NC Incentive for Filmmakers Grows 10%

28 Aug 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Film, Playground, 0 Comments

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue just signed into law a 25% increase in incentives for the movie industry to shoot in the Tarheel State. From Variety:

North Carolina has bumped its film production tax incentive from 15% up to 25% or a maximum credit of $7.5 million.Film industry dollars have been ebbing from the state’s coffers over the last few years, with neighboring Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia offering tax breaks as high as 32%.

On Thursday, however, Gov. Bev Perdue signed into law a bill increasing the incentive — which North Carolina Film Office director Aaron Syrett said will help breathe life back into the state’s struggling economy.

The tax credit covers all expenditures for a production made in the state; it is not limited to credits for below-the-line spending, as is the case for many other filming incentives in other states.

Nikke Finke adds on Deadline Hollywood Daily adds that North Carolina is home to one of North America’s largest sound stages, and that the owner of said sound stage, EUE/Screen Gems, is now exploring expansion options in Charlotte. The incentive goes into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

Video: Tucker Max Responds to Raleigh Protestors

27 Aug 2009, Posted by Chase Olivieri in Culture, Playground, 1 Comments

In addition to getting Tucker Max to talk about the 25 Douchiest Colleges in America, the Chronicle’s Chase Olivieri also caught video of the much reviled writer-turned-screenwriter addressing his protesters [NOTE: foul language] and some footage of the protest scene at the Raleigh premiere of Max’s movie I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Check out the videos below.

Video: Tucker Max on America's Douchiest Colleges

27 Aug 2009, Posted by Chase Olivieri in Culture, Film, Playground, 1 Comments

At last night’s Raleigh screening of the Tucker Max film, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, Chronicle multimedia editor Chase Olivieri captured a brief interview with writer/screenwriter/Duke Law “alumnus,” getting him to weigh in on GQ’s list of America’s 25 Douchiest Colleges. Max notes that Duke at the number two spot is appropriate, but says that Notre Dame (whose library is curiously without a copy of his book) deserves the top spot.

And also check out this slideshow of photos from a protest that took place last night outside the NC State theater.

INTERVIEW: Wale on Sports, Trajan Langdon and More

27 Aug 2009, Posted by Kevin Lincoln in Music, Playground, interview, 4 Comments

Courtesy thedailyrag.wordpress.com

In anticipation of tomorrow’s performance on the East Campus Quadrangle (7 p.m.) with J. Cole and Wale, recess’ Kevin Lincoln took some time to talk to the D.C. rapper. Here’s the full transcript of the interview that ran in today’s paper.

Do you play a lot of concerts at colleges?
Last spring we did about 20 schools.

So, a decent amount. It’s got to be different than playing the smaller clubs, right? Because I saw you at Cat’s Cradle [in Carrboro] last year.
I mean, it’s different shows, but we kind of do it like—we know colleges, the way you structure a college show is different than a club show, you know?

Right. So you use a lot of sports references in your lyrics. How big of a sports fan are you?
Ahh… (laughs), I think I’m probably one of the biggest sports fans in the music business. You know, diehard sports fan: football, basketball, pretty good track fan—
(more…)

Slideshow: Midtown Dickens Rehearsal, 08/23/2009

27 Aug 2009, Posted by Maddie Lieberberg in Music, Playground, 1 Comments

Midtown Dickens is releasing its second album, Lanterns, Sept. 16 but are celebrating the release tomorrow night at the Duke Coffeehouse. You can read more about Lanterns and Midtown Dickens in today’s recess.

And to see more of Simeon Law’s photos of the band’s brass-filled practice, click here.