South Carolina is a unique state, offering a wide variety of locales for filming. Landscapes range from balmy beaches to stunning mountains. Rural locations, including historical plantations, make way for urban areas. Thanks to South Carolina's aggressive incentives for film production companies and the state's stunning backdrops, the state has been the setting for many popular films.
The varied geography of South Carolina offers areas for jungle scenes, marshes, rural pastures, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, quaint towns, and big cities. Farms, Victorian homes, historical sites, marinas, and racetracks for both cars and horses are all found here. The low country area alone contains more than 200 plantations.
The combination of great scenic locations and financial incentives are a big part of the reason that films such as The Notebook, The Patriot, The Big Chill, Something to Talk About, and Sleeping with the Enemy have been shot in South Carolina. Boone Hall Plantation, located in Mt. Pleasant, just north of Charleston, has been the setting for multiple films, including Gone with the Wind, North and South, Queen, and The Notebook. Cypress Gardens, in Goose Creek, provided a setting for The Patriot. In addition to big studio films, South Carolina has an active community of local filmmakers and a number of annual film festivals.
South Carolina's Film Hubs
For viewing offbeat films, Columbia can't be beat. Its Nickelodeon Theatre is the sole non-profit art house film theater in the state, seating only 77. However, this small gem of a theater, home to the Columbia Film Society, hosts 25,000 visitors annually. It screens avant-garde and independently produced films viewers won't find in local commercial theaters. With two screenings per night, plus three additional matinees during the week, it's open 362 days per year. In addition to regular showings, "the Nick" hosts a plethora of film festivals showcasing a variety of subject matter and styles of filmmaking.
One of the quirkiest is the Toaster Film Festival, cooked up by Jeff Sumerel, a South Carolina filmmaker. The festival provides a starting point for young filmmakers, amateurs, students, and professionals located in the Southeast region of the United States. The only real rules stipulate each film must be three minutes or less and include a toaster, but the subject matter may be anything - creativity and fun is the name of the game.
In 1975, the South Carolina Arts Commission created a program called Southern Circuit. Now operated by the Southern Arts Federation, this program gives independent filmmakers the opportunity to show their work to audiences during a tour throughout the Southeast. Filmmakers appear at each screening and engage the audience in discussion. Several South Carolina venues, including The Nickelodeon Theatre, take part in this festival each year.
In addition to these film festivals, other festivals held annually at the Nick include:
The African American/International Film Festival, held in January or February of each year. This festival focuses on films created by and about African Americans. It includes panel discussions and programs for children.
The Jewish Film Festival takes place in either March or April, centered on Jewish heritage and culture.
The Latin American Film Festival screens films about hispanic culture. September or October is when it normally runs.
The Native American Film Festival, which is held in November, deals with Native American culture in both North and South America.
Great Reads and Great Reels is a new program designed for middle school children, combining well-known literary works with their adapted films.
Young Filmmakers Showcase screens motion pictures created by middle school, high school, and university students.
The new Indie Grits Festival, showcasing gritty, defiant films made by Southeasterners, is scheduled as a regular summer event.
Beaufort is a popular area for filmmakers. Located on the coastline in close proximity to many stunning views, it has served as the backdrop for several popular films. Many will recognize the marshes, antebellum homes, and other locations from films like Forrest Gump, The Prince of Tides, Daughters of the Dust, and GI Jane. The Beaufort Film Commission created the Beaufort Film Festival, which debuted in February, 2007. The festival screens films in various forms and genres, including features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, and animation.
Myrtle Beach also has a foothold in the local film industry, presenting the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, held late in the year. This independent film festival's categories includes shorts, documentaries, feature films, animation, and music videos. And for those films which defy conventional labeling, there's the "Anything Goes" category.
Family Fun
When it comes to education and film, the South Carolina Arts Commission and the Regional Media Arts Center offers a collection of independently produced films and videos available for group viewings. They also circulate the At the Movies with Bad Dog collection, a children's video and film collection with activities designed to extend the experience of viewing the film.
Nostalgic types looking for a family-oriented film activity can take in an old-fashioned drive in movie. The Highway 21 Drive In, located in Beaufort, has large screens, plays first-run commercial movies, and offers a concession stand. Monetta, located about halfway between Augusta and Columbia, offers a drive in as well. The Big Mo Drive In features a full service concession stand, kids' play area, and transmits movie audio through local FM radio stations instead of awkward drive in speakers.
South Carolina is a state of many contrasts, with scenic locations ranging from historical to contemporary; ocean front to mountain top. This variety of scenic beauty is one reason so many films have been shot here. Additionally, South Carolina's active independent film community creates plenty of opportunities to enjoy film endeavors all over the state. From commercial to independent films, South Carolina is a blockbuster.
