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GOVERNOR KAINE APPLAUDS ECONOMIC AND TOURISM IMPACT OF JOHN ADAMS

NEWS RELEASE

March 11, 2008

 

GOVERNOR KAINE APPLAUDS ECONOMIC AND TOURISM IMPACT OF JOHN ADAMS

~ Filming of new HBO series in Virginia generates $80 million and showcases historic tourism sites ~

RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today applauded the positive economic and tourism impact of the new HBO miniseries, John Adams.  John Adams was filmed largely in Virginia at locations in Williamsburg and the Richmond area, spending an estimated $80 million in the Commonwealth.   The film’s Virginia premiere was Sunday at the historic Byrd Theater in Richmond and attended by Governor Kaine, producer Tom Hanks, author David McCullough and Paul Giamatti, who starred as John Adams.

“Virginia’s film industry has again made our Commonwealth proud,” Governor Kaine said.  “The filming of John Adams generated $80 million in revenue for Virginia and is a prime example of why the film industry is vital to our economy.  We extend our thanks to HBO, Tom Hanks and his company Playtone for making Virginia an important part of John Adams.”

John Adams is based on David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book and one of the best-selling American historical biographies of all time.  Executive produced by Hanks and Gary Goetzman, John Adams chronicles the life of this remarkable historical figure. The Virginia Film Office, part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, worked to bring John Adams to Virginia and assisted on production in the Commonwealth.  Principal photography took place in Virginia from February 2007 to June 2007. 

John Adams was shot on location in Williamsburg and the greater Richmond area, as well as various sites in Europe.  Producers received unprecedented cooperation from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which for the first time allowed a film production to shoot on its 301-acre historic site.  Colonial Williamsburg, the world's largest living history museum, is a historic colonial town with reenactors throughout the area who encourage visitors to immerse themselves in the 18th century. 

 “Tourism is a $17.7 billion industry in Virginia and films like these help us promote our rich historic destinations,” said Alisa Bailey, president & CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.  “We hope the film will inspire people to visit Virginia, from Colonial Williamsburg to the homes of our Founding Fathers, and relive the important role Virginia played in our nation’s independence.”

In addition to securing shoot locations, the Virginia Film Office solicited the help of more than 3,400 Virginians to serve as crew members and extras on John Adams.  The Virginia Film Office works to increase revenue to the state through the production of television shows, feature films, videos, documentaries and commercials.  John Adams joins other major film productions such as Evan Almighty, The New World, Gods and Generals, Cold Mountain and Dirty Dancing that have brought significant economic and tourism benefits to Virginia.

John Adams will premiere on HBO with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, March 16 (8:00-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), with other parts debuting on subsequent Sundays at 9:00 p.m. through April 20.  To learn more about the miniseries, visiting film locations and to enter to win a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, go to www.Virginia.org.

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