Dave Mistich Published

State Film Office offers new functionality to locations database

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The West Virginia Film Office is always looking for the next great location for a film or television shoot. If you own a home, business, or property that you would like the film and television industry to consider featuring in a potential production, you can now post your information to the film office’s online locations library.

“In addition to tax incentives, one of the most effective tools utilized by the film office to recruit the film industry to the state is its online locations database,” said Pam Haynes, director of the West Virginia Film Office.

The database features the state’s communities, landmarks, diverse architectural structures, topography, and much more.

“This is a very competitive business, and the availability of online information about various locations is an essential resource for film industry personnel to quickly search for the next perfect location for filming,” said Haynes.

Jamie Cope, location services coordinator for the film office, stated that the current database has nearly 46,000 images comprising more than 4,300 locations. With this new functionality, property owners will be able to submit their own photos for inclusion in the library at no cost.

“We hope that this new feature will increase the number of private homes and businesses represented in the library,” said Cope. “It is our focus to offer the industry the widest array of locations available from which to choose, and this new submission engine will help us reach that goal,” he added.

“Film office staff frequently receives requests for certain physical looks in homes for shooting, but it is challenging to reach out to hundreds of homeowners statewide when turnaround time is critical,” Cope said.

He explained that some requests are very specific, such as the search for a white, split-entry home with blue shutters in a cul-de-sac.

“The more locations represented in the database, the better the state’s chances are of attracting more production business,” said Cope.

“To assist in this new effort, the film office has prepared and posted photography tips to review before submitting images for consideration,” Cope added. “And the person submitting the photos must be the owner of the property.”

Cope said that the owner’s contact information will remain hidden from the public search engine.

“If a producer is interested in a property, they will contact the film office, which will subsequently contact the owner to gauge interest.  It is always up to the owners to decide on a case-by-case basis whether they wish to approve filming on their properties.”

To submit a property for consideration, visit www.wvfilm.com/locations, click on the button to “Submit Locations,” and follow the simple directions.

The film office has prepared “Tips for Photographing Your Property,” which can be viewed under the same link. All questions may be directed to Jamie Cope at 304-957-9324 or by email at james.b.cope@wv.gov.

The West Virginia Film Office is a section of the West Virginia Division of Tourism, under the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Visit the film office at www.wvfilm.com