The Roanoker March/April 2022 - 31

THE ECONOMICS OF FILM IN VIRGINIA
Margaret Finucane of the Virginia Film Office tells a
surprising story: " The total economic impact of the film
industry in 2019 was $862 million. " Sitting out there by
itself, the number doesn't mean a lot.
However, when you consider that the tobacco
industry is worth $97 million a year, it takes on a new
shine. Chicken farming is only slightly larger (and is the
No. 1 farm commodity in the state) at $935 million.
Says Finucane, " There is a wide variety of projects
that film in Virginia that are all vital to the industry
and community, from student films, local indies,
and commercials to studio features, and everything
between. The three studio series most recently shot in
Virginia, including Golden Globe nominated Hulu limited
series " Dopesick " [from the book written by Roanoker
Beth Macy], Apple TV+ series " Swagger, " and the latest
season of AMC's " The Walking Dead: World Beyond, " had
a total estimated direct spend of over $120 million in
less than a year. Final numbers are still being calculated
and are expected to exceed that estimate.
Finucane says the job creation is just as impressive:
" Film, television and new media industry supported over
5,629 full-time equivalent jobs in 2019. "
As jaw-dropping as those numbers are, most of
people. It made me want to work harder. " Even " when
budgets shrunk a lot, I had to become more creative " to
do the films she wanted. " I had to learn how to do stuff
I couldn't just pay for. That is a unique quality people in
this career have. "
She sees an advantage to having local film talent that
is ready to perform, especially " when a film rolls into
town " needing qualified people. " Roanoke is a good place
to make a film because it is beautiful and the creative
community works well together. "
Vaughn has run the gamut of film disciplines and still
uses just about all her skills, even though casting is her
bread and butter. She styles sets, prompts, directs, edits,
comes up with concepts, understands lighting, sound
and makeup. All along, though, people kept asking for
talent " and she settled into casting. " The work grew and
I started Casting Call " her agency. Her 30 years of work
has included a lot of company videos, some movies and
" a little of all of that " which goes into film.
She has become quite the role model for younger
women in film and she sees that " the pool grows; the
last three years it's really been growing, especially within
a couple hours' drive. "
She has found women in film to be " mostly strong
leaders and they feed off each other. But she doesn't see
" a man/woman world in film. It's just film people. "
And they keep growing in the Valley.
TheRoanoker.com
MARCH/APRIL 2022
31
those interviewed for this story agree that not many of
those dollars are making it to the Roanoke area, though
the ones that trickle in are important in film development
here.
Bootie Bell Chewning, who has worked this area
for the Virginia Film Office for years, says, " When the
scouts come in to check [the area] out you try to give
them a good deal on why they should come here to film.
In 'Badge of Faith' most all the talent was local. I did the
casting for that and helped with the leads. We have lots
of talent around here and directors and producers like
local because it doesn't cost them as much. " And, adds
Roanoke filmmaker Jenna Giannini, there isn't much of a
drop-off in skill, if there is any at all. -DS
DAN SMITH
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2022

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