#gracieotto

[film-book]

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THE CLEARING (2023) Teaser Trailer: Teresa Palmer Delves Back into a Religious Cult to Protect Her Family [Hulu] https://film-book.com/the-clearing-2023-teaser-trailer-teresa-palmer-hulu/?feed_id=143443&_unique_id=643af18cc932a

[terriblehunter]

CANDY CRUSH : STARRING BROOKE CANDY

[thelastimpresario]

NEW YORK

November 2012

Two days to get from Monte Carlo to Paris to New York and source some lights and camera assistants ready for a Monday morning interview. And what to wear?? I settle on a complete black outfit hoping that at least I resemble a professional camera operator. I’ve been granted half an hour. And she’s early. I’ve done my research so I knew she would be but I didn’t count on the NY crew recommended by the lighting hire business, being late!! I try to stay cool. She is eminently stylish – and patient. And she is absolutely lovely about her long friendship with Michael White and delivers some fabulous quotes that give his life and work a cultural context.  Tick! Tick! Tick!!

[thelastimpresario]

MONTE CARLO

November 2012

If John Cleese says he can meet you on Thursday 14 November in Monte Carlo then you just make it happen! Since I started my film on Michael White this giant of English comedy has been at the top of my wish list.  He was studying law at Cambridge when Michael saw his revue show, with Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, and invited it to the West End where it ran for months – and the rest is history. They all moved into careers in comedy. Michael also produced the first Monty Python film. So here I am in Monte Carlo having literally run to the train and arrived in time to set up for my interview. He arrives, very tall, very funny, and that was that! A perfect interview! One of the highlights of my life! Back at the hotel I get an email. Anna Wintour, who had postponed an interview because of Hurricane Katrina virtually closing down New York, now says she can do next Monday. Ouch!

[thelastimpresario]

LONDON

October 2012

No rest for the wicked. I am in London to shoot 7 fabulous interviews and fortunate that Australian friend and photographer Rupert Tapper is in London and can assist with cameras. The first is with beautiful supermodel Kate Moss who shares a birthday with MW – at the penthouse of the Bulgari Hotel (courtesy of Trent Power of Bulgari Sydney). They even laid on a butler and  lunch – an amazing five star experience that Chalky himself came along to enjoy. Kate is beautiful, funny, honest, and gives me one of the best quotes ever  “They don’t make them like that any more. He’s that old school – he’s an old school classic.”

Following Kate I get to meet Richard O’Brien the enigmatic writer (and Riff Raff) of The Rocky Horror Show.  Apart from filling me in on the Rocky journey he makes some very perceptive observations of Michael and himself as being eternal little boys, incapable of growing up and preferring to enjoy life on the Primrose Path.  Gold!

To complete the Rocky journey I meet with fabulous Patricia Quinn, aka Lady Stephens, the original Magenta in the stage production and film. She wears a brooch of the Rocky signature lips which happen to be hers!

Another day and various Tube journeys to meet with comedy actors Bill Oddie of The Goodies fame and Nigel Planer from The Young Ones – both of whose early careers began in Michael White productions. And to give a cultural perspective to Michael’s legacy I interview Alan Yentob of the BBC and the theatre critic of The Guardian since 1971, Michael Billington. If I wasn’t already convinced they certainly informed me of the importance of telling the story of Michael White’s amazing contribution to British culture.

I also meet up with celebrity photographer Richard Young in a Notting Hill café who says over the years he could always tell if there was going to be a good crowd of celebrities at an event if Michael White’s name was on the list.  And Michael takes me the home of his daughter Liberty to look for some particular pieces of archive; and then to his old office in Duke Street where jeweller Harry Fane has had his business since the early days when Michael worked there. It was a bit of a trip down memory lane.

The following day Michael drives me to the Cotswolds to Lypiatt House to stay with his great friend, sculptor Daniel Chadwick. This stately home with its sculpture garden is unbelievable! It was great to spend some time with his family who welcome Michael for regular visits and games of backgammon. 

[thelastimpresario]

SYDNEY

July 2012

Back in Sydney and time to look at the assembly that editor Karen Johnson has created. She has done a brilliant job of condensing his story and has all the major themes covered but it is clear that some major players are missing. There will have to be one more trip to try to schedule the missing interviews – and also find a “theatre expert commentator”.

But I am able to add a major Australian interview to the list – celebrated dancer Meryl Tankard was a member of the Pina Bausch Wuppertal Danztheater company that Michael brought to London in 1982. She describes Michael as a “visionary” putting the company on the London stage years before they went to New York. Meryl and her husband Regis Lansac also have a wonderful collection of photographs of the Pina Bausch company which they generously offer for use in the film. This is great news as the archive costs are prohibitive. 

[thelastimpresario]

BALTIMORE

April 2012

John Waters has agreed to do an interview in his home town of Baltimore while I am in New York. I am running on a crazy schedule – finish my interview with Yoko and have to get to Baltimore by mid-afternoon to interview John, and then take a flight to LA in time to connect to my flight home to Sydney at 11pm. So my fantastic camera assistant Kai Lelion and I jump on a Greyhound bus which arrives just in time to get us to John’s home to shoot the interview. He talks about his film Polyester, which starred transsexual Divine and heart throb Tab Hunter, and was produced by Bob Shaye and Michael White back in the 80s – it gave audiences the first “scratch and sniff” movie experience. Say no more! He is an incredible host and a great interview subject – intelligent, funny and absolutely charming! And he talks even quicker than me! Before we leave he takes me on a guided tour of his artwork collection which includes the most extraordinary conceptual pieces and installations – he is definitely one-of-a-kind! Thank you John. It was a pleasure to meet you.

[thelastimpresario]

NEW YORK

March 2012

I have to make two trips to New York this month – it is so hard to fit into the schedule of busy people - but these trips are going to be worth it! First visit is to meet the very funny and sublimely talented Wally Shawn who had lunch with Michael White one day and walked away with a cheque to completely finance his film My Dinner With Andre. I also meet with Christine Pressman who was in Michael’s production of the controversial Voyeurz and then Andre Gregory, a gentle and charming man who speaks so sweetly about Michael – “there is something about him that is complex and funny and very very warm.” I could say the same about you Mr Gregory!

I return to New York a few weeks later on the invitation of Lorne Michaels, legendary producer of Saturday Night Live and one of Michael’s closest friends. Can you imagine – its Good Friday and they are all working. I get to do the interview in his office that looks out on to the SNL set – and I get to eat his popcorn! This is the stuff of dreams.

But the big dream is yet to come. We have emailed Yoko Ono before but this is the first time she has been available for an interview. Nicole has been working hard to set it up before I get to New York and is fortunate to source a space, Galerie LeLong NYC, where Yoko has exhibited. They agree to let us shoot there and kindly hang a small painting by Yoko in the space. I am so nervous about meeting her and arrive early to set up her lighting requirements. She looks half her age and is dressed so stylishly in black and cream with her signature hat and sunglasses. And she does a fantastic interview and particularly mentions how Michael wasn’t afraid to produce work by women in a time when this was very unusual. The only problem we have is language – mine – she can’t understand my Australian accent! I am so honoured that she wants to be part of our film and I know Michael will be super pleased too.