Behind the Scenes: JOHN ADAMS HBO Miniseries
In March-April of 2007 we were pleased to be called in to the local film location in Mechanicsville, Virginia - a suburb of Richmond - where the HBO Miniseries "John Adams" was being filmed. The production company took over an enormous local building that used to house an AMF bowling manufacturing facility to film a number of indoor scenes used to tell of the early adult life of second President John Adams and his First Lady, Abigail.
Photo: Kent Eanes/HBO
We were called in to consult with the technical crews on venting of the fireplaces that were built into nearly every major indoor set. The sets were built on stilts to lift each "room" in which scenes were being filmed. As the director was enormously concerned with authenticity, he wanted indoor lighting to consist completely of fire light and candles, as these would have been the sole source of lighting during the Revolutionary era. While gas logs were used to create each fireplace, each still needed to be vented so the fumes were exhausted to the outdoors.
 
Inside the former warehouse, rooms were built on stilts above the floor. The back of a fireplace and its metal chimney can be seen above. (click photos to enlarge)
 Here Mike surveys "Independ-ence Hall" during construction, and the actors during filming on this set - see bottom photo.
The project challenged us to use every nuance of venting and chimney physics available in our arsenal. As the building was being rented for a relatively short period of a few months, the production company did not want to have to pay to repair numerous holes needed to exit the roof, so all the fireplaces had to be vented through the side walls of the building using existing holes where fan ventilation systems were currently existing.
 With the enormous help of the folks at Exhausto chimney fans, we were able to create a series of forced air exhaust systems that not only kept the fireplaces from exhausting carbon monoxide into the warehouse building, the systems actually made the gas fireplace flames more lively as well.
We were astounded with the intricate details used in designing this set. The rooms included antique reproduction wallpaper, hand-made colonial wood moldings and hand faded curtains and linens. Rather than using antique furnishings, as far as we could tell, they newly made the furniture by hand as well. (If you think about it, furniture used during the Revolutionary war era would not yet have been antiques).
When the miniseries aired in February-March of 2008, we were simply enthralled with the story of John & Abigail Adams. Of course we were almost distracted from the plot at times for remarking over the incredibly beautiful firelit scenes, especially the many occasions where the Adamses cuddled in bed by the light of the fire and discussed the current events of the day that were so important to the establishment of America.
 The whole experience reminded us of another Tom Hanks film, "Forest Gump", as we unexpectedly found ourselves involved in a Hollywood-style film event without ever leaving town. If you haven't seen this wonderful miniseries, please make it a point to buy or rent the DVD. The story tells both sides of the American Revolution and reinstilled an enormously patriotic pride in my heart. The actors are so believable in their roles that they brought these historical figures to life for me. And of course, the fire light is simply stunning!
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