City establishes a film and arts commission

A special council meeting was held on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.  Present at the meeting were council members Joan Gause, Lewis Hardee, Terrence Hardee, Mike Suggs and Jan Vescovi and Mayor Todd Harrelson.  Carroll D. Padgett had a previous engagement and was not able to attend.

The meeting involved a verbal presentation by Jerry Dalton, owner of Dalton Pictures, the reading of the resolution into record and council who voted to accept the resolution to create the City of Loris Film and Arts Commission.

The Resolution to Establish the City of Loris Film and Arts Commission passed unanimously with council’s vote.  Dalton will be assigned the Commissioner for the Loris Film and Arts Commission; however, the bylaws presented was an example and will be rewritten and reviewed by council and city attorney Kenneth Moss prior to accepting them in the record.

Dalton has lived in Myrtle Beach since 2007 and is taking steps to produce more movies, television shows and other entertainment in Loris. He has purchased a building on Duncan Street to use for production.  He also stated he recently purchased the Loris Variety Store as a sound stage. Dalton’s partner and fiancée, Heather Mayes, stated she liked the fact that there is living quarters over the store site. He said, “We are here to stay and become a part of the community.”

The reason he has chosen Loris for his production company is that in the ‘70’s he visited the area and was impressed with the southern charm.  He said that throughout Loris there is no need to rebuild the city, just a few repairs to awnings and clean store fronts. Dalton said, “The city already looks like a movie set, there is no need to rebuild the city, just a few repairs to awnings and change some light bulbs here and there with some paint on buildings it looks like a quaint town that is seen in the Hallmark movies.” The city is what filmmakers are looking for to make a holiday movie.  He said when he was looking for places to film and promote the making of Christmas movies he was delighted with the decorations and lights this past year displayed throughout the city. Other places of interest include the 50’s and 60’s style restaurants, rivers, swamps, the sports complex and the hospital are in place and ready to film.

Dalton stated that at the current time they would only use experienced film industry personnel to assure accuracy in the business. Later, though, once established positions will be available to residents in Loris.

He stated on the art side the culture will bring more art and sales to Loris. At a cost of $1 a year, Dalton’s plan is to promote the city of Loris and the Loris area for filming Hallmark movies, attracting movie makers and well recognized stars to come and hopefully establish more residents to live in the quaint city of Loris.

The movie produced by Dalton reached the Oscar level, Parasite, which depicts the real people living in Seoul’s basement apartments telling a story of a poor South Korean family fighting for scraps while showing the wealthy family that lacks for nothing.  The Los Angeles Times referred to the movie as ‘one of the year’s very best movies’.

Dalton said that the film industry will boost the city’s economy and will attract visitors to the area.  His company is currently finishing a movie, “A Carolina Christmas”, which should be in theaters in November of this year.  He said he was not sure when the next production in Loris will be, but his plan is to promote the area to the film industry.

The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.  All residents are invited to attend the council meetings to be informed what is happening in the city.