Civil War series pilot to film in Virginia this fall

The pilot for a Civil War television series will be filmed in Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office announced Monday. ABC Signature, a division of ABC Studios, will film “Point of Honor” this September around Central Virginia for Amazon Prime, which provides streaming content to members.

The series, which is being co-produced by Amazon Studios, is a historical drama about a Virginia family whose lives are torn apart by the Civil War. The project is being headed by director Randall Wallace, who directed “Secretariat,” a movie about Virginia’s legendary Triple-Crown winning thoroughbred. Wallace, a graduate of E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, also wrote the screenplay for “Braveheart,” and most recently wrote and directed the film “Heaven is for Real.” Carlton Cuse, executive producer for the hit television series “Lost,” co-wrote and produced “Point of Honor.”

“We have been working with Randall Wallace since he came to Virginia to research for ‘Secretariat,’ ” Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office said in a statement. “A lack of competitive film incentives at the time prevented him from being able to film that legendary Virginia story in Virginia. I couldn’t be happier that we are finally able to bring Randall back to his home state for a ground-breaking new media project such as this one. The economic impact for Virginia should it become a series will be significant.”

The series will be eligible for a film tax credit and funding from the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, based on how much money the production spends within Virginia; and certain deliverables to promote tourism in the state.

Another historical drama is also filming in the area this fall, AMC’s “Turn,” is returning to Central Virginia to shoot its second season. The Revolutionary War thriller recounts the story of America’s first spy ring.

According to the governor’s office, the film and television industry had an economic impact of $328.4 million in the state in 2012, creating 3,061 jobs.