Lights, Camera, Appalachia
August 22, 2023
From the small screen to the silver screen, and probably on your smartphone screen, the state of West Virginia is amping up its push for more high production film projects to be shot within the Mountain State. The film industry has created an unprecedented creative economy across neighboring Appalachian regions from Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to Wilmington and Atlanta, says Dave Lavender, apprenticeship program coordinator with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. Lavender works within the West Virginia Film Office, which assists crews looking to film in the state and helps promote the state’s potential as a location for filming.
“Our office helps production companies locate workforce and crew, locations and professional services to help bring their creative project to life. The office also promotes West Virginia made films, TV projects and film festivals,” Lavender says. “In terms of economic development, we’re identifying film industry infrastructure needs to help strategically build out more film and creative industry here in the Mountain State.”