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Northern Virginia District

The Northern Virginia District is the newest region of the state to hold official district designation, however it's quickly become a strong outpost for VPA members. 

Northern Virginia is often considered to be part of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, but it has a long and rich history in the production of film, television, news, cable series, and educational videos in its own right. Anyone filming in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) will find that Northern Virginia is well-supplied with crew, production companies, studios, equipment suppliers, and talent and casting companies.

The proximity of Discovery Communications (The Discovery and Learning Channels), PBS and the National Geographic Television has helped to elevate the local production industry.

Located in Fairfax, George Mason University is home to an exceptional film & video studies program with many filmmakers and production professionals that contribute to the region’s creative community.

Upcoming events

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

    • 6 Sep 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
    • 9425 Mathy Drive Suite B Fairfax, VA 22031

    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!

    Show details


DISTRICT CHAIR

LARS SANDVIK

Lars is President and co-owner of ThunderShot Studios. Starting out in the industry on national automotive advertising projects, Lars learned the value of working for different types of directors and experimented with a broad range of visual techniques. He is now a multiple Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and his expertise as a director of photography, lighting designer and jib operator keep him in demand with producers from HBO, Discovery Communications, Bravo, PBS, and the History Channel. Lars is a founding member of the Northern Virginia District where he serves as Chair and has served on the VPA's Executive Board of Trustees since 2017.

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