Published: September 29, 2011
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Steven Spielberg and the production team from his film “Lincoln” will attend a reception on Monday at the Executive Mansion, one of the locations the crew plans to use for filming.
Gov. Bob McDonnell will host the soiree to welcome the crew to the state and “thank all involved in landing this major job-creating project for Virginia,” according to the governor’s office.
The film, based on the book "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, begins production soon in the Richmond area with a scheduled release in 2012. Daniel Day-Lewis will play former President Abraham Lincoln, and Sally Field will play Mary Todd Lincoln, though neither of them is expected to attend the event.
McDonnell talked about the reception during a radio interview on WRVA this morning and mentioned Lewis and Field, but his spokesman clarified the guest list.
McDonnell said the film's crew will use the state Capitol and governor's mansion as venues, and that people can expect to see crews set up around town from about the second week in October to Dec. 10.
The state offered an incentive package to lure the film, including $1 million from the Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, $2.5 million from the Virginia Motion Picture Tax Credit program and $1.1 million in other contributions, including waived location fees or free office space, according to state and film officials.