With film crews buzzing around downtown D.C. on a regular basis these days, Alexandria got in on the action this weekend, hosting two days’ worth of filming for a new political satire.
Starting at 6 a.m., cast and crew filmed all day Saturday at the offices of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, partner Craig Shirley tells us. On the scene were the film’s star, Tate Donovan from “Damages,” and director Dave Fraunces, who portrayed RFK in “Bobby.”
Then Sunday, Restaurant Eve in Old Town Alexandria took center stage for a “power lunch” scene featuring Kip Purdue (“Remember the Titans”). Shirley and his wife, Zorine, acted as extras, as did Democratic power lobbyist Jack Quinn and his wife, Susanna, former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and Chris Matthews. “We had to pantomime eating and ordering for about four hours,” Shirley said.
The yet-to-be-titled movie follows a down-on-his-luck lobbyist who tries to get back into the game by blackmailing a Democratic senator over a past sexual indiscretion.
As you might expect, the film is replete with Washington connection. It was written by Jim Wareck, a former staffer to Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Williams. And the locations manager is Michael Matthews, Chris Matthews’ son.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported that Noah Wyle and Xander Berkeley were present during the Sunday filming. That was incorrect. Writer Jim Wareck also tells us that the lobbyist character is not specifically affiliated with any party.
