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Richmond District

The Richmond District offers opportunities for all of Central Virginia. Our location in the state capital helps facilitate the Alliance’s advocacy efforts.

Richmond and its surroundings have hosted several major film and television productions, such as: Spielberg’s Lincoln, Homeland: Season 7, Jeff Nichols’ Loving, the AMC series TURN: Washington’s Spies, the PBS series Mercy Street, and the HBO mini-series John Adams just to name a few. Because of its history in film, television, commercial, and documentary production, Richmond has developed an experienced crew base along with a community of talented independent filmmakers and film festivals.

Richmond and Petersburg are historic cities, that offer exceptional locations for filming. Located nearby is a historic backlot featuring a farm set, period ships, a wharf area and acres of undeveloped land. Richmond is known for its eclectic architecture, nearby rural areas, and burgeoning culinary scene, among the best in the nation.

Upcoming events

  • Smashing, Crashing, Flames and Falls: Making Stunts Work

    • 6 Sep 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • 9425 Mathy Drive Suite B Fairfax, VA 22031
    • 38
    Register

    Stunts have a huge visual impact, pumping up production value in a visceral, human way that CGI just can’t touch. But you have to do them right and that means a combination of thorough prep and skilled execution.

    Jeff Wilhelm, a stunt coordinator and performer with decades of experience, will explain why the best time to call a stunt coordinator is day one of pre-production and how, with enough lead time, practical effects are accessible to producers in almost any budget range. His presentation will cover:

    • Script breakdown
    • Collaboration with the director, producer and crew
    • Casting
    • Choreography
    • Set supervision and safety
    • Stunt driving, fighting, pyro, high falls, and wire work

    Will there be live demos? You bet! It’s more fun to see a fight sequence and wire work than it is to talk about it. VPA Board Member Kahil Dotay will also be discussing the dynamics of stunt driving and how to earn a living behind the wheel.

    So join us and find out how to get your action scenes on the screen. DON’T MISS IT!

    Thank you to our co-sponsor!


    Show details

  • Directing Master Class Workshop with Jesse Vaughan

    • 23 Sep 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Visual Arts Center - 1812 W Main Street Richmond, VA
    Register


    38-time Emmy Award winner (Juwanna Mann, In Living Color, Olympics)

    This master class offers a unique opportunity for directors at all levels to improve their skills, refine their craft, and explore advanced directing techniques in a supportive, hands-on environment.

    Participants will focus on key areas such as working with actors, casting, visual storytelling, and directing across various formats—including short films, music videos, and commercials—all with the goal of building toward long-form feature filmmaking.

    This is more than a workshop—it's a chance to learn from one of the industry's most accomplished directors and connect with a community of passionate, like-minded creatives.

    Join one of the industry's most accomplished directors for a hands-on master class designed to elevate your directing craft. Whether you're working in short films, music videos, commercials, or aiming for feature films, this workshop sharpens your skills through scene work, actor direction, and visual storytelling.

    Participants will engage in:

    • Scene study & analysis
    • Directing actors for performance
    • Blocking, shot composition & camera work
    • Script breakdown & character development
    • Industry-focused formats: music videos, TV, film, and commercials

    Work with actors, break down scenes, and refine your visual narrative—all in a collaborative, real-world 2-day workshop environment. Check out more here!

    Show details

DISTRICT CHAIR

STEVE TAYLOR

After two terms as vice-chair of VPA Richmond District, Steve was elected chair last year. Since joining the VPA as a film fan, he has eagerly leapt into local filmmaking and has been involved in projects including commercials, shorts that screened at the Brooklyn, Richmond International, and Cannes film festivals. Steve has expanded his work in the film as a member of the board of directors of the Byrd Theatre Foundation, helping develop the iconic theater's "center for film." 

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