The internet’s obsession with a local drama is officially reaching the big screen. A viral Boston Globe exposé detailing the absolute chaos at a Western Massachusetts lesbian bar—sparked by a simple change in COVID-19 mask policies—is reportedly being eyed for film and documentary adaptations. The Hollywood Reporter says UTA, which represents the paper, is currently fielding inquiries for rights to the story.
The Breakdown
The drama centers on Greenfield’s 'Last Ditch Bar' and its 26-year-old owner, Jackie Matellian. Matellian, who uses she/they pronouns, has been dealing with some serious money woes, living out of a truck for six months and juggling four jobs after her business partners dipped. In an effort to keep the lights on and recover some profit, she announced on Instagram in August that the bar would pivot to 'mask optional' on Saturday nights.
Real talk: the response was unhinged. Critics accused the move of being 'ableist' and even 'eugenicist,' with some commenters online going as far as suggesting the venue should be 'firebombed.' The backlash pitted community members like performer Soe Noire (he/him) against Matellian, leading to intense community meetings and a full-blown culture war.
Why it matters
It’s giving 'main character energy' for everyone involved, but there’s a serious finance angle here too. The viral coverage has been a massive W for the Boston Globe, landing the paper thousands of new digital subscribers. While getting a script greenlit is notoriously hard, studios love a story that already has built-in national engagement. If the history of films like Spotlight is any indicator, these deep-dive reports have the potential to become major cultural artifacts—and highly profitable intellectual property.
