Following a successful world premiere at the Virginia Film Festival in November, WulfTeam Productions is proud to announce that its feature-length documentary, “A Tale of Two Cities: The Circuit City Story,” will debut in Richmond at the historic Byrd Theatre on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Alan Wurtzel, former Circuit City CEO and son of the company’s founder Sam Wurtzel, is scheduled to introduce the film.
The documentary chronicles the fascinating 60-year history of the Richmond-based retailer – from its humble beginnings as the family-owned Wards TV, to its meteoric rise to become the nation’s largest specialty retailer of consumer electronics, to its tragic downhill slide into bankruptcy and liquidation last year. The documentary tells the tale of two “Cities:” one that went from good to great, and the other that went from great to gone.
The film features interviews with Wurtzel, CarMax co-founder and CEO Austin Ligon, and former Circuit City associates and executives, many of whom lost life-long careers when the company closed in 2009. Other contributors include faculty from the University of Richmond, former Circuit City vendors, and key figures from WTVR – the South’s first television station, upon which Wards initially depended to deliver quality programming so it could sell TVs.
Early audiences and contributors have given the film overwhelmingly positive reviews:
“This film should be required viewing for all business students who aspire to senior management positions.” – Thomas T. Cosse, Professor of Marketing and Associate Dean for International Business Programs, University of Richmond Robins School of Business
“Incredibly compelling and informative. This documentary was exceptional … an inspiring and thoughtful history of Circuit City.” – Sam Brock, WTVR reporter/anchor
“A fascinating story. Excellent look at the heart and soul of a company.” – Sara Hillgrove, Public Relations/Communications Consultant and Associate Professor, Robins School of Business
“…Great job. I am very proud to be a part of this project.” – Alan Wurtzel, Circuit City CEO 1972-1986
The film was written, directed and produced by Tom Wulf, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism who spent 24 years in various senior management positions with Circuit City and CarMax. Adam Rosenberg, a Kinetic Imaging major at Virginia Commonwealth University, provided graphics, animations, and post-production editing for the documentary.
“I am thrilled that Alan Wurtzel has agreed to come back to the company’s home town to introduce the film,” Wulf said. “It was Alan who essentially transformed Wards TV on Broad St. into the nation’s largest name-brand electronics retailer. Under Alan’s leadership, Circuit City changed the retail landscape in America.”
“I think Central Virginians especially will find the film both entertaining and educational,” Wulf said. “It seeks to capture the entrepreneurial spirit of the Wurtzel family, as well as examine the leadership challenges in later years that eventually brought down the Fortune 500 company. And I can’t think of a better venue for the film’s Richmond premiere than the Byrd Theatre. It’s just a few blocks from the original Wards TV store and WTVR.”
The December 8th screening of “A Tale of Two Cities: The Circuit City Story” is sponsored by the Virginia Film Office, WTVR CBS6, and the VCUarts Department of Kinetic Imaging. Anchor/reporter Sam Brock is scheduled to emcee. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $7 through the film’s web site, www.CircuitCityStory.com, or purchased at the door for $10.
WulfTeam Productions, LLC is an independent video production company based in Ashland, Virginia. For more information about the company, visit www.wulfteamproductions.com.
