White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Beau Willimon and Kate Mara Discuss D.C. At House of Cards Premiere

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House of Cards Premiere at Newseum

The ghost of D.C. and Hollywood’s last intense fling filled the Newseum at the premiere for “House of Cards.” As the press gaggle waited for series executive producer/director David Fincher (who slipped away before the red carpet) and Kevin Spacey (“Rep. Frank Underwood”) a question remained: how would this compare to “K Street,” the last premium program that brought us all together. Coincidentally, “House of Cards,” which premieres Friday on Netflix, has a great chance to surpass previous feelings for George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh‘s lobbying series because of Beau Willimon. The former Howard Dean staffer turned playwright handled adaptation duties for “House” from the original novel and 1990 BBC mini-series. Willimon previously dealt with Beltway issues and drama with 2004’s Off-Off Broadway “Farragut North,” which he would later adapt for Clooney into the Oscar-nominated Best Adapted Screenplay”The Ides of March.”

Talking to Huffington Post, Willimon commented on the nature of D.C. and how ripe it is for drama:

Check out the other video interview with actress Kate Mara below along with our slideshow of who else attended a night filled with Bobby Darin songs.
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Kevin Spacey's House of Cards brings Millions to Maryland

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Sets are under construction in and around Baltimore for the filming of the Netflix drama series, “House of Cards,” which will begin rolling next month. The city, just an hour north of the Capitol, has already seen a boost in production thanks to tax incentives and new productions. Two HBO political-themed shows, “Game Change” starring Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Ed Harris and “VEEP” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus have just wrapped in Baltimore and ended a long drought of film and television production since “The Wire.”

The Baltimore Sun‘s David Zurawik chronicles the increase in production and jobs, along with an approximate $70 brought to the state in his piece “‘House of Cards’ brings Hollywood to Harford County.” He details the massive undertaking of shooting two seasons (26 episodes) with big names attached, including, Oscar winners and nominees Kevin Spacey, director David Fincher and executive producer and screenwriter, Beau Willimon (The Ides of March).