“It was a pleasure to be a host for the ‘The American West’. Plus, I never thought Berkeley County could double for New York City, the West, an auto racing circuit, the Wright brothers shop, and numerous other states and countries.”ĭebbie McClure, the Executive Director of the Ranson Convention and Visitors Bureau, also worked with members of the production team in their search for miscellaneous locations. “The hotels, restaurants, and residents benefited from having the production headquarters in Martinsburg. Film production is a form of economic development not usually prevalent in this area, and we would love to see more,” said Laura Gassler, Executive Director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We loved hosting Stephen David Entertainment in Berkeley County. “Jefferson County has vast resources spanning hundreds of years of history, amazing landscapes, and friendly people, making it a producer’s dream.” “We are fortunate to play host to another Stephen David Entertainment production, which will undoubtedly be a ratings success based on a long fascination with these historical characters and notable actors who tell the story,” said Annette Gavin, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hundreds of business service providers in the state, and particularly the Eastern Panhandle, have benefited from the economic impact generated by such high profile productions.”
It is a testament to not only the diversity of West Virginia locations, but also the value of having a skilled workforce,” said Pam Haynes, Director of the West Virginia Film Office. “For the past four years, the film office has had the distinct honor of working with Stephen David and his talented team. They include, “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed” for CMT “The Men Who Built America” for History “The World Wars” for History “American Genius” for National Geographic and “The Making of the Mob: New York” for AMC Networks. “The Men Who Built America” was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won two for Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Cinematography, and “The World Wars” was nominated for three Emmys. Since fall of 2012, in addition to “The American West,” Stephen David has filmed five other miniseries in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
The series is produced by Academy Award-winner Robert Redford and Laura Michalchyshyn through their company, Sundance Productions, and Emmy Award-winning producer Stephen David of Stephen David Entertainment.
The series features exclusive interviews with notable names from classic Western films, including Robert Redford, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon, Ed Harris and more.
Predominantly filmed in West Virginia’s Berkeley and Jefferson counties, as well as Prickett’s Fort State Park in Marion County, the series spans the years 1865 to 1890 and will show how, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States transforms into the “land of opportunity.” It will also chronicle the personal, little-known stories of Western legends such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull. AMC will begin airing its eight-part premiere event “The American West” at 10 p.m.