CLUBS

Two WWII GIs celebrate the first anniversary of V-E Day with a trip to Charley's nightclub. Sharing the night with their wives and friends they dance, drink and play poker. But bitter sadness for a buddy killed overseas overwhelms the entire group. A secret wartime promise leads to acts of redemption and sacrifice changing the lives of the circle of friends. Clubs is told through the eyes of a young writer who is invited into the world of harden veterans. Along the way he falls in love with the club's beautiful singer.

Director Bob Walters captures the elation of post war veterans and their families as they search for normal lives in a time of peace. As a traumatized war veteran Tom Wedemire delivers an emotional and heartbreaking performance. The top-notch cast also includes David Johnson as the naïve reporter who unexpectedly finds himself among friends and Melissa Powell as the object of the reporter's love. Director of Photography Bruce L. Geisert creates a vivid and colorful portrait of a back alley swing club in 1946 America. With a rousing swing soundtrack and a stunning set design, Clubs will have you spinning on the dance floor, dealt into a backroom poker game or throwing punches in a bar room brawl.

Director, writer and co-producer Bob Walters, has been working on a four-part short film series for several years. Clubs is his second story in that series. Hearts was completed in 2002 and Spades and Diamonds are forthcoming. The four stories will stand alone but there are small recurring connections such as characters, props, locations, time periods and, of course, card playing. When all four stories are finished they will be compiled into a feature length anthology

Production

Clubs was shot over a two-week period in March of 2003 in Northern Virginia. During the production over 80 crew people were involved and 30 on screen talent including 12 speaking roles. The crew built multiple 1940's style sets on a soundstage near Dulles airport. The sets included a bar, a dressing room, backstage areas, a poker room, and the interior of Charley's swing dance nightclub. The 40,000 square foot soundstage was given to Bob for free. As an old company was moving out of their warehouse space and a new one was moving in, the new owner (Tom Klarner of Best Checks) let Bob shoot Clubs in between moves. The retiring business owner (George Price of A.B. Price) also gave Bob the use of a stockpile of building materials, which were going to be discarded. Clubs employed the help of DC's swing dance community. Acting as dancers, musicians, and extras on set they brought Charley's nightclub to life. They also graciously supplied the actors with period costumes and makeup lending an immense authenticity to the piece. Director of Photography, Bruce L. Geisert, designed a camera rigging on rope and pulleys to send the camera up and down stairwells, over the heads of dancers and down the side of a hill and over a lake. The "Zipline Cam", created especially for Clubs, gives the piece some of the most amazing shots ever seen in DC's independent film scene.