Wilmington, N.C. — A labor dispute in Hollywood, California could have an impact here in “Hollywood East” by delaying or shutting down a variety of productions.
According to several published accounts the major studios are bracing for a writer’s strike, which started in early May, to last well into the summer, and possibly even into the fall. Talks between two sides broke down for eight weeks before finally resuming late last month.
Simply put if there’s no words on a page, then there are no scripts for actors to act, or directors to direct. A prolonged strike could stifle productions from one end of the country to another- including here in Wilmington.
One production that doesn’t appear to be harmed by the strike, at least for now, is the popular Netflix show The Outer Banks. Entering its fourth season, the show, which is the brain child of twin Wilmington brothers Jonas and Joshua Pate, had plans to shoot several scenes in New Hanover County starting in July.
The brothers had always wanted the show to be filmed in their hometown. Netflix initially agreed to set up shop in Wilmington, but then pulled out after a controversial transgender bathroom bill was passed by the state legislature in 2018. Consequently the first three season were filmed in Charleston, South Carolina.
This summer the show had plans to do several weeks of shooting on this side of the Carolina border. And it’s possible, even with the strike that those scenes will be knocked out on schedule.
In an interview published by Port City Daily, Jonas Pate (who is a member of the Writer’s Guild) said much of season four, including the New Hanover County scenes, were already written prior to the labor dispute. “We will be in Fort Fisher for at least a week or so,” Pate told Port City Daily, “We will be shooting a motorcycle chase there and then we have several big scenes on Crystal Pier on Wrightsville Beach.”
The production is also scouting locations off Blue Clay road, Northern Regional and Smith Creek Parks, Oceanic Pier and several rural locations in Pender County.
It’s expected the shooting could start shortly after Independence Day, with a casting call for extras happening at any time.
The Outer Banks debuted in 2020 right at the start of the pandemic and instantly became a major hit. When season three dropped in February it was the most streamed show on Netflix for the entire month.