Hollywood is coming to Spartanburg through an effort to bring movie, TV production to town

Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
·3 min read

Spartanburg is getting into the movie business with an effort underway to bring more TV and film productions to the Upstate. Organizers hope the effort will create more job opportunities for minorities.

Cargo, a Greenville-based marketing agency, has announced the formation of a task force with the Urban League of the Upstate, Minority Film Institute and the South Carolina Film Commission to create a Hollywood-level one-stop shop for film production.

Some scenes of the movie Radio were shot in Anderson, the real-life Radio's hometown. The movie was Inspired by the true story of James Robert "Radio" Kennedy and his friendship with T.L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones, Disney's adaptation filmed mainly in Walterboro, SC. The movie starred Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the lead role and Ed Harris as the now-retired Hanna coach.

"Right now, the majority (of film productions) is going to the Lowcountry," said David Estrada, global executive producer of The Cargo Agency. "The more we can show that the whole state is capable with infrastructure and workforce, the more we can increase that piece of the pie."

Estrada estimates the initiative will generate $1.6 billion in economic impact across the region over the next 10 years.

David Estrada, global executive producer for The Cargo Agency.
David Estrada, global executive producer for The Cargo Agency.

Urban League teams up with The George

Training programs for a wide variety of film production roles will be held at the George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.

The Urban League is planning to erect a virtual production studio and theater in Spartanburg that will be managed by Cargo. Estrada said the studio could open as soon as the fall of 2024.

The Urban League will also offer a yearly symposium to provide a platform for industry professionals and aspiring filmmakers to network.

Reedy River Falls in Greenville is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.
Reedy River Falls in Greenville is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.

"What we're trying to establish is a clearinghouse," said Gail Awan, CEO and president of the Urban League. "Our office is at The George. I want to be able to direct people to wherever they need in the Upstate and supply what you need."

She said there are many types of temporary workers that film producers need for on-location projects, from staging crews to electricians, caterers and beauticians.

Gail Awan, president and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate
Gail Awan, president and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate

"We want to be able to fill all those jobs with our own people," she said. "It's not that we don't have talent – we have writers and directors, but we have not organized ourselves holistically. It's not so much in-front-of-the-camera talent, but everything else the industry needs."

Popular movies produced in Upstate South Carolina

Many famous movie scenes and TV productions were produced in South Carolina. Some were filmed in the Upstate, including "Leatherheads" in 2008, "Radio" in 2003, "The Abyss" in 1989 and "Deliverance" in 1972.

Movies filmed in the western Carolinas Disney's 'Safety' joins 'Deliverance,' 'Leatherheads' among movies filmed in Upstate SC, WNC

The Chattooga River's rapids, which crisscross the SC-GA border, were a large part of the storyline in the movie Deliverance. It was filmed in northeast Georgia and Lake Jocassee in Oconee County, and and tells the story of two friends on a perilous journey through the backwoods.
The Chattooga River's rapids, which crisscross the SC-GA border, were a large part of the storyline in the movie Deliverance. It was filmed in northeast Georgia and Lake Jocassee in Oconee County, and and tells the story of two friends on a perilous journey through the backwoods.

Awan said business leaders are supporting the initiative, and that it aligns with the goals of OneSpartanburg, Inc., which recently launched a Power Up Spartanburg initiative that seeks to connect financial resources and physical space to small and minority business startups.

Power Up launched to support minorities OneSpartanburg, Inc., launches Power Up so 'smaller businesses aren't left behind'

The mission of the Urban League of the Upstate is to provide economic empowerment for individuals by giving them the tools they need to achieve success.

"It's about entrepreneurship," Awan said.

Spartanburg County Councilman Monier Abusaft, who helped launch Power Up, said he also supports the effort to bring more film industry jobs to the area.

This Spartanburg home is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.
This Spartanburg home is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.

"This is exactly the kind of thing that makes Spartanburg a special place, between the Urban League work, Power Up Initiative and some of the development projects coming to the south side of Spartanburg," he said. "You can see the seeds of Spartanburg differentiating itself from other communities and the willingness to invest and cultivate minority entrepreneurs."

South Carolina offers movie-making incentives

The state offers incentives to attract film projects, including a 25% rebate in wages paid to in-state workers, 30% on in-state supplies for productions, 20% for out-of-state wages and 25% for out-of-state supplies.

Awan said the Upstate is in a prime location for filmmaking.

"The corridor we represent geographically is better positioned than any other place in the state, with our colleges, universities and technical schools that are ready to train people," she said.

River Falls Road in Cleveland, northern Greenville County, is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.
River Falls Road in Cleveland, northern Greenville County, is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.
Sirrine Stadium in Greenville is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.
Sirrine Stadium in Greenville is among the potential film locations offered by the S.C. Film Commission.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Partnership aims to bring more movies to Upstate, jobs for minorities