodating heavy equipment and intricate sets.
– Advanced HVAC System: The facility features a sophisticated Silent Air HVAC System along with a ventilation system, which can re-circulate/evacuate the air within the stages in less than 60 seconds, ensuring a comfortable working environment, crucial for long hours of production.

The Grand Opening event also served as a chance to collaborate with the Film Partnership of North Carolina, offering interns valuable opportunities to explore different career paths within the film industry.

“The Film Partnership of North Carolina is very pleased to support and participate in the opening of the new Dark Horse Stages today. The work of the Film Partnership provides crew support for productions that find a home in North Carolina, and the work of Dark Horse Stages is to provide that all-important home,” stated Susi Hamilton, CEO of the Film Partnership of North Carolina. “Dark Horse’s presence, and the synchronicity between our organizations, provides a bedrock foundation for the flourishing film economy in North Carolina. I am incredibly proud of our partnership and look forward to its continued success,” Hamilton stated.

This opening aligns with a surge of several local productions, including the feature film Merv and TV series like The Waterfront, The Runarounds and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Dark Horse Stages has quickly established itself as a creative hub, supporting both established and emerging filmmakers, and building on North Carolina’s rich cinematic legacy.

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North Carolina Welcomes Film Productions
Since being dubbed “Hollywood East” in the 1980s, North Carolina has been a sought-after location for filmmakers. The state offers a 25% incentive in the form of a rebate for film productions, making it an attractive option for creators looking for budget-friendly environments. Dark Horse Stages’ expansion comes as the industry begins to rebound from a series of consecutive strikes, signaling a renewed interest in high-quality production facilities and reinforcing Wilmington’s status as a premier filming destination.

About Dark Horse Stages, Inc.
Founded in 2020, Dark Horse Stages has rapidly become a leading provider of sound stages and production facilities in Wilmington, NC. With a commitment to supporting the creative process and fostering local talent, Dark Horse Stages provides filmmakers with the resources they need to bring their visions to life. For more information about Dark Horse Stages and its facilities, please visit darkhorsestages.com.

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SOURCE Dark Horse Stages

North Carolina’s winters are
warming at an alarming rate, bringing unpredictable weather, reduced snowfall,
and a host of challenges for agriculture, tourism, and daily life. From
disrupted farming cycles to ski resorts struggling to make snow, the effects of
this climate shift are felt across the state— and experts warn it’s only going
to get worse.

Winter temperatures in North
Carolina have been steadily rising, with significant consequences for
agriculture, local communities and tourism. Since 1970, Raleigh has warmed by
about 5.7°F, surpassing the national average. This warming trend is part of a
broader pattern across the U.S., where winters have warmed by about 4°F on
average since 1970, with meteorological winter —spanning December through
February — being the fastest-warming season.

Jacob Sheff, an atmospheric
scientist at UNC Charlotte, attributes this rise in temperatures largely to
human activity. “The fossil fuels we burn create a blanket around the earth,
and we’re sort of inadvertently making that blanket thicker and thicker,” he
says. “Now, it’s much more difficult for us to have snow here in North
Carolina.” Sheff says that it’s becoming harder to get cold enough for snow as
the overall climate warms.

Warm winter ahead: WRAL Severe Weather outlook doesn’t look good for snow lovers

This prolonged warm season is
impacting agriculture. Michelle Pace Davis, with Pace Family Farms in Clayton,
has noticed the effects of recent erratic weather, from heavy rain to drought.
She also says it’s harder to keep pests at bay. “With these warmer winters,
pests can survive longer and affect our crops more, and that, in turn,
increases costs,” she says.

Warmer temperatures extend the growing season, but
they also bring new challenges for farmers, who now have to contend with pests
that would typically die off in the cold.

The longer warm season also
extends the mosquito and allergy seasons. Lauren Casey, a meteorologist with
Climate Central, notes that warmer winters are affecting health in a variety of
ways. “In the past, we could count on the cold weather to kill off mosquitoes
and keep allergies at bay, but now we’re seeing them stick around longer,” she
explains.

In Raleigh, there are now 27 more days suitable for mosquitoes than
in 1980, which increases the risk of health-related diseases.

“Nearly 14
million kids suffer from seasonal allergies, and longer allergy seasons mean
more suffering from congestion and sneezing,” Casey said.

In addition to the health and
agricultural impacts, warmer winters are bringing more intense rainstorms.
“When it rains these days, it’s raining about seven or eight percent harder
than it used to,” Sheff says. This increased rainfall can strain local water
systems and complicate flood management, especially as more moisture is in the
air due to warmer temperatures.

While milder conditions may
benefit some, the region’s ski resorts are feeling the effects of reduced
snowfall.

“We used to get about six or seven days in a row of weather cold
enough to make snow, but now it’s just two or three,” says Shawn Cassell, marketing
director at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. “We really have to weatherproof ourselves
for those upswings, making more snow in tighter windows than we ever had
before.”

Sheff warns that as the
planet continues to warm, North Carolina — and the world — will face more
disruptions to weather patterns, agriculture, and local economies.

Looking ahead, North Carolina
faces increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. “We’re seeing a rise in
warmer-than-normal winter days, which has a ripple effect on everything from
water supply to pest survival,” says Casey. “With warmer winters, mold season
is lasting longer, as mold thrives in these conditions.”

As these effects become more
pronounced, adapting to these changes will be essential for maintaining the
state’s economy, infrastructure and quality of life.

North Carolina GOP lawmakers are one step closer to rolling out their legislative-session priorities into law before the year’s end after the state House opted to override one of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes on Tuesday.

The vetoed bill contains significant funding for private school scholarship grants and a law compelling local sheriffs to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — two issues that Republican leaders have repeatedly emphasized throughout this year’s session. The House’s override, which took place largely along party lines, is part of the General Assembly’s multiday session this week that includes work such as providing more relief to western North Carolina communities still grappling with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.

About $463 million will go toward the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program under the legislation. It also includes $160 million to address enrollment growth in K-12 public schools and community colleges.

Most House Democrats railed against the private school scholarships and called on Republicans to focus on funding public schools and Helene recovery efforts. In a letter to lawmakers on Monday, Cooper, who is term-limited and leaves office come January, urged GOP legislators to do the same.

“The economy of Western North Carolina needs an infusion of funding now, not months from now,” he said in the letter.

But Republicans say the legislation is necessary to quell lengthy waitlists. Last year, the GOP-controlled General Assembly removed income caps for the Opportunity Scholarship program, which led to skyrocketing demand and 55,000 waitlisted children. Both legislative chambers eventually agreed on a spending deal — the bill Cooper vetoed — in September to eliminate the state’s waitlist.

“We do not need to set up a false choice between hurricane relief and public school funding and funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program,” Mecklenburg County Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham said in support of the bill.

The bill also incorporates language to force North Carolina sheriffs to comply with ICE detainers — requests to hold inmates believed to be in the country illegally — and notify federal immigration agents. Under the new law, those inmates would be held up to 48 hours under a judicial official’s order so they can be picked up by ICE agents.

The legislation comes on the back of President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral victory earlier this month. His campaign stressed illegal immigration as a safety issue and promised mass deportations during his second term — which was referenced during House debate as a reason to support the bill.

“I hope you will take into consideration the overwhelming opinion shown by the voters again of this state and country in this past national election,” Caldwell County Republican and bill sponsor Rep. Destin Hall said.

Opponents to the bill, such as several advocates at an Every Child NC news conference earlier on Tuesday, voiced concern that the law would unfairly target immigrant communities in North Carolina.

“HB 10 is extremely harmful for the undocumented community, and especially children who are attending our public schools here, going to school in fear that their parents might be detained,” said Brandy Sullivan, Southern Wake Liberal Ladies co-founder and a naturalized citizen from Mexico.

The Senate also needs to override Cooper’s veto to have the legislation go into effect.