The Story

Tom Hanks Miniseries Filmed in CW

Mar. 6, 2007 | By Jonna Knappenberger, DSJ Staff Reporter

The Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg is one of the film sites of a new Tom Hanks miniseries. Photo by Marina Stranieri.

Seen anyone in traditional 18th century garb walking around Colonial Williamsburg recently? They might not be working as historical interpreters… or at least not the ones we're used to.

Filming of an HBO miniseries about John Adams started last week in Colonial Williamsburg. Plans call for additional scenes to be shot in the coming months, through May.

According to reports from the Daily Press, the first location was the outer yard of the jail near the capitol building. The yard was filled with fake snow and ice to make it look like Boston; Adams was supposedly visiting soldiers of the Boston Massacre as their defense attorney.

A second scene, at Bruton Parish Church, was shot last week, supposedly involving over 100 extras.

There has also been talk that the filming won't be restricted to Colonial Williamsburg, but might extend to the Wren Building. Specifically it would take place in the now-infamous Chapel and the Great Hall. Yet, there is a suspicious lack of detail and supporting evidence that filming on campus is actually going to happen.

Shooting will also take place in Richmond and in select locations in Europe.

So, who is John Adams? The second U.S. president will be portrayed by Actor Paul Giamatti. Reports are already circulating in online news articles about the when and where of his appearances. In case any Giamatti fans care to know, there's been at least one official spotting already; he was wearing normal attire and getting into a black car.

Tom Hanks, whose Playtone Company is partially producing the miniseries, scouted locations on a visit to Williamsburg back in the spring of 2005. He was promptly mobbed by school kids, according to reports. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts were also possible filming locations.

Even with all of that competition, Williamsburg won out. This might be because of its specialization in historical themes or, perhaps, the reported $500,000 incentive grant offered to produce the miniseries in the Old Dominion. This money was part of a one-time $800,000 appropriation made by Del. Vincent F. Callahan, R-McLean, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, to use as incentive for film-makers.

The state pays for HBO to come here, but the miniseries is already bringing money with it. Adams work has already wrought an economic impact. Set work in Richmond back in 2005 helped draw an estimated $88.7 million. In the same year, other unrelated film projects drew less money to Hampton Roads ($69.4 million) and Northern Virginia ($58.6 million).

The Daily Press reported that $221 million was brought into Virginia by the film industry in 2005. This marks the highest ever income from this industry in the state's history.

Virginia film ranks 13th in the country, based on income, following our neighbor North Carolina, where the estimated economic impact in 2004 of the film industry was $235 million.

Other recent projects throughout Virginia include "Mission: Impossible III," featuring a car chase on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and other scenes in Richmond and Northern Virginia. Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers" was filmed partially at Arlington National Cemetery, and scenes from "Gods and Generals" and "Cold Mountain" were also shot in-state.

Virginia Film Office director Rita McClenny said in a news release, "Our strength continues to be projects centered on historic themes, and Virginia's ability to portray Washington, D.C. Virginia remains competitive."

The Colonial Williamsburg website has guidelines for filming and recording: "Projects must be related or appropriate to historical themes and educational purpose of the Historic Area and museums and meet standards of historical accuracy." A CW liaison is present throughout the filming to ensure that nothing is damaged and no agreements are breeched.

Tom Shrout, a CW spokesman, says that visitors are welcome to watch the filming, as long as they don't interfere. CW employees are working hard to keep the historic area accessible to visitors.

The 7-part miniseries will debut on HBO in 2008.