CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly 2,500 people attended the long-awaited premiere of "The Hunger Games" at the Regal Cinemas in Stonecrest Friday morning.
"I'm really excited," said high school freshman Mariah Carp shortly before the doors opened. "Like really, really, really, excited."
The Hunger Games" was filmed exclusively in North Carolina. Most of it was shot in the cities surrounding Charlotte, like Concord and Shelby.
Thomas Dean, 13, was an extra in the movie for seven days.
"We actually got to meet all the characters," Dean said. "It's going to be so cool seeing them on the big screen, and hopefully I'll get to be on the big screen, too!"
A new 25 percent tax incentive was designed to bring big budget movies to North Carolina, and "The Hunger Games" took advantage.
The state Department of Commerce said Thursday that filmmakers hired about 5,000 people and spent $60 million during production.
Lydia Sumpolec lives in Virginia, but she spent more than a week in Shelby last summer, working part-time as an extra in the movie.
"I'm so excited. I've been shrieking forever," she said.
Her family spent thousands of dollars to stay in a hotel and eat at local restaurants.
"It was just an awesome experience. I loved it. It was just mind-blowing," Sumpolec said.
She drove back up to Charlotte on Thursday to reunite with other extras to watch the premiere together.
WSOC
