ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
As the building of the former West Hollywood dance club Studio One and its sister music venue The Backlot face demolition, a battle to save it and preserve the past erupts.

SYNOPSIS
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. 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. Climbing the staircase and entering the hallowed hall gave its young LGBTQ patrons a sense of freedom and acceptance during a time of rampant homophobia and police harassment. Young gay men would find a sense of community and safety here.

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.

Now, 26 years since its closing, the building is set for demolition. Local outrage erupts in West Hollywood and a battle ensues to save the building.

With the historic preservation battle as a framework, the story of Scott Forbes’ Studio One and The Backlot will be told through first hand accounts and anecdotes of the times. Famous and not famous voices will share personal recollections of the place and the times. Just as gay liberation was slowly progressing, it came up against the 80s and Reagan conservatism. A few years later, the AIDS crisis that started as a whisper, had grown into a living nightmare. Through the lens of this gathering place, stories of that time will be documented for generations to come.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Marc Saltarelli
PRODUCER Marc Saltarelli, Lloyd Coleman, Gary Steinberg, Chris Isaacson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Stephen Israel

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