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NDAY,MAY16,2011
THEWASHINGTONEXA
MINER
6
SPEAKEASY
Whenyoutalktothoseinvolvedin themovieprojectBelow the
Beltway,they consider it the little indiemovie that could. Filmed
in the
areaback in June 2009,it received accoladesattheNewport Beach
Film Festivaland wasairedon Showtime. Its getting new life this
month
with a DVD release.Its also considered the indie movie that
gets
D.C. right. The film features Tate Donovan as a
Washington insider whose lobbying career isdestroyed over a
viral YouTube gaffe. Donovantries to get back in the game by outing
a sittingU.S. senator forsleeping with an underage intern.
The movieis pitchperfectbecauseit isneverthe sex that gets the
politicians in trouble, it isalways the coverup, explained Susanna
Quinn,
who was one of the Washingtonians who appearedin the film,
alongside her husband Jack Quinn ofQuinn Gillespie &
Associates.
If the movie rings true, its because of writer
and producerJimWareck, who spentmorethanadecade working
inpolitics beforepenning a scriptlooselybasedon his
ownexperiences.
What wetried todo isreallycapture thefactthat a lot of the work
in D.C. is done by peoplethat nobodyeversees, hencethe term
BelowtheBeltway, Wareck said.
The movies title also makes reference to the
sexscandal, a part ofthe plot that Wareckbasedona realrumor
abouta politicianstill inoffice.
I had heard a rumor about somebody highup in Washington, Wareck
revealed to Yeas &Nays, without identifying the pol. I dont
havethe true facts. It was a spark of a story. Could it
be true? Very well. Do I know? No. Was I in thebedroom? No.
Wareck used the tale to develop the charac-terof Sen.Larry
Gryder, played by actor Spencer
Garrett, whose political movie roster includesBobby and
portrayals ofTom DeLay in CasinoJack anda SarahPalinadviserin
theforthcomingflick Game Change.
Garrettsaid he neverknew whothe rumor wasabout, butbasedhis U.S.
senatoron particularlyodious characters.All these guyswho
purporttobe family-values, flag-wavingguys, but arereallyjust
corroded underneath, Garrett explained,without going further. Im
not going to nameany names.
Join me at the FEC todayat 4. Then well cross thestreet to Hard
Rock Cafeand get totally PACfaced.
- Comedian Stephen Colbert in a Friday tweet.The Colbert Report
host visited the Federal
Election Commission building in downtown
D.C. on Friday afternoon to file papers in hopesof creating a
Colbert Super PAC. Since it was
also the comedians 47th birthday, the crowdgathered at the FEC
also sang to him.
MORE SIGHTINGS
How abouta littleDrake togo withthat birthday cake? The
Canadianhip-hopstar made one 18-year-olds
birthday wish come true when hemade a special appearance at
hersoiree on Saturdaynight.
According to a Yeas & Nays spy,he sang some of his top hits
andperformedfor about 15 minutes fora group of excited teenagers at
aprivate birthday bash in one of the
backrooms at theW hotel in down-town D.C.
After the party, Drake made
another appearance for a HowardUniversity graduation
celebrationat Ibiza Nightclub in D.C.s NoManeighborhood.
YEAS&NAYS
SIGHTINGS
Thestar of Law andOrder:Criminal Intent,VincentDOnofrio, stopped
by the National Museum of Crime &Punishment on Saturday
afternoon. He posed next tothemuseums liedetectorexhibit, which
just happenstoinclude a picture of the actor. He also snapped
picturesand chatted up a bunch of museum guests, were told.DOnofrio
wasin townfor Police Week.
GUESSING GAME?
Leading the pack of politicians, thats where Sen. Mark
Udall,D-Colo., ranks among the D.C. political establishments top
golfersin the June issue of Golf Digest
Where Vice President Biden ranks
Where House Speaker John Boehner slips in
And trailing at
President Obama proves hes par for the course.
BY THE NUMBERS
DOnofrio visits Crime & Punishment museum
Colbert tries to get PACfacedThe Districts top golfers
Singer Drakedoes Districtparty hop
Below the Beltway is back, based on real-life rumors
People, power and politicsBy KATY ADAMSand NIKKI SCHWAB
Write us: Want to comment?
Got a juicy tip? Send us ane-mail to dish the dirt,chew the fat
and wag [email protected]
VISIT US ONLINE:YEASANDNAYS.COM
t-
I
People,By KATYand NIK
Wri
G
VY
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Drake performed at a private bir thdayparty at the W hotel
before making anappearance at Ibiza on Saturday.
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108ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES
Sen. Mark Udall
COURTESY PHOTO
Tate Donovan stars as a Washington insider in theindie political
film Below the Beltway.
