Salt Run Entertainment to Launch Residency at Spartanburg Community College's Spark Center

Salt Run Entertainment, a newly formed, fully integrated production studio co-led by Charles Randolph-Wright and John Gramling, III, today announced it will establish its residency at Spartanburg Community College’s Spark Center, anchoring South Carolina’s role in the Carolinas’ growing film and television industry.

The 25,000 square-foot space at the Spark Center will serve as Salt Run Entertainment’s headquarters and creative hub, housing company offices, a writers’ room, a warehouse for set design and build, and a filming studio. The residency underscores Spartanburg’s emergence as a creative economy hub and marks the official launch of Salt Run Entertainment’s operations in South Carolina.

Partnership with Spartanburg Community College

Through its collaboration with Spartanburg Community College (SCC), Salt Run Entertainment will connect directly with students, providing workshops, internships, and opportunities to learn the craft of television and film production.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of our mission at Spartanburg Community College. Through this dynamic studio partnership, we are launching cutting-edge technology into both our classrooms and our community, preparing students for tomorrow’s opportunities while positioning Spartanburg as a leader in the creative economy. I encourage all educators, industry partners, and visionaries to join us in shaping the future together,” said Dr. Michael Mikota, President of Spartanburg Community College.

Partnership with the Urban League of the Upstate

Salt Run Entertainment has also forged a partnership with the Urban League of the Upstate to expand workforce development initiatives tied to the entertainment industry. Together, they will design pathways for individuals across the Upstate to build skills and careers in a sector poised for growth.

“The Urban League is dedicated to ensuring that growth in our region is inclusive,” said Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, President & CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. “Salt Run Entertainment’s presence in Spartanburg represents more than a new business — it’s a chance to create access, expand workforce pipelines, and ensure that opportunities in this industry are open to all.”

Anchored in Community and Vision

Salt Run Entertainment was co-founded by Charles Randolph-Wright, a York, South Carolina native, acclaimed producer, director, and writer; and John Gramling, III, a Spartanburg native and President & CEO of New Canaan Impact Capital.

“For me, this is a homecoming,” said Randolph-Wright. “My career has taken me across the world, but my roots are here in South Carolina. Establishing Salt Run Entertainment here is about more than producing great stories — it’s about creating an ecosystem that allows those stories to be written, built, and filmed right here in the Carolinas.”

Gramling added, “Salt Run Entertainment was founded on the idea that business can be both purpose-driven and successful. In partnering with Spartanburg Community College and the Urban League, we are investing in people, in talent, and in the future of Spartanburg as a hub for film and television.”

Matthew Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission, said Salt Run Entertainment’s presence will broaden both the workforce and the economic footprint of the industry in South Carolina. “The hope for everyone is that Salt Run Entertainment brings high-quality productions to the Upstate that can both appeal to communities and incubate a new job market. Film crews require carpenters, truck drivers, builders, and creatives — literally something for everyone. We’re also excited to see filmmaking expand into a region that has traditionally not had the jobs or economic impact the industry can bring. This activity will show the Upstate — and lawmakers statewide — how film can be a powerful economic engine for South Carolina.”