Deadline
Gravitas Ventures Acquires NA Rights To ‘Studio One Forever,’ Doc About Legendary West Hollywood Disco Patronized By Major Stars, LGBTQ Hotties
By Matthew Carey
August 26, 2024

DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE: Everyone knows Studio 54, the iconic New York nightclub that flourished in the 1970s. But the West Coast claimed its magnetic hotspot in that era – a place that attracted celebrities and the gay community for a wild time of dancing, drinking, and debauchery.

Studio One Forever, directed by Marc Saltarelli, documents a discotheque and cabaret that welcomed the likes of Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Elton John, and Chita Rivera, future notables like writer Bruce Vilanch, and hot young things in skimpy shorts. Gravitas Ventures today announced it has acquired North American distribution rights for the documentary, with plans to release it theatrically in Los Angeles on September 13 and VOD beginning October 8.

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The film includes new interviews with Melissa Rivers, Roslyn Kind, Lance Bass, Thelma Houston and more “as they recount their experiences at Studio One, and what the iconic club stood for as it faces demolition.” Chita Rivera, before her passing in January of this year, sat for an interview recalling her memories of performing at Studio One’s sister club, The Backlot.

“Studio One Forever shares the journey of Studio One, a beacon of dancing and freedom for gay men looking for identity in a world that saw them as outcasts, as it faces destruction,” notes a description of the documentary. “From merging the gay community and Hollywood elites like Bette Davis and Cary Grant to being at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the fight against the AIDS crisis, the venue was more than a vibrant disco haven and blossoming center of nightlife in West Hollywood; it was a movement.”

Bruce Vilanch and David Del Valle narrate the “dive into the history of the historic venue, offering a testament to an era and immortalizing the club’s legacy for future generations.” The film’s soundtrack features Donna Summer, Sylvester, Thelma Houston, Village People, Bronski Beat, and more.

“I’m excited to bring Studio One Forever to audiences through our partner Gravitas Ventures,” Saltarelli said in a statement. “Their enthusiasm to share the journey and cultural importance of Studio One, especially during a time when LGBTQ+ and human rights are being challenged, makes them the ideal partner to bring the inspirational story of this iconic venue to the next generation.”

Bill Guentzler, SVP of acquisitions and operations at Gravitas Ventures, commented, “Gravitas is proud to be bringing the story of Studio One Forever to North American audiences. Through entertaining and revealing narration, interviews, and footage, director Marc Saltarelli expertly captures the importance of not only the space itself, but the essence of the community that was created by its existence.”

The Factory, the nearly century-old building that housed Studio One and The Backlot, was torn down in 2020 to make way for a hotel and retail complex. But the pioneering disco won’t only live on through the documentary. Former West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, who appears in the film and serves as a producer of the documentary, said the building was carefully dismantled.

“It was disassembled piece by piece by piece and put in crates and stored,” Duran told the audience after the film’s world premiere at the Outfest LA Film Festival last summer. “One of the promises we secured out of the developer… is that there be a permanent display and recognition of the history of Studio One with photos and items and video.” He added somewhat wistfully, “I really wanted to preserve the disco, but the sad thing is a lot of our young LGBTQ+ people, they don’t really dance anymore; they Grindr… they Tinder.”

Vilanch, never one to miss the opportunity for a joke, said at the Q&A, “John, by the way, did all his own stunts in the film.”

A sense of the importance of Studio One to the LGBTQ community emerges on the Studio One Forever Facebook page. David M. Rodriguez wrote, “Studio One was my place to go to every Friday and Saturday nights. What awesome memories.” Roger Briggs wrote, “Went there whenever I could. I was free to be me.”

Studio One Forever is directed and produced by Marc Saltarelli and produced by Stephen Israel, Alan Eichler and Michael Alden along with Lloyd Coleman, Gary Steinberg, Steve Masterson, Michael Roth, Chris Isaacson, Loree Gold, John Duran, and Steve Saltarelli. Executive producers include Gary A. Carnow, M.J. Humenuik, Matt Zarley, and Drew Sklar. The documentary is a co-production between Studio One Productions and School Pictures with support from Alan Eichler Productions, Observatory Media, Pauleytics Productions, Violet Horizon and a grant from the Mario and Mary Saltarelli Foundation.

Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports and Entertainment Company, is a “leading all rights distributor of independent feature films and documentaries… Gravitas Ventures has distributed thousands of films into over a hundred million homes in North America – over one billion homes worldwide.”

The post Gravitas Gets NA Rights 2 ‘Studio One Forever,’ Ft. Bruce Vilanch first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

We Got Bruce
Bruce Vilanch Attends The Premiere Of ‘Dicks: The Musical
By Mister D
Sept 19, 2023

Bruce Vilanch Attends The Premiere Of ‘Dicks: The Musical – WhaddaYaNeedToKnow?

“Dicks: The Musical” is a unique and offbeat film musical that stands out for its unconventional approach. Here are the key details:

• Production: This is the first film musical from A24, a renowned production company. The director is Larry Charles, who is known for his work on “Borat”.
• Plot: The plot revolves around two twins, Craig Tittle and Trevor Brock, portrayed by Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp. Despite being neighbors and top earners at the same company, they were unaware of each other’s existence. Upon discovering their kinship, they concoct a plan to reunite their long-separated parents.
• Cast: The cast boasts Broadway stars Megan Mullally and Nathan Lane. Additionally, the character of God is narrated by Bowen Yang.
• Reviews: The film has garnered mixed reviews. While some critics have lauded its rebellious tone and the performances of its leads, others have criticized it for its reliance on shock value and repetitive humor.
• Opening set for October 6th – limited release

The film’s unique blend of humor and absurdity has led many to believe that it is destined for cult status. It deviates from the typical musical format, making it a recommended watch for those who enjoy unconventional comedy.

Won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival

Dicks: The Musical – Red Band Trailer

The post Bruce Vilanch Attends The Premiere Of ‘Dicks: The Musical’ first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

SHOWINGS

EVENT DETAILS

The post COMEDIAN BRUCE VILANCH PRESENTED BY BLACK BOX PRODUCTIONS, OCT 5, 2018, Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Aventura, FL, On Sale ON SALE 07.17.18 12:00 PM first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Here’s the official trailer of limelight, the upcoming drama mvoie directed by James Cullen Bressack based on a script by Paul Vandervort and starring Paul Vandervort, Brit Shaw, Sean Kanan, Jonathan Lipnicki, Jenna Jameson, Timmy Deters, Keith Coogan, David Chokachi, Mike C. Manning, Lindsey Sporrer, Teri Andrez, Bruce Vilanch, Erin Sanders, Jason Brooks, Kirsten Nelson, Jacqui Holland, Asia Schneider, David Cade, Eddie Steeples, Dante Basco, Ciara Hanna, Scotch Hopkins, Ya Boy, Najarra Townsend, Rachel True, Joshua Lou Friedman, Ryan Ahern, Josh Brown, Don Blanton, Nicholas Adam Clark, Elissa Dowling, and Tyler Kohn:

Plot synopsis;

“In a society obsessed with fame, validation, and social media, one small-town narcissist pulls out all the stops in his pursuit of absolute stardom.”

Do you want to be in the limelight? Or would you rather be anonymous?

The release date of the movie Limelight is set to June 26, 2018 (to rent and own on Digital HD).

Stay tuned with us for more details.

The post LIMELIGHT MOVIE TRAILER – The release date of the movie Limelight is set to June 26, 2018 (to rent and own on Digital HD) first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

SUMMARY

Still Waiting follows the trials and triumphs of a ragtag team of actors waiting tables in Times Square at The Cafe’ Broadway. While dreaming of the glow of the footlights next door, the reality of slinging hash under florescent lights mixes sweet aspirations with bitter drama. The performers of New York City are as varied as it’s inhabitants: the diva, the theatre queen, the soap star, and even a couple of strippers thrown in for good measure! There’s no people like show people (Thank God), and there’s no telling what can happen when they’re pitted against each other.

We are so excited to re-assemble the cast and songwriting team of Waiting In The Wings: The Musical and bring to you the sequel, Still Waiting In The Wings. We have many delightful cameos joining the cast and want to make sure we bring you the same quality production as our initial film. While $3,000 isn’t a high goal, this is the amount we absolutely need to pay for post production services. While we could cut corners, we need to make the highest quality film to show indy movie musicals can still be made and look like a million dollars!

Starring:

Jeffrey A. Johns
Joe Abraham
Lee Meriwether
Chita Rivera
Cindy Williams
Bruce Vilanch
Patricia Richardson
Sally Struthers
Ed Asner
and many more…

Trailer:

Still Playing The Festival Circuit

QCinema: Fort Worth – Best of the Festival

Official Website

Click Here

The post See Bruce Vilanch In The New Musical “Still Waiting In The Wings” – Now Playing The Festival Circuit first appeared on We Got Bruce!.