Grand Strand Positions Itself as South Carolina’s Next Film Industry Destination
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — March 13, 2026 — Thomas Beach Vacations News Desk
With a film crew currently at work along the Grand Strand, Visit Myrtle Beach is moving to formalize what many locals have quietly understood for years — this coastline has everything a production needs, and then some. The organization is now actively pursuing the film and television industry as a strategic growth sector for the region, a push that carries real implications for the local economy and for how the rest of the country comes to know Myrtle Beach.
Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler points to the area’s geographic range as its strongest selling point for producers. Within 15 to 20 minutes of the oceanfront, a crew can access working farms, the Intracoastal Waterway, marshland, and historic plantation properties — a diversity of settings that most coastal destinations simply cannot match. Butler said the organization is already acting as a hands-on resource for incoming productions, connecting crews with local vendors, helping navigate the permitting process, and linking productions to hotels, caterers, and other area businesses.
The timing is deliberate. The South Carolina Film Commission has begun recommending Myrtle Beach as a filming location, placing the Grand Strand alongside the state’s more established production destinations for the first time. That institutional recognition, combined with Visit Myrtle Beach’s on-the-ground support infrastructure, gives the area a credible entry point into a competitive industry.
An Off-Season Economic Opportunity
The economic case for film production is especially compelling during the shoulder seasons. The current production along the Grand Strand is a six-week shoot employing more than fifty crew members — all of whom are staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants, and spending money at area retailers. Butler noted that productions also prioritize hiring local talent, providing work for the region’s existing film and production community during months when other economic activity slows.
Movie producer Ralph McCloud, who has worked in the area, echoed that assessment. He cited the concentration of varied locations within a short radius, combined with a large inventory of accommodations for cast and crew, as practical advantages that make the Grand Strand a genuinely workable choice for production companies managing tight schedules and tighter budgets.
The Set Jetting Effect
Beyond the direct economic impact of production spending, Butler and McCloud both highlighted a longer-term tourism benefit tied to a growing travel trend known as set jetting — the practice of visiting destinations because they appeared in a film or television series. South Carolina has already benefited from this phenomenon through productions including The Notebook, Forrest Gump, The Righteous Gemstones, and Outer Banks. Each of those titles introduced the state’s landscapes to national and international audiences in a way that conventional advertising cannot replicate.
For the Grand Strand specifically, a film reaching viewers in markets that have never considered a Myrtle Beach vacation could quietly become one of the most effective tourism campaigns the region has ever run — without a single dollar spent on a media buy.
What Comes Next
Visit Myrtle Beach plans to launch a dedicated website later this year with resources and information specifically for production companies interested in filming along the Grand Strand. The move signals that the organization views this not as a passing opportunity but as a permanent lane in the area’s broader economic strategy.
For a coast that has never had trouble drawing visitors, the prospect of drawing cameras too is a development worth watching. To explore what the Grand Strand has to offer on your next visit, or to book a North Myrtle Beach vacation rental, contact Thomas Beach Vacations at (866) 249-2100 or visit northmyrtlebeachvacations.com.