Year: 2021
Distribution: Limited Theatrical, Web
A small tavern in Queens, New York becomes the meeting spot for young hopefuls who move to New York City in pursuit of their dreams, forming a bond of friendship and building a neighborhood community spot regularly likened to Cheers. Everything changes as COVID-19 descends upon New York, with Queens rapidly becoming a major hotspot in the global pandemic. The Sparrow Tavern is closed, and its staff are among the tens of thousands of service workers laid off across the city.
Directed by Emmy Award-winner Johnny Sweet and produced by hsc.tv in collaboration with Only Child Productions, Last Call: The Shutdown of NYC Bars is a feature documentary chronicling the psychological impact of the coronavirus on a group of young adults working in the hospitality industry as they experience it in real time, as well as the healthcare workers tirelessly fighting the virus on the frontline. Against the backdrop of shuttered restaurants and bars that make up the fabric of the community, the film reflects upon how social isolation inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives and minds forever.
Filmed at the height of COVID-19’s impact in Queens, the interviews in Last Call were conducted in an empty studio with remotely controlled cameras in order to ensure the safety of both the subjects and production crew.
More information at https://lastcalldocumentary.com/