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THR, Fayetteville Observer

Why Netflix Won’t Film in North Carolina

Jan 11, 2019  •  Post A Comment

A Netflix series that’s set in North Carolina won’t be filmed there, with the streaming service reportedly choosing not to film in the state as a protest against North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ House Bill 2. The bill, commonly called the “bathroom bill” was the focus of a firestorm when it was enacted in 2016.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports that Netflix has decided to instead film the coming-of-age drama “OBX” in South Carolina.

“Despite the fact that North Carolina repealed a section of the law in 2017 following a year of backlash, it didn’t completely overturn HB2,” THR reports. “One problematic piece of the replacement bill, per insiders, is a clause that forbids municipalities from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances for any group not included in state law — including LGBTQ people — until 2020.”

THR notes that Jonas Pate, the show’s creator, grew up in North Carolina and had been pushing to have the show film in his home state.

Pate is quoted in The Fayetteville Observer saying: “This tiny law is costing this town 70 good, clean, pension-paying jobs and also sending a message to those people who can bring these jobs and more that North Carolina still doesn’t get it.”

Netflix is reportedly projected to spend about $60 million on the 10-episode series.

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