The Piedmont is starring on the big screen. It's the backdrop for the new movie The Hunger Games, which opened Friday nationwide. WFDD's Kathryn Mobley spoke with one of the film's Foley designers, Bethania resident Wade Wilson.
"A lot of the film takes place in the woods - chase and battle sequences, all shot without sound. So every single footstep, every single weapon had to be recreated on the Foley stage and then put in place; that was my job," explains Wilson.
Wilson teaches editing and sound design at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He's also Assistant Dean for the UNSCA School of Filmmaking and Chair of Editing and Sound Design.
Governor Beverly Perdue says The Hunger Games has infused millions of dollars into North Carolina. About $60 million was spent for hotel rooms, meals and vendors during production while employing five thousand people.
According to Wilson, this is the result of recent legislative changes that he hopes will create a lucrative working environment in North Carolina for graduating film students.
"I believe because the legislature approved tax incentives, it has increased production in our state. The films that are coming to North Carolina are very high profile," says Wilson. "That being said, it's very important for our students to see that there is definitely an opportunity to stay in North Carolina and not have to move to California or New York. But to have a very robust film career and live in North Carolina and be a tax payer in North Carolina and stay home."
In 2011, The Hunger Games added $220 million to state coffers.
