The fictional setting of a television show is becoming a bit more real with its relocation to Pennsylvania. Sets for the Cinemax cable network's show, “Banshee,� are now being built in Vandergrift, where a construction coordinator this week said filming could begin within three or four weeks. Although set in the fictional, small town of Banshee, Pa., the first three seasons of the action series were filmed in North Carolina. For its fourth season, the production moved to Pennsylvania after North Carolina lawmakers last year ended that state's film tax incentive program; Pennsylvania offers an incentive. Cinemax is owned by Home Box Office, Inc., or HBO. The Pittsburgh Film Office has long sought to bring HBO to the Pittsburgh area, according to office Director Dawn Keezer. “We're thrilled to welcome them to Southwest Pennsylvania. They are here because of our very successful film tax credit program,� she said. “We are hoping this is the beginning of a long, successful relationship with HBO.� Banshee debuted in 2013. Antony Starr portrays Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., “where he continues his criminal pursuits while enforcing his own code of justice.� The eight-episode fourth season is scheduled to air in 2016, according to Cinemax. The third season's 10 episodes ran from Jan. 9 to March 13. The majority of shooting will take place in Vandergrift, where Screaming Spirit Productions is turning a former JCPenney storefront into Banshee's sheriff's department, according to James Mahathey, a locations manager with Screaming Spirit. Mahathey said the crew has also scouted locations in Freeport, Leechburg, North Apollo, Kiski Township and Apollo, including the Chambers Hotel and the old hotel/train station on the Oklahoma side of the Apollo Bridge. The locations crew chose the Alle-Kiski Valley for its “character, history, design and architecture.� “It lends itself well to what we're trying to do, and the studio was enticed by Pennsylvania's tax incentives,� Mahathey said. Production companies have to spend at least 60 percent of their budget in Pennsylvania on qualified expenses to be eligible for the 25-to-30 percent tax credit, Keezer said. That's become easier to accomplish as the state's film infrastructure has grown, she said. Vandergrift council is expected to vote on a contract and agreement between the borough and the show's production during its meeting on Monday, council President Brian Carricato said. Details, including what residents can expect and financial compensation to the borough, will be made public then, he said. “Everybody is excited for this,� Carricato said. “It's exciting any time you can bring in more people. It's going to help local businesses, bring in additional revenue and be a spotlight for the town. I can't tell you one bad thing about it.� Carricato, who took part in the talks, said borough officials were better versed in negotiating the agreement after the town's experience with the movie, “I Am Number Four,� which filmed in Vandergrift in 2010. “‘I Am Number Four' definitely helped us in working out and kind of figuring out the agreement with this TV series,� he said. Despite being on a smaller screen, the TV show is expected to have a bigger presence. While movie filming took just two days, each episode of “Banshee� will have 10 to 12 days of shooting, Carricato said. And if the show is renewed for additional seasons, it could become a fixture for years. Keezer said she's hopeful residents will greet the show's cast and crew with open arms. She welcomed anyone with questions about film production to contact the Pittsburgh Film Office. While television production can be seen as an imposition in some places, it's still novel enough here to be exciting. “It should be fun,� Keezer said. Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4701 or brittmeyer@tribweb.com. Staff writer Braden Ashe contributed to this report. Details Coming up Who: Vandergrift Council What: Vote on agreement for filming of "Banshee" When: 7 p.m., Monday Where: Municipal building, 109 Grant Ave. On the web Visit the "Banshee" website at www.cinemax.com/banshee. Email Newsletters TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.