Good Deed Entertainment’s ‘The Holiday Club’ features love story set in Ashland

ASHLAND — Alexandra Swarens — the director, writer and lead in Good Deed Entertainment’s film “The Holiday Club” — remembers her time in Ashland fondly.

She remembers taking over DJ duties and dancing with castmates at Bullshooters, shooting scenes at Bella’s 220 and Kash Co. Pourhouse, and watching films at The Ashland Theatre in April.

But since then, a lot has changed.

Swarens has since written a stage play, film and pilot. Good Deed Entertainment, an Ashland-based film studio, is also working on new projects. And, Swarens’ film, “The Holiday Club,” is finished, available to watch on several streaming services as of Nov. 26.

“It feels just lovely to have it out in the world,” Swarens said. “Just knowing that it’s somewhere and that someone can find it is so nice.

“I don’t know if it’s the same people who watch my stuff every time… but I love that it’s there and if someone needs it, the universe will kind of provide it in that moment for them.”

The film follows two women who go from friends to lovers — a popular romance trope — throughout the course of a year’s worth of holidays. It has an 8.2/10 star rating on IMDb, a movie-rating website.

Where to watch

Andy Myers, Good Deed Entertainment’s executive vice president of distribution and production, said the film is available on the following streaming services:

“There were so many people from the town that really stepped up to help and come together to make this work,” Myers said. “We’ve made seven films in Ashland now.

“This was number six, and this one had, I think, more community participation than any of them.”

Bella’s 220, Ashley’s Candy and Nut Shoppe and Kelly’s Vinyl were used as locations. Myers said many others opened their doors and helped too.

“We’re really grateful to the community of Ashland,” Myers said.

A warm reception

Good Deed Entertainment is tracking the film’s sales and following along with reviews. Myers said he couldn’t share exact numbers, but that it’s been one of the company’s more popular films this year.

He added some of the clips from the film have gone viral.

“It’s always nerve-wracking, putting a film out, because you wouldn’t be involved with it if you didn’t believe in it in the first place,” Myers said. “But you really have to put it out there to see how other people are going to respond to it.

“So it’s really gratifying to put this out there.”

While the movie was filmed in Ashland, Myers said he hasn’t heard much feedback from locals about the movie.

But he knows several people in the Columbus film community who have watched the film. He welcomes feedback from locals about the movie, and encouraged people to leave comments on Good Deed Entertainment’s social media platforms about the film.

When Swarens and the cast were in the process of making the film, one of Swarens’ main goals was that the final product would show LGBTQ+ people exist in every community, even rural ones.

She isn’t on social media and hasn’t seen much feedback about “The Holiday Club,” other than texts from family and friends.

But she hopes the message comes across.

“(People) know that it exists,” Swarens said. “We don’t need to throw it in people’s faces either.

“There’s a middle ground where it’s just a nuanced film and that’s just who they are, and it’s presented in that way and you can take it or leave it.”

As for those who’ve already watched the film, Swarens had a message.

“Thank you,” Swarens said. “Thank you so much for watching something LGBTQ-related and by queer people.

“That’s really nice, and I hope you enjoy it.”

This independent, local reporting provided by our Report for America Corps members is brought to you in part by the generous support of the Ashland County Community Foundation.