Tell me about the professional and educational path that led you to where you are today.
My name is Dave Lavender, and I am the Apprenticeship Program Coordinator with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development’s Film Office.
I am a lifelong journalist as well as an entertainment journalist. My education and experience started at Shawnee State University where I worked for a local newspaper called Portsmouth Times for a couple of years while attending college. Later, I transferred to the University of Kentucky for four more years of work-based learning experience writing for a newspaper. So, I have always enjoyed the apprenticeship model of career preparation which lets you apply what you have learned by putting it into action.
I worked in five different states during my journalism career, but I came back to Huntington twenty-five years ago to work in radio and as the entertainment personality for WSAZ. Also, I was cast as Devil Anse on The History Channel’s documentary America’s Greatest Feud: Hatfields and McCoys, so I have experienced film work on a national level which was a cool experience.
I started working with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development five years ago, and my role focuses on expanding internships in nontraditional sectors. The West Virginia legislature passed a tax credit that became effective on July 1, 2022, and I transitioned to helping the film office implement it.
What makes West Virginia a great place for filmmaking?
West Virginia is a beautiful place. One of the things that make it beautiful is the people, and our superpower is storytelling. West Virginia has produced amazing entertainers like Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell who just won four Grammys. Think about Morgan Spurlock who was born in Parkersburg and grew up in Beckley, and he spent $60,000 on a documentary called Super Size Me which then made $20 million. We have incredible native storytellers like Elaine Sheldon and Curran Sheldon. Curran won the Documentary Award by the American Society of Cinematographers for his work on King Coal which was shot in thirty-seven different locations in West Virginia. So, it is not a stretch to say we have the best documentary filmmaker in the world right here in our state, which is exciting. This proves to the next generation of young artists that they can stay here and be a filmmaker, musician, or visual artist and succeed.
We now offer a tax credit which attracts more and more filmmakers, and now West Virginia has a lot of programs to incentivize productions to film here. When I started this job, I decided to develop an asset map of what is available to filmmakers here, and I have discovered there are tons of cool resources and events here to support the entertainment industry. For example, there are over a dozen film festivals in West Virginia which are wonderful places to see what is being made in your region. At film festivals you can meet other film makers, and there are panels and workshops which are advantageous to young filmmakers or anyone getting started in the industry. There are opportunities to develop a mentor/mentee relationship at these festivals. You get to watch a movie, and afterward you might also meet the director and ask them to advise you on your path in the entertainment industry. You could meet someone like Emmy Award-winning actor Jacob Young or Elaine Sheldon and her cinematographer husband Curran, who is the best at what he does in the industry.
What types of trades jobs are available in the filmmaking industry? Are these jobs open to women?
There are a variety of construction jobs needed to make a film happen. In fact, it takes about sixty different jobs to produce a film which is what makes this work so interesting. Everyone brings something different to the table which in turn brings out the best in West Virginia.
There are scenic carpenters, set designers, prop makers, costume makers, painters, riggers, safety officers, model makers, practical special effects artists, and more. Earnings typically range anywhere from $40,000-$60,000, so these are interesting, good-paying trades jobs, and it’s possible to command even higher earnings after getting a few good quality shows under your belt.
Last year, we organized a carpentry workshop with Larry Dowling, where WV Women Work students learned lighting and electrical skills which they can use on a film set. Our goal is to use hands-on training to equip participants with the practical knowledge needed for construction jobs in the entertainment industry. We would love to host another workshop and continue our partnership with WV Women Work to further strengthen the local film industry’s infrastructure while empowering women to pursue nontraditional careers in construction.
The field is absolutely open to women. Women are already working in the industry and achieving remarkable success. For example, look at the career of someone like Elaine Sheldon who I mentioned earlier. She was nominated for an Academy Award and won Emmy and Peabody Awards for her documentary filmmaking. Elaine even directed a couple of original Netflix documentaries telling stories about rural Appalachia.
What options are available to West Virginians who want to prepare for a career in filmmaking while staying local?
One of the goals of the West Virginia Film Office is to offer more training events. Last year in 2024 we sponsored twenty-one different trainings like the one we did with WV Women Work. We do film workshops where we show people how to make a movie using just their iPhone, and we did that with the help of world class talent from West Virginia like Joe Strechay who was the assistant producer on Netflix’s All The Light We Cannot See.
Marshall University now offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in filmmaking, and we are already getting more film and TV production companies coming to West Virginia because of that. A lot of times—whether it’s Austin, Wilmington, Pittsburgh, or Atlanta—a local film industry is built where there are educational institutions training people in filmmaking.
West Virginia has great filmmaking communities like the West Virginia Filmmakers Guild based in Morgantown which is a grassroots group that brings local people in the film industry together to connect and collaborate. There are also several Facebook groups like the Tri-State Film Club run by Jacob Holmes which is active mostly in the Charleston and Huntington areas, and another excellent group is WV Filmmakers and Actors.
What advice would you give to someone who has no experience but wants to pursue a career in the film industry?
There is an old quote that says there is no substitute for sweat. You must dive in. Find somebody who is making a film—even if it is a student—and try to get involved. Production assistant is a ground level role where you can get onto a set to see what jobs might pique your interest, so that is a great place to start. If you want to be part of the creative process, then reach out to different filmmaker groups to see who needs production assistance. To be a production assistant, you just need to be able to follow directions, be safe, and do whatever it takes to help the production happen. Just get involved and build experience. Even if you have a college degree in filmmaking, part of the training is going to be gaining the experience working on the craft and meeting people.
There are a lot of people who have decided to work on an extremely specific part of the craft based on their experiences on set, and they would not have known that job existed unless they had worked on a production.
It is a fun and proactive environment. Just be willing to be part of the team.
Where do you want to see West Virginia’s film industry go over the next five years?
The film office wants to build out a lot of bones for sustainability, so I want to see more educational institutions follow Marshall University’s lead and offer programs in filmmaking as well as apprenticeship opportunities. We would like to see more weekend training events. For example, we would love to collaborate with West Virginia Women Work again to teach set carpentry, production design, and scenic carpentry to prepare jobs on film sets.
I want to see more investment in studio space, sound stages, and other infrastructure build-out in key areas around the state where we are starting to get a lot of filming.
It would also be nice to see the public offer more support for locally produced films, especially considering the high level of quality of filming being produced here. Locally made films like Coat of Arms, King Coal, and Beat Down can stand up against any other film released in the last few years. Another example is Ambrosia which is amazing comedy shot in Beckley. They are exceptional films made by great local filmmakers here in West Virginia. Right now, we are very good at doing that with music. We know how to launch someone like Tyler Childers or Sierra Ferrell from Appalachia, but how do we launch the next Morgan Spurlock so they can stay in West Virginia? How do we launch more locally produced films? To solve that problem requires further development for distribution in Appalachia as well as more opportunities to screen West Virginian and Appalachian films in our theatres instead of just bringing in things from out of state.
Are there any misconceptions about the film industry in West Virginia you would like to dispel?
Sure. I would like everybody to know the film industry is already here, and it has always been strong. We make high quality productions in West Virginia and Appalachia with powerful storytelling. Another misconception is that it is not diverse, but there are a lot of different people telling their stories here. People also have the perception that a career in film is something out of reach for them or that it is an industry confined to just in Hollywood, and that is not true. Films can be made here by West Virginians, for West Virginians.
I have a good friend Norman Branch, the founder of Positive People Association, and he did a filmmaking camp last summer that we supported. The kids at his camp were students in grade school and middle school, and they put out an exceptionally cool music video. So that is what I want people to know—they can do that. They can make a quality product that sounds and looks as good as anything coming out of Los Angeles.
Also, never underestimate the power of letting kids in the Mountain State know their stories are worthwhile, and they can tell their story if they have a phone in their pocket. Only about fifteen years ago the film industry was primarily in Los Angeles and New York, but our office has worked hard to change that by bringing in projects by big companies like Warner Brothers and Disney. Now, you can easily make your own projects thanks to the digital revolution and its democratizing effect on production and distribution. You can do animation or anything else that interests you without leaving West Virginia.
Is there anything else you want to share about the West Virginia Film Office and its work?
Last year the film office supported over one hundred productions, which is a lot. Tons of those films were indie projects. We have had about two-dozen productions take advantage of the tax credit during the last two years it has been available.
We have also helped filmmakers who needed locations or crew. Sometimes filmmakers need something specific for shooting. For example, we helped shut down the Interstate for the filming of The Last of Us, and we helped another crew arrange shooting in an ice skating rink in July for the film Christmas at the Greenbrier. So, we have had some pretty wild requests.
Our film office stays active in our communities by doing things like visiting schools, and we go to all the film festivals. We want people to connect with us so we can provide information to students and other people about wonderful places to find training or inspiration and resources to get a project done.
Film Industry Resources
Follow and interact with the WV Film Office at https://westvirginia.gov/wvfilm/
Get Work on Films and Productions: Register to be part of the state’s largest list of skilled crew members and support services (catering, lodging, rentals, etc.). You’ll also receive updates about upcoming projects. Click on this link to submit your information for free https://wv.reel-scout.com/crew_registration.aspx?type=C&cl=C
For Educators
For Middle School and High School Teachers: The West Virginia Film Office has teamed up with Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen program, which thanks to a Benedum Foundation grant, offers free screenings of regionally-made films to help teachers tap into film as an additional source of education. Teen Screen and its team of educators select films that best support school curricula and build programs around them, including teaching materials, additional resources, and guest speakers. Within the fall semester alone, they shared films with schools across Ohio, Kanawha, Wetzel, Marion, and Monroe Counties in WV. They’ve worked with hundreds of students, enhancing their learning experiences in various subjects while helping them and their teachers meet West Virginia academic standards.
You can also learn more about Teen Screen programs and peruse their Virtual Film Roster by visiting https://filmpittsburgh.org/pages/teen-screen and contact Teen Screen directors Lori Sisson at lsisson@filmpittsburgh.org and Tina Kakadelis at tina@filmpittsburgh.org
FILM GROUPS
West Virginia Filmmakers Guild – They have been around since 1982, out of Morgantown, but they are statewide. They also have a Facebook group and are a great group of folks to connect with. Justin Owcar is their president and the Film Office teams up with the Guild to do a number of trainings every year.
https://www.facebook.com/wvfilmguild
New is the Film Horizons Foundation and the Tri-State Film Club – which is run by Jacob Holmes, who has Eagle Eye Productions, and used to work at one of the local TV stations. Jacob is now a videographer at West Virginia State University.
https://www.eagleeyeprods.com/filmhorizons
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tristatefilmclub/posts/983745197098735/
West Virginia Filmmakers and Actors – Another active Facebook group and a good place to post things and to connect with folks.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/342994277557755/
Upcoming Film Festivals:
American Conservation Film Festival: Takes place March 6-9 at the Frank Arts Center at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. Celebrating its 22nd year in 2025, ACFF rolls for four days, featuring 28 inspiring conservation and environmental films from around the world. These films share stories of hope, resilience, and the individuals making a difference for our planet. Students 18 and under as well as college students with ID are admitted FREE to all screenings with a ticket. Connect online at https://conservationfilmfest.org/
Appalachian Film Fest: Takes place April 25-27 at the Foundry Theater in downtown Huntington. Watch regionally-made films that reflect and celebrate the Appalachian region. This year, there are four categories, student, music video, short, and feature length. Go online at https://filmfreeway.com/AppalachianFilmFestival
Interview conducted, transcribed, and written by Marlynda Arnett, Program Innovation Leader for West Virginia Women Work.
