I love movies.

Growing up, I was captivated by stories that made me laugh, cry and imagine lives different from my own. That experience inspired me to pursue writing and ultimately become a filmmaker. Every movie begins with someone believing a story is worth telling. And for African Americans, we have a long list of stories worth telling.

For generations, our stories weren't always welcomed in Hollywood. Yet we kept telling them anyway. We shared them through church plays, neighborhood productions, independent films, documentaries, and family stories passed from one generation to the next. If Hollywood wasn't going to tell our stories, we would use the tools we had and create our own voices. Many of those voices have come from right here in North Carolina.

Within a few hours, you can travel from the Blue Ridge Mountains to rolling farmland, historic downtowns, pristine lakes, and the sandy shores of the Outer Banks. We have vibrant skylines, charming Main Streets, college campuses, centuries-old lighthouses, dense forests, and breathtaking coastlines. Whether a story calls for a bustling city, a unique small town or a quiet beach at sunrise, North Carolina has the perfect backdrop.

It's also the front porch conversations in Halifax. The murals in Durham. The historic streets of Wilmington. The energy of downtown Raleigh. The gospel choirs, HBCU campuses, neighborhood barbershops, family cookouts and Sunday dinners that give our stories life.

So, it's no surprise that productions like “The Color Purple,” “Bull Durham,” “Iron Man 3,” “Dawson's Creek,” and “One Tree Hill” chose to film here years ago. Wilmington earned the nickname "Hollywood East" because filmmakers recognized that North Carolina is one of the most visually diverse states in America.

Just as important as our landscapes are the people who bring those stories to life. Durham is home to filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr., whose Academy Award-nominated work explores family, identity, and memory with honesty and heart. Raleigh has produced filmmakers’ Anderson Boyd, while Emmy-nominated editor and producer Grady Cooper has built an impressive television career. And Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose reminds us that world-class talent can begin right here at home.

What excites me just as much are the filmmakers whose names you may not know, yet. Across the Triangle, writers are finishing scripts after work. Directors are raising money one supporter at a time. Producers are borrowing equipment, calling in favors and building crews around a shared vision. I know because I'm one of them. As an independent filmmaker, I've learned that making a movie requires more than talent. It requires faith, perseverance, and a community willing to believe in your vision before the rest of the world does.

We're telling stories about Black families who love, struggle, forgive and grow together. We're highlighting entrepreneurs, educators, veterans, musicians, athletes, pastors, and everyday people whose lives deserve to be celebrated. Our stories begin in North Carolina, but their messages are universal.

North Carolina's film industry is entering a new chapter. The state's film incentive tax credit program ended in 2014 and was replaced by a grant program in 2015. Today, the N.C. Film Office is being revitalized, creating new momentum to attract productions back to our state. This rebirth is more than an economic opportunity, but it's a chance to tell more of our stories and once again make North Carolina a destination for filmmakers.

When productions come here, they create opportunities beyond the screen. They hire electricians, caterers, makeup artists, costume designers, photographers, editors, musicians, drivers and countless local businesses. Film creates careers while showcasing the beauty, culture and talent of our communities.

The next generation of North Carolina filmmakers is already here. They're writing. They're filming. We're dreaming bigger than ever before.

And I can't wait for the rest of the world to see the stories we're ready to tell that put North Carolina alongside New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles!

April Mial is the president of Rock, Groove and Jam!, a media platform that celebrates the value of female aspiration and experience. Visit:  RockGrooveandJam.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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