The Good Day RVA Film collective is back with another stellar video showcasing Virginia’s musical talent and architectural wonder.
This time, the crew of non-profit filmmakers headed out to Swannanoa Mansion with local indie powerhouse Antiphons.
Nestled away in Rockfish Gap on the border of northern Nelson County and Augusta County, Swannanoa Palace is an Italian Renaissance Revival villa built in 1912 by millionaire and philanthropist James H. Dooley. You might recognize Dooley as man behind the mansion at Maymont here in RVA – the Richmond lawyer was obviously financially stacked but at least he had the good sense to invest in some beautiful architecture.
It turns out Tommy Terrell, a member of Antiphons and Good Day RVA, lives close to Swannanoa out in Waynesboro, and it was his idea to film there. The video captures the beauty of the location perfectly (as we’ve come to expect from Good Day) and the audio pics up a bit of that warm reverb as the tunes bounce off the 100+ year old walls. And yes, that’s a Tiffany Glass window behind them.
“Once I saw the giant Tiffany window in the middle of the double staircase, I was sold,” said Chris Damon, one of the founding members of Good Day RVA. “There was a slumber party at Tommy’s the night before, and [photog] Craig (Zirpolo) brought his dog, Nelly.”
You can read more about Antiphons in an interview we ran with them back in RVAMag #27 here, and keep up with Good Day RVA on facebook here.
Words by BK