Governor Warner Announces HBO Miniseries John Adams to be Filmed in Virginia
Governor Warner Announces HBO Miniseries John Adams to be Filmed in Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg to be setting for 11-part series produced by Tom Hanks
Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that John Adams, an eleven-part miniseries based on historian David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name, will be filmed in Virginia. Other states, including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, had aggressively vied for the project.
The miniseries will be produced for HBO by Playtone, a production company owned by actor/producer Tom Hanks and partner Gary Goetzman. Playtone won critical acclaim for its World War II miniseries Band of Brothers. HBO is returning to Virginia for its second project, having filmed its Golden Globe-winning historical drama Iron Jawed Angels in the state in 2001.
"When I met with Tom Hanks and his team last March, I made the case that Virginia's historic resources and our experienced film crews and acting community made Virginia the obvious choice for this project," Governor Warner said. "This miniseries will help secure Virginia's reputation as a premier location for American historical film projects, and it also serves as a strong validation of our local film industry."
Because of the length of filming, the historical settings and scope of the story, this will be the largest and most expansive project ever filmed in the Commonwealth, with an estimated economic impact of at least $60 million. Preparations will begin immediately, with filming lasting from September 2005 through April 2006. Much of the filming will take place in and around Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, including portions of the campus of The College of William and Mary, and other locations in the Central Virginia region.
"Colonial Williamsburg is committed to preserving and presenting Virginia's colonial capital during our nation's formative years so that current and future generations might better understand and seize the responsibilities of citizenship participation in a democracy," Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President Colin Campbell said. "Like the Colonial Williamsburg experience, the story of John Adams' extraordinary life and times brings these principles and the connections between past, present and future vividly to life. We are excited to be a partner in this project."
John Adams started his career as a successful Boston attorney and loyal British subject who ultimately became one of America's most ardent patriots, serving as George Washington's vice president and as the second president of the United States. The miniseries also is a story about the important relationships of Adam's life, including his wife and chief political advisor, Abigail, and his enduring friendship with Virginian Thomas Jefferson. Although differences caused Jefferson and Adams to be estranged for many years, their reconciliation will be a highlight of the series.
The reported economic impact of film and video production in Virginia in 2003 was $179 million. Virginia has benefited from historic film productions, particularly in the area of tourism. The last two major historic films to shoot in the state, Gods and Generals and Cold Mountain, each resulted in a significant increase in inquiries about Civil War tourism. The upcoming feature film The New World, scheduled for a November 9 release, is anticipated to raise awareness and interest in the Jamestown 2007 commemoration festivities.
For more information, visit the Virginia Film Office Web site.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Jul05/0718.htm