-Movie was filmed entirely in Richmond and Petersburg areas –
RICHMOND, Va., 2012-10-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Legendary producer/director Steven Spielberg’s major motion picture LINCOLN, filmed entirely in the Richmond/Petersburg area in 2011, will be shown in a pair of special by-invitation-only advance screenings in Richmond and Petersburg on November 8th.
The screenplay was adapted from the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and offers an intimate look at the trials of Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet during the latter part of the Civil War. Daniel Day-Lewis gives a landmark performance in the starring role as the president while Sally Field, playing Mary Todd Lincoln, and Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens headline the supporting cast. National release for the movie begins November 16th.
“From the time the film crews arrived in the area last year everyone has been anxious to see this movie,” said Rita McClenny, interim president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “For those of us who live here it will be fascinating to see familiar sights that became movie sets and a backdrop for the film.
Richmond and Petersburg were selected by Spielberg after a concerted effort by the Virginia Film Office to bring the movie production to Virginia. The historic architecture and landscape made the area attractive as a location coupled with the experienced crew and talent and professional resources available locally. Abraham Lincoln himself visited both localities during the closing days of the Civil War.
VTC and local tourism officials are well aware of the tourism value of being the site of a major motion picture. Movies such as Hunger Games and National Treasure have driven large numbers of movie fans to filming sites while Dirty Dancing still draws visitors to Virginia’s Mountain Lake Resort, where much of it was filmed, twenty-five years after its release. Because Richmond and Petersburg also have dramatic direct association with the historic Abraham Lincoln the area has the potential to draw movie fans as well as history buffs.
To capitalize on this potential VTC is working with local tourism officials to develop a “trail” experience that will lead visitors to film locations as well as historic Lincoln sites. The trail will also spotlight local restaurants, shops and clubs frequented by the cast and crew of the movie. Lincoln trail site listings will be available on www.Virginia.org/Lincoln.
Locations of the advance screenings of the movie in Richmond and Petersburg have not been announced and the events are by invitation only. The movie will arrive in local theaters November 16.
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Screenings of Spielberg’s LINCOLN Scheduled for November 8 in Richmond and Petersburg