North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 02/20/1997

It's Thursday February 20th. Tonight a legendary name breathing new life into our state's film industry in North Carolina. Good evening I'm Marina try the focus of tonight's edition of North Carolina now. It's on our state's economy. Our guest this evening will be state commerce secretary Norris Tolson who's here to discuss a wide variety of topics including foreign trade agriculture and industry expansion. Then Maria Lundberg takes us to Wilmington for a look at the resurgence of our state's film

industry. But we start tonight by examining the problems facing many North Topsail residents as they try to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Fran. Along with many other areas of North Carolina's coast Topsail Island has been buffeted not only by hurricanes Bertha and Fran but also by a storm of federal regulations most of which concern the availability and cost of flood insurance. Tonight in the second of two reports Bumgarner reports on new federal flood zone maps that have many topsoil residents believing that they're getting soaked. It's like it's like somebody that's never been anywhere around here coming in and telling you what went on when they weren't even here. You know we were here. We know what went on. Boy did we know that he could Sally and George Eaton's are among a lot of Topsail Island residents who are not happy with the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA has recently redrawn so called flood elevation maps which remove

many residents homes from zones considered less hazardous and put them into the most hazardous zones known as B zones their zones impact not only building practices but also flood insurance rates with which the state federal flood insurance coordinator says will double. Sally Eaton says the cost increase will be even higher. Well financially it's the triple on the flood insurance it will cost three times as much as it does right now for the flood insurance. Also we're not allowed to close the bottom floor in which nice people do for storage of your lawn mowers your cars that sort of thing. Can't do that. Homeowners builders and realtors have all criticized what they call sloppy measurements by the engineering firm female hired to compile elevation data and even one of the firm's engineers reportedly admitted in private that mistakes had been made. Builder and realtor Hiram Williams agrees. I have made him tops the island since 1953 and I know of areas where they are in cleaning in the zones right now that I

personally do not think should be in the zones. Knowing what I was explain the velocity zone or the zone is and it's when you're supposed to have here you are a fast moving water. In fact of the zone is supposed to be an area that's low line enough for three foot waves to wash from the ocean all the way across the island. George and Sally Eden's live on the sound side in one of the widest areas of topsoil over a mile from the ocean. Yet they've been placed in A B zone. We just don't know to you know figure that out while we are in a zone. Saying he's down on the ocean and we're a mile from the ocean and we do we don't have any say in here that the Edens argue that while away from the ocean carry a lot of sand with them as in this picture from Franz aftermath. Their house at the end of the road in the upper left of this picture had only minor localized flooding from the sound. Like the rest of the neighborhood. As a clincher they point out that an area between the ocean and their development through which any ocean waves had to pass got

no sand deposits and in fact is still classified in a less hazardous zone. There are also a lot of mobile homes in the development and according to the new regulations most will have to be raised by a feet higher than at present. Some argue this will make them more likely to blow away in a storm. And there are other difficulties. I feel like structurally that will be a problem because I mean they don't have to be raised with a crying and there's a lot of processes that I don't think they would be used to doing with mobile homes it will have to do and this is to make it expensive to use a whole lot at one time here probably that often leads to crime House residents have 90 days to appeal their new classifications. But when they develop a preliminary map they give it to your study starting fortunately and say it's pretty difficult to work around even if they are in the States. Even say regulations have changed with the will to reach speeds in the post-hurricane environment on top of the line.

We changed our plans for that property that we and that we had to replace three times and three times he changed it because every time we go in to get a permit to do something the requirements have changed and nobody knows what to do. A lot of people are doing that they don't do anything the tax base fouls tax base tax rate goes up top so is the only North Carolina barrier island to have federal flood elevations reclassified spokesman say that's because it was by far the hardest hit and is the most eroded some long term residents like Hiram Williams are able to be more philosophical than others. It's been a long time since we've paid any change I guess all of us are used to working like we used to work and so we just have to learn to accept them but it will make a lot of difference in some areas the corrections will probably be made in the recent flood elevation classifications. But by and large Thompson Island residents are realizing that in the wake of what may have been the storm of the century a lot of things will never be the same as they were before.

A study of flood elevation zones is underway on the Bogue Banks which houses beach communities stretching from Emerald Isle to Fort Macon. But there has been no classification there so far. Coming up a famous film industry named keeps the cameras rolling for our state's movie industry. But first let's get a quick summary of the news making headlines around our state by checking in with Michel Louis. Good evening Mitt. Thanks Marina. Good evening everyone. Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal for redrawing North Carolina's 12 congressional districts today. Senator Roy Cooper says the plan reduces the number of counties split between congressional districts from 46 to 20 for the 12th district which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional is smaller. Running from Charlotte to Greensboro. And instead of a majority minority district it's now minority influenced with 47 percent minority. The lawmakers trying to come up with a plan that would have the least amount of impact on the current general assembly structure.

We are trying to draw a plan that will get twenty six votes in the Senate and 61 votes in the house. And I believe that we have a plan that all 12 of the incumbents should be able to live with because we have not dramatically altered the geographic nature of their districts. The House and Senate have until April 1st to agree on a new district lines and present them to a panel of three federal judges. A group of health care providers is challenging the powers given to the state's rules Review Commission by the General Assembly. The group which includes major medical centers and Raleigh and Charlotte charge the commission's power to block or order changes in administrative rules interferes with executive branch responsibilities and is unconstitutional. The lawsuit also contends the legislature violated the Constitution by delegating its power to the commission. There is criticism tonight of the charter school review process. Vernon Robinson head of the nonprofit North Carolina education reform foundation says using a private contractor to review charter school applications places the

entire process in question. Robinson contends using a private contractor takes the review process out of the public eye. The State Board of Education voted earlier this year to allow the Southeastern regional vision for education laboratory in Greensboro to review the applications. The state board still has final approval of new charter schools. North and South Carolina are banding together to protect the Yadkin P.T. River Basin. The goals of the bi state task force include protecting wetlands and drinking water supplies monitoring water quality and land conservation. The Yadkin P.T. River Basin runs from the mountains of Blowing Rock North Carolina to the coastal town of Georgetown South Carolina. Looking ahead to tomorrow's weather 60 degree temperatures a forecast for most of the Tarheel State Friday high of 75 is expected for the Wilmington area. Tomorrow will also bring cloudy to partly cloudy skies and an increase in the possibility of rain. The likelihood of showers is greater than 50 percent in the mountains 20 to 40 percent chance exists elsewhere.

In business news a Clinton meat packing plant is facing thousands of dollars in fines. State labor inspectors find the Lundi Packing Company $65000 after finding numerous safety and health violations. An investigation of the plant began last August when a worker was killed. The safety inspectors found that equipment in the plant lacked safety guards. They also discovered employees hadn't been trained properly. Company officials maintain the plant has a good safety record. And now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today. Governor

Hunt recently announced the addition of three new members to his cabinet. Among them the new secretary of commerce Norris Tolson. Mr. Paulson is a former state representative and a retired vice president from DuPont. Secretary Tolson Welcome to North Carolina now. You have a very strong business background I'm interested in how this background of having this hands on experience will help you in your post. Well commerce is really souring post. It's selling the state of North Carolina. And I've been involved in the selling game all my business career so I believe it will help me in understanding the customer where a government is into the last four years of his administration will be heavily focused

on customer friendliness from the citizens point of view as well as from our customer form view the clients that we recruit in commerce and so being a hands on sales type. Although I've been in sales management jobs I've also been in a lot of direct selling experience over 30 years with the deposit company. I believe that will be very helpful to me as I promote this great product that we've got state in North Carolina and from your perspective the customer is new industries coming to the state. Well not only new industry come into the state but people who are here. We're into a mode of expanding existing industry. 60 to 70 percent of the new jobs we create in this state come from existing industry not just recruiting new people to come in but help on those people who are already here grow and expand their business. But it also includes people who want to buy the great products that we grow and make in this state on a worldwide basis so customers to me include not only those who are people who are already here and doing things in our state but those who

may want to come here and set up their businesses. But in addition those around the world who ought to be seeing our products and be in have an opportunity bomb. Well we'll get into expanding into the foreign markets in just a little bit but I wanted to continue so with with your background and I see that you have an undergraduate degree in agriculture and have a great deal of experience in agriculture that struck me that that is the perfect balance to strike for somebody in your position as as I state starts to grow in more maybe more the technological industries. Where is the importance of agriculture in our state's economy and in commerce. Well agriculture continues to be a very large part of the state's economy and will continue to be there a large part of our state is still very rural and the state generates a lot of his gross product from agriculture. In addition to that we produce a lot of products on our farms that people around the world want to buy. In my business career with the pond I spent a lot of time outside the US and it was always very gratifying to me as a North

Carolina resident former North Carolina resident to be able to hear people talk about the great products that were offered by our state in terms of foodstuffs tobacco products and a lot of other things poultry livestock all sorts of products that people need and want to buy. We have available we could literally become from an agricultural standpoint sort of the bread basket if you would not all of the eastern part of the U.S. or the western part but internationally as well. So one of the one of my jobs is to work with other state government departments like agriculture to see how we can sell more of the products that we make and grow here. But in addition there's a nice blend of heavy industry in North Carolina as well as the technology industries that are moving into our state. We creates a great opportunity for us to present a balanced portfolio to all those people around the world that want to live and work here. There are portions of North Carolina a great deal of North Carolina is doing very very well the economy is booming there are small pockets pockets of

our state particularly the rural areas that are doing so well unemployment is up. Are you planning on focusing on bringing industry into some of these communities that aren't as well office like the triangle or Charlotte. Well we are approaching on the basis of how can we help the whole state of North Carolina. But obviously we're very interested and concerned about helping the rule parts of North Carolina that aren't so well developed as some of the areas like the Research Triangle Park of the triad or the Charlotte area. And so we are going to concentrate on trying to help rule North Carolina develop itself. A lot of that requires us to do a lot of work around infrastructure development. Part of our agenda in this administration is to be sure that we've upgraded our workforce so that the people look in the saddle in our state will find a workforce as ready to fit into their industries. That brings us back to talk about the whole education issue that's so important throughout North Carolina upgrading the standards of education throughout the state have been teachers

that are prepared to teach in our schools being paid well enough that we can retain them in our schools. That's all part of economic development from our point of view. And as you answer these questions it strikes me that a big part of your job is dealing with other agencies other lawmakers of other different parts of the government. Your experience in the legislature will help you in this regard. It will not and that will not only help I but my business background will as well in the business where you learn very quickly if you're going to drive things that are bottom line that you have to work. Building team work you have to you have to work with other people to get that job. Rarely can one individual do everything that needs to be done. That's just as important in state government. Obviously my background in the legislature will help because I have good friends there. I work with them off help bring programs along through the legislature. Understand how the system works. The weather pressure points are. I know who to call on you not to call. So I think it will help me get this job done.

Secretary we're starting to run out of time but I promised at the beginning of the interview that we would get back to talking about the foreign market developments what can we see on the horizon for North Carolina. Well you know I look at all of the world as a stage for North Carolina industry. I have a strong background in international industry I believe that there are a lot of people around the world who not only want to buy our products but who would like to bring their companies here. And it's a matter of us going out and soliciting them to come in here. You will see us become very very aggressive in trying to promote North Carolina around the world as a great place to settle. We already have some good agreements and some good cooperation going on with various parts of the world. But we will become even more aggressive in the next couple years. Secretary Tolson I want to thank you for your time I wish you well in your new job. Thank you for let me come I enjoyed it. Thank you. California

has always been recognized as the movie making capital of the world but North Carolina is being called Hollywood East. Since our state is one of the busiest film production locations in the country 1996 was one of the best years ever with more than 400 million dollars in revenue from the film industry. Much of that success is directly connected to a movie studio located in Wilmington. The man who helped establish that studio many years ago has now returned to our state. Tonight Maria Lundberg profiles the Salustri a filmmaker who has come full circle on Russia for the past decade.

Filmmakers have been flocking to North Carolina to make movies bringing in famous stars and big money. It all began in 1984 when Dino De Laurentiis made the movie firestarter in the Wilmington area and decided to build a studio there. The man who recommended the Wilmington location to him was the film's producer Frank Capra Jr.. But since then hundreds of movies have been made in North Carolina including Dirty Dancing really bad shoes and the blockbuster last of the Mohicans TV movies and series like Matlock were made here. The woman in studio was involved in the production of many of the projects but bankruptcy came for dealer rentals and his successor Carroll co pictures in 1906. Carole cope at the studio on the auction block. Today the studio is owned by Screen Gems and the man at the helm has a name which is recognized by film lovers all over the world.

My big brother George the richest man in town in his day Frank Capra was recognized as the best film director in the world. He made many memorable hits including the classic favorite. It's a wonderful line and he passed on his love of film to his son Frank Capra Jr. the man who produced firestarter in 1984 and who has returned to Wilmington this time as president of Screen Gems studios the same facility he helped create 14 years ago. I always knew this was a good place to make films it was a very likeable place to live. It was a real opportunity for me when Mr. Kearney Screen Gems talk to me about it and said Would you like. And I said I certainly would. Bill Arnold director of North Carolina's film office but leaves cappers appointment will revitalize movie production for the entire state. I think it gives a revalidation to the fact that North Carolina is in the

mainstream of filmmaking. And you know there are always people that are looking for reasons to say Well North Carolina is falling out of the picture and I think when Carol co went down there was a perception or at least on some people's parts that there was a willingness to say Well North Carolina is out of it. What actually happened with the purchase of the facility by screen Jim and then to bring in Frank Capra Jr. on top of that we're frankly a lot stronger now than we were when Philco was in place. It seems to me that there's a lot of growing that can be done here. The studio has reached a certain plateau it's been pretty successful as a rental studio. I want to grow quite a bit I want a studio to grow itself and probably physically grow some. But I also want to bring in producers and writers and directors and begin to do independently financed and created films right here in the in this community. Kapur also wants to recruit more big budget feature films like virus a

techno thriller in production at the studio. This 60 million dollar project is a huge economic boost for the local economy and Kapur intends to make the studio as a producer friendly as possible. You have transportation you have catering and you have set construction you have a real facility here that producers are used to being able to use it in Los Angeles or in New York but not really out in you know on location. So they're getting kind of the best of both worlds there on a location that they can find interesting locations the beach the river the forest so forth. Same time they have a studio where they can build sets of any sort of any time and that their thing is and then they have this crew base and and talent base. So it makes it a very cost effective to come here. So that's why I think people will continue to come. In 1983 Greg Finn Cannon and his brother were getting their casting agency off the ground when they worked with Frank Capra on Firestarter then Cannon believes Kapur has contacts in the film community will make a big difference.

I think that without exception any of the big deal directors or producers in Los Angeles who have a phone message from Frank Capra Jr. will return the call and that in our industry is no small endeavor that's no small feat. And so as as much as anything else gives us the opportunity to open up the state to a whole new group of people perhaps who've Yeah they do something in North Carolina but they don't know exactly what it is when we have somebody there to teach them exactly what it is. This is such a contract a contact business. You know people work with people they know and the good thing about Frank is Frank knows everybody and Frank Capra can get in any door anywhere in Hollywood. So it just brings a a stronger merging of Hollywood in North Carolina to having frank here to help us sell the state and sell the studio. Mark Strickland director of the Wilmington Film Commission says the campers background is

another big plus in dealing with filmmakers. Frank's reputation as a producer both in television and feature films and some of his film credits and his background brings a lot with that into being affected production center. You have to be able to look at it from everyone's eyes. You have to know what everyone's needs are and how to give them that need and make everyone a winner. And that's what he that's what he brings. Finn Cannon says he also brings the strength which comes from his character. The first impression is still the lasting impression a man of real strong foundation and a man of family faith and faith in God that allows him to walk through life without all the trappings superficial trappings that all too often people in our industry fall prey to you know. I think even more important than a professional mentor he was he showed us that you could work in this industry and still be a nice guy. The thing about the film industry which is unlike I think any other business really is that every day is something different. Every day you learn something

and the other side that is that our community really is not as big as it as is it seems to be. And. It's it's interesting almost every production that comes here. I know a number of the people in the crew and the cast. It's a very special community. And that's a lot. It's a wonderful community to belong to and be part of. Countless goals are to keep the studio sound stage is full with a mixture of feature films commercials television movies and independent projects. He has also instituted a new partnership with you and say well Minton helping to create an internship program and a film minor at the school. Well Ralph Reed the executive director of the Christian Coalition is in Raleigh this evening speaking at the John Locke Foundation. Tomorrow Robin Miniato will bring you an extended interview with Mr. rade. Also on tomorrow's program will review this past week's activities at the legislature. Plus bring you part three of our series on old time children's television programming. Have a great night tonight. We'll see you back here tomorrow. Good night everyone.