The office is conducting free workshops Tuesday and Wednesday in Weirton and Follansbee to help prepare the areas for what's expected to be an increase in the filming business.

Film Office Location Services Mgr. Jamie Cope says a new legislative-approved tax incentive should make the state more attractive for films, commercials, music videos and the like. "Activity is picking up in our office when it comes to inquiries and we're assuming that's going to result in an increase in filming as well," he said.

The workshops will focus on the opportunities created when a filming crew comes to town. "They can have 150 people coming into a small community," Cope said. "So lodging, catering, generator rentals, car rentals, things like that. We just want to make people aware that those types of opportunities are out there."

Cope adds it's better to be prepared because filming can be an inconvenience. "They bring money into a community and that's why we want to support it, but at the same time there can be traffic delays and other things," he said. "But as long as everybody goes into it with their eyes open I think it's a positive experience for everybody."

The Weirton workshop is being held until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn on Spring Drive. The Follansbee meeting begins at 8:30 Wednesday morning at in the Community House at Follansbee City Park.

The WV Film Office is scheduled additional workshops for later this year in other communities.