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Virginia’s Indie Film Revolution
Virginia's vibrant history and dynamic, growing population make it an ideal setting
The commonwealth of Virginia has gone out of its way to make itself a welcoming home to independent moviemakers looking to take advantage of the region’s unique blend of the historical and the progressive. As one of the 13 original colonies, “Old Dominion” is rich in pride and tradition. From Colonial Williamsburg, where the early years of the United States are re-created in painstaking detail, to the Pentagon building, home of the Department of Defense, Virginia encapsulates well over 200 years of American culture within its borders.
For his 2007 FBI drama, Breach, writer-director Billy Ray felt the need to film in the locations where the film’s events had actually taken place.
“Breach was a true story and its events were a matter of historical record, so there were certain locations that I simply couldn’t live without,” explains Ray of his decision to shoot in the commonwealth. “One was the actual site of Robert Hanssen’s arrest, in Vienna, Virginia. We shot on the actual corner, a street called Fairway Drive, at the same time of year that Hanssen was arrested. His former neighbors came out to watch… The scene we shot there felt real because it was real—some things just shouldn’t be faked.”
In 2006, the Virginia General Assembly approved the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, a performance-based incentive that provides a cash rebate to moviemakers who have utilized Virginia’s resources during the course of production. Additionally, the state offers tax exemptions for film productions on items like film development and lodging, free use of certain state-owned locations and access to a 35,000 square-foot government building in the state capital of Richmond for use as production or office space.
One thing seems clear: Whether you’re aiming to make the next Revolutionary War epic or just need a film-friendly rural locale for your low-budget indie, Virginia will welcome you with open arms. Here, a few members of VA’s independent movie community weigh in on why the commonwealth is a great place to shoot.
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This story was published in the Summer 2007 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
On Location: Virginia
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