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!.

USA Film Festival: Studio One Forever w/ Bruce Vilanch, director/editor/producer Marc Saltarelli, & producer Stephen Israel (All in attendance)

Date: Saturday, April 20 · 7:15 – 9:15pm CDT

Location: Angelika Film Center & Café – Dallas
5321 East Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX 75206

Studio One Forever is a captivating documentary that unravels the untold story of America’s first gay disco. Let’s delve into the details:

1. Overview:
   *Studio One Forever chronicles the history of Studio One, a legendary nightclub, and its adjoining live music venue, The Backlot.
   *The club operated from 1974 to 1994 and became a symbol of hope and community for gay men during tumultuous times.
   *Amidst the rise of gay rights, disco’s heyday, and the devastating AIDS crisis, Studio One offered sanctuary from rampant homophobia and police oppression.
   *Legends like Liza Minnelli and Eartha Kitt performed there while rising stars like Roseanne Barr and Rosie O’Donnell ignited their careers.
   
   2 Backdrop:
   *The documentary explores Studio One’s story against the backdrop of a progressing gay liberation movement clashing with 80s conservatism and the escalating AIDS nightmare.
   *It immortalizes the club’s legacy for future generations, capturing an era of resilience and creativity.
   
   3. Interviewees:
   *The film features interviews with notable figures such as Liz Torres, Divine (archival footage), Geri Jewell, Bruce Vilanch, Leigh McCloskey, Chita Rivera, Lance Bass, Melissa Rivers, Roslyn Kind, and Felipe Rose of the Village People.
   *Their accounts add depth to the narrative, revealing the impact of Studio One on their lives.
   
   4. Premieres:
   *World Premiere: The documentary premiered at the Outfest LA Film Festival on July 18, 2023.
   
   5. Upcoming Premiere:
   *USA Film Festival: You can catch the film at the USA Film Festival on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Angelika Film Center & Café in Dallas, TX.
   *In Attendance: Bruce Vilanch, Marc Saltarelli, and Stephen Israel will be there to present this riveting documentary
   
   
   Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the legacy of Studio One and celebrate its impact on LGBTQ+ history! ???

IN ATTENDANCE: BRUCE VILANCH, MARC SALTARELLI, STEPHEN ISRAEL

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The USA Film Festival is a Dallas-based, 54-year-old nonprofit film arts organization that presents year-round programs for the community. Visit us at www.usafilmfestival.com

The post USA Film Festival: STUDIO ONE FOREVER w/ Bruce Vilanch first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

We Got Bruce
Official Trailer – STUDIO ONE FOREVER (2023, Marc Saltarelli, Chita Rivera, Lance Bass)
By Mister D
March 14, 2024

“Studio One Forever” is a documentary that explores the history of the iconic gay disco, Studio One, in West Hollywood. It features interviews with celebrities like Bruce Vilanch, Chita Rivera, and Lance Bass, among others. The film looks back at the club’s influence on the LGBTQ+ community from its opening in 1974 to its closing in the 1990s, highlighting its role as a safe space during the AIDS crisis and the fight for gay rights. The documentary also addresses the efforts to preserve the club’s legacy in the face of potential demolition. It’s a poignant tribute to a place that was more than just a disco, but a symbol of hope and freedom for many. ?

The post Trailer – STUDIO ONE FOREVER (2023, Bruce Vilanch, Chita Rivera, Lance Bass) first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Edge Media Network
12 Top Picks to See at Chicago’s Reeling LGBTQ+ Film Festival
The Staff
Sept 11, 2023

The 41st edition of Reeling, the Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, will launch Sept. 21 with the festival’s Opening Night feature, “The Mattachine Family,” screening at The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave. The screening will be “preceded by a special reception marking the start of 2023’s Reeling: The 41st Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival,” Reeling’s official website says, “with expected in-person appearances by the movie’s star, hometown hero Nico Tortorella, and director Andy Vallentine. Expect an evening to remember.”

The festival will run through Oct. 1, offering more than 40 features and documentaries, plus the charming Australian dramedy series “Single, Out” about a teenager’s emergence from the closet and his first forays into gay culture and romance.

Centerpiece film “Glitter & Doom” sees real-life partners and longtime filmmaking collaborators Tom Gustafson (director) and Cory Krueckeberg (screenwriter) return with a tale about two young men living in Mexico City but looking to expand their lives and chase their dreams.

11 short programs – organized around themes ranging from “Living Your Truth” to “Bittersweet Love Stories” to “What Were You Thinking?” – round out the festival’s slate.

After Opening Night, the festival heads to two venues: Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N Clark St., and Chicago Filmmakers, 1326 W Hollywood Ave.

Select films will also stream at the Eventive streaming platform starting Friday, September 29th at 12:00 a.m.. They will be available until October 8th at 11:59 a.m., enabling the festival’s reach to extend beyond city limits.

Please note that not all films may be available in all regions, and each virtual screening has a maximum number of viewers.

Tickets and passes are available online.

1. “The Mattachine Family” – Opening Night Selection

Andy Vallentine’s family drama explores what happens when two foster dads, Thomas (Nico Tortorella) and Oscar (Juan Pablo di Pace) lose their place as the center of their son’s family life when the boy’s biological mother re-enters the picture. Few losses can strain a relationship like the loss of a child, and as the two men wrestle with the shift in their lives, it sends them on different paths.

Screening: Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.

2. “The Judgment”

Mo, an atheist from a Muslim background, hasn’t fully shaken off the religious beliefs he was indoctrinated into when he was young. Called back to Egypt by a family crisis, Mo brings his boyfriend along, but the couple must deal with secrecy, superstition, and – possibly – blackmail.

Screening: Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, 9:15 p.m. at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4. Or stream online.

“American Parent”

3. “American Parent”

A same-sex family headed by a lesbian couple facing the impossible choice of financial hardship in the city – or life in a rural place where they might not be welcome. In a time when “parents’ rights” are used as a cudgel against LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, will these parents matter?

Screening: Friday, Sept. 22nd, 7:00 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4

“Glitter & Doom”

4. “Glitter & Doom” – Centerpiece Film

Director Tom Gustafson and screenwriter Corey Krueckeberg join forces once more to tell the story of Glitter, a young man looking to forge a career in the circus, and his new heartthrob, Doom, a budding singer-songwriter. In a musical milieu where unexpected faces pop up for wild cameos, can the two find their way toward their dreams without passing each other up?

Screening: Thursday, Sept. 28, 9:00 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4.

“About Us but Not About Us”

5. “About Us but Not About Us”

A cat-and-mouse thriller from the Philippines, the film starts off as a friendly lunch date between teacher and student, both gay writers, but slowly twists into a murder mystery told in real time over 90 increasingly tense minutes.

Screening: Saturday, Sept. 23, 5:15 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 6.

“Studio One Forever”

6. “Studio One Forever“

Chita Rivera, Lance Bass, Bruce Vilanch, and others open up on camera about the West Hollywood gay disco that offered gay men a place to call their own for two decades of drama and dancing.

Screening: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2:45 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4. Or, stream this movie.

“Fireworks”

7. “Fireworks”

Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Fiorello revisits a horrific hate crime from 1980s Sicily, fictionalizing the story of Giorgio and Antonio into the summertime meeting and intense connection between teenagers Gianni and Nino in 1982. Youthful passion and anti-gay conservatism clash in a powerful tale of courage and love.

Screening: Sunday, Sept. 24, 1:00 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 6. Or, stream this movie.

8. “Since the Last Time we Met”

Victor would rather not commit, contenting himself with an endless string of hookups… until a chance meeting with his first love, David, the man who broke his heart years ago, complicates his life. Making things even messier is the fact that David has hidden his true self behind the façade of a marriage to a woman.

Screening: Sunday, Sept. 24, 7:00 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4.

9. “Drifter”

Sexy, kinky, and empowering, “Drifter” follows Moritz as he moves to Berlin and is promptly dumped by his boyfriend. Cut loose and ready to explore the city – and himself – Mortiz flirts with the oblivion of drugs and numbness in a quest that might bring him back to love.

Screening: Sunday, Sept. 24, 8:45 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4

10. “House of Izabel”

Described as a “camp melodrama” and “enthralling period fantasy,” this 60s-set film follows the secret lives – and fabulous looks – of male-presenting people allowed to let their true selves shine for a few days at a time.

Screening: Sunday, Sept. 24, 8:15 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 6. Or, stream this movie.

11. “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn”

Timothy Harris’ documentary – executive produced by Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” – follows Malcolm Kenyatta, an outcandidate for the United States Senate, who rose from his origins as a “poor, Black, and gay kid from North Philly” to a representative for the marginalized – and a challenge to longstanding notions of “electability,” being a Black candidate in a state that has only ever sent straight white men to the Senate.

Screening: Tuesday, Sept. 26, 7:15 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 6. Or, stream this movie.

12. “Single, Out”

This charming Australian series follows a gay teen in Melbourne as he emerges from the closet tentatively at first, then with gusto. His first hookup? A curly-headed hottie who also happens to be the best friend of his straight brother. Things only get wilder from there.

Streaming: Monday, Sept. 25, 9:15 p.m. @ Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, Theater 4. Or, stream this title.

The post 12 Top Picks to See at Chicago’s Reeling LGBTQ+ Film Festival first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Queerty
Video: Steamy new doc chronicles the West Coast answer to Studio 54
By David Reddish
April 24, 2020

Studio 54 may have more notoriety as the world’s most infamous disco, but it was not alone. The trailer for Studio One Forever wants you to know about another.

The new documentary from director Marc Saltarelli examines the wild history of Studio One and The Backlot, sister venues located in West Hollywood that attracted the gay and showbiz sects beginning in the 1970s. Much like Studio 54 in New York City, the club developed a notorious reputation for hedonism, celebrity run-ins, and wild parties.

“For a generation of gay men who came of age during the era of Scott Forbes’ Studio One, the significance of the club and the turbulence of the times hold a profound place in their hearts and minds,” director Saltarelli says. “From 1974-1994, the club saw the rise of the gay rights movement, the rise, and fall of disco and the darkest days of the AIDS crisis when the club became ground zero for AIDS activism…Connected to the dance club, The Backlot evolved into the hottest live music venue in town. On any given night, you could catch established stars like Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera or Eartha Kitt alongside up and comers like Roseanne Barr or Rosie O’Donnell on the verge of taking off.”

Studio One and The Backlot, later known as Ultra Suede and The Factory, thrived until the 2010s when the gentrification of West Hollywood led to the shuttering and demolition of the venue. Saltarelli aims to memorialize the location, and its historic value. Studio One Forever includes archival footage from the different incarnations of the club, along with anecdotes told by patrons including Bruce Vilanch, former West Hollywood Mayor John Duran, film historian David Del Valle, Melissa Rivers, and more.

Studio One Forever has an anticipated release date of October 2020. At the moment, Saltarelli is soliciting donations from potential viewers to help fund post-production on the film. 

The post Video: Steamy new doc chronicles the West Coast answer to Studio 54 – With Bruce Vilanch, Charlo Crossley-Fortier, Etc…. first appeared on We Got Bruce!.