Plenty of shows and movies were shot in Washington, D.C., but these days filmmakers complain it’s way too much trouble. For one thing, security is tight near any famous federal buildings or monuments, and for another, the city can’t come up with the cash incentives offered by many states. That’s why Virginia is getting an Emmy-award winning show that’s all about the CIA.
For six seasons, Homeland has mirrored America’s fight against terrorists.
"Turns out he’s one of ours – Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody who’s been MIA since 2003 and presumed dead. Because of you, an American hero is coming home.”
The show involves a brilliant agent – Carrie Mathison – who travels the world to keep America safe while fighting her own manic depression. Of course, there are shots of the District, but Andy Edmunds, Director of Virginia’s Film Office, says most of the drama is shot elsewhere.
“Last season they were in New York, and then for a couple of years they were in Charlotte. They were in South Africa, and then they were in Berlin.”
And now, Homeland is coming home – not to Langley but to Richmond.
“We have a lot of similar architecture to so many places, so you know Virginia can play many, many things, but especially doubling as D.C.”
Work on season seven will begin this fall and premiere in January of 2018. Edmunds says the show will get tax credits, based on the number of Virginians employed, and he thinks there will be many.
“This is the biggest production we’ve every hosted in Virginia.”
If you’re interested, the Film Office invites a visit to its website.
“Which is FilmVirginia.org – where you can see various listings for extras, casting calls and also some crew calls. Sometimes people will change their careers and find something they’re passionate about. I mean we’ve actually run a workforce development, and we’ve had 600 people over the last 5 years that have decided to change careers.”
And Edmunds hopes the show will provide a bump for tourism in this state.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
