Written by new-contact on Dec 19, 2013. Posted in On Location

Revolutionary War TV series doubles Virginia locations for New York

New TV drama Turn is set during the American Revolutionary War of the mid-18th Century and is doubling locations in Virginia for colonial-era New York. This tumultuous period of American history is drawing Hollywood’s eye, with Last of the Mohicans also being developed into a miniseries.

Turn is based on the true story of a spy ring that helped George Washington win the conflict that resulted in American independence. New York is being doubled by the city of Petersburg in eastern Virginia. The city is a popular filming location and was used by Steven Spielberg for his Oscar-winning feature Lincoln.

“Petersburg is a natural setting for a Revolutionary War film, with its many historical buildings and streetscapes. Filming here will give Petersburg national exposure as well as increase visitations,” City Manager William E Johnson III told the Progress-Index.

Virginia offers a filming incentive of up to 20% and a recent report found that the state makes nearly twelve dollars back for every dollar issued as a filming tax credit.

“11.8 to one is a superb value for Virginians, but that does not even tell the whole story,” said Virginia Film Office director Andy Edmunds: “Added-value we have uniquely incorporated into our incentive programme is buying advertising for Virginia as a tourism destination. [Docudrama] Killing Lincoln, for example, produced and broadcast a commercial promoting the Commonwealth that was seen in over 170 countries.”

Petersburg is a natural setting for a Revolutionary War film, with its many historical buildings and streetscapes.

William E Johnson III, Petersburg City Manager

Turn has a ten-episode order and will be hoping to join the ranks of historic shows like Game of Thrones, Vikings and Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Pirate drama Black Sails debuts in 2014 and rival series Crossbones is also in production. Last of the Mohicans, most recently made into a movie in the early 90s with Daniel Day-Lewis, is also being developed into a miniseries.

(Photos: Frank Connor/Fox)