Few moments in the Cape Fear's history can claim to be as influential as the arrival of "Firestarter," the feature film adaptation of Stephen King's novel that launched the local film industry in 1983.

Released on May 11, 1984, the film starring Drew Barrymore turns 35 this year. To celebrate, Cape Fear Unearthed revisits the production's history, explores why Hollywood producer Dino De Laurentiis came to Wilmington in the first place and looks at it how laid the groundwork for the transformative industry that would emerge from it.

Joining the episode is special guest Martha De Laurentiis, the associate producer of "Firestarter" and influential figure in the establishment of film's presence in North Carolina. She is now the president of The De Laurentiis Company.

Cape Fear Unearthed is written, edited and hosted by Hunter Ingram.

Additional editing by Adam Fish. Recorded at WHQR in downtown Wilmington.

A StarNews Media Production. This season is sponsored by Northchase Family Dentistry.

Sources:

"Wilm on Film," by Amy Hotz and Ben Steelman

Various Wilmington StarNews editions, August-November 1983

New Hanover County Library archive records and photos

"Dino: The Life and Films of Dino De Laurentiis," by Tullio Zekich and Alessandra Levantesi