In a coup for the Old Dominion’s film industry, Governor Bob McDonnell announced that Stephen Spielberg will film an anticipated movie about Abraham Lincoln here in the commonwealth. The film is called Lincoln—no, I’m not confusing Spielberg with Oliver Stone—and it’s based on Pulitzer-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of Rivals. Filming begins in the fall in the Richmond and Petersberg areas later this year, and is slated for release in 2012. Oh, and Daniel Day-Lewis plays Abe Lincoln.
As far as the arts go, bringing films to Virginia has been one of Governor McDonnell’s signature issues, even while singling out public broadcasting for cuts. This from the Richmond Times-Dispatch: "The incentive package includes $1 million from the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, $2.5 million from the Virginia Motion Picture Tax Credit program and $1.1 million in in-kind contributions, according to McDonnell’s office."
Read C-VILLE’s cover story from last year on how McDonnell’s movie work might affect us locally.
Is the Governor’s alliance with Garth Brooks behind this madness?
