Palm Springs Bar ‘The Tool Shed’ Inspires New LGBTQ Documentary

As Pride Month comes to a close, a new documentary in production in Palm Springs is spotlighting a local icon in the LGBTQ+ community: The Tool Shed. The film explores the history, people, and legacy f this unique gathering place that’s become much more than just a bar.

Co-directors Daniel Talbott, co-director Andrew Klaus-Vineyard, and producers Rachna Khatau and Noel Do-Murakami shared their inspiration behind the project. Talbott, who was a close friend of activist and author Larry Kramer, says it was Kramer’s community that drew him to the project.

“A lot of the ACT UP people, the original ACT UP people, hang out at this bar in Palm Springs,” Talbott explained. “I became fascinated with the Tool Shed and fell in love with the people and their stories. This is in honor of Larry.”

For co-director Klaus-Vineyard, the focus is on generational storytelling.

“This is the first generation of openly queer senior citizens that we've ever had, and they never thought they'd live long enough to become seniors,” he said. “We can learn so much from the struggles they’ve faced.”

The filmmakers hope the documentary will foster empathy and understanding by showing the humanity and universality in the lives of the bar’s patrons.

The film is still in production, and Talbott—who also served as a juror for this year’s Palm Springs Short Fest—will continue work on the project with updates expected in the coming months.

In Short Fest news, several standout films were honored at this year’s festival:

• Best of the Festival: Retirement Plan by John Kelly

• Best Animated Short: Budo (Sweden) by Amanda Agard & Alexander Thoma

• Best Documentary Short: Shanty Rides Shotgun by Charles Frank

• Best LGBTQ+ Shorts: Chico by Theo Abedee and Hold Me Close by Aurora Brackman & Lataj Simmons-Weaver

All winners now qualify for Academy Award, BAFTA, and Goya Award consideration.

For the full list of winners, visit NBCPalmSprings.com.

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