CHALKY
The Michael White Story
Summary
For the past 18 months Australian filmmaker Gracie Otto has been making a feature documentary CHALKY about legendary British theatre and film impresario Michael White.
We are making this film because we want to immortalise Chalky's extraordinary legacy.
The film is nearly finished, but we still need to pay for expensive archival footage, music and post-production.
This crowdfunding campaign is to raise the money needed to finish the film.
Throughout his lifetime there has been no limit to Michael’s generosity. By pledging financial support to this campaign you will play an important role in helping finish the film – and we will all be able to give something wonderful back to Michael during his lifetime.
![Michael White - Hotel du Cap, Cannes Film Festival 2011 (Photo by Masha Vasyukova)]( "Michael White")
Who is "Chalky"?
"Chalky" is the nickname of the legendary impresario Michael White.
Producer of hundreds of plays and films from Rocky Horror to Monty Python, playboy, gambler, friend and confidante to the rich and famous the world over - Chalky made fortunes and lost fortunes.
Incredibly now, despite bankruptcy and fragile health, Chalky continues to live the life of an impresario – out every night with the assistance of his two walking canes - invited to parties, opening nights and festivals around the world.
Why are we making this film?
CHALKY began by chance when Gracie arrived at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival for meetings and was fortunate to be invited to one of the opening night celebrations. In the early hours of the morning Gracie found herself intrigued - not by the many celebrities present - but by how they all gravitated towards an old man with a walking stick holding court at the centre of this huge party. She offered to get him a drink – he asked for a “Bloody Mary” – and from this chance encounter quickly developed a beautiful friendship. Later in the year when Michael told Gracie he was selling his lifetime’s memorabilia at Sothebys, she instantly borrowed a camera in Sydney, booked a frequent flyer flight and headed to London to record this momentous occasion.
And so began Gracie's journey of discovery of the incredible legacy, life and loves of Michael White.
Gracie has completed extensive interviews with Michael and 50 of his closest friends and colleagues – Yoko Ono, Naomi Watts, Lorne Michaels, John Waters, Barry Humphries to name a few. Through a combination of narration, archival footage, home movies and location photography, excerpts from his plays and films, interviews, letters, memorabilia and great stories (not to mention his incomparable collection of 30,000 photographs of his celebrity friends at play, the best of which which will shortly grace a coffee table book!) this film follows an extraordinary and dramatic journey of one man’s life through the eyes of a filmmaker from a much younger generation.
Why is Gracie making this film? Because she wants to immortalise Chalky's extraordinary legacy.
![Michael White and Gracie Otto]()
Why crowdfunding?
Michael has seen the CHALKY trailer and loves it and is very impatient to see the completed film, but the bottom line is we need support to finish it this year.
Our crowdfunding campaign has been designed to raise the money to finish the film – firstly for editing and the inevitable post-production costs. But in order to do justice to Michael's life’s work and immortalise his extraordinary legacy, the film requires a great deal of very expensive archival footage, and an equally big budget for iconic music from Chorus Line to Rocky Horror and the Rolling Stones.
Aside from helping us raise the final part of our budget for the film, we are really excited that this crowdfunding campaign will also allow us to begin to get the word out there about the film - and about Michael! Michael was a central figure in the cultural revolution of the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s. We want to tell his story to the Social Media generation.
![Michael White during filming of CHALKY (Photo by Masha Vasyukova)]()
What YOU can do to help
1. Pledge money
Throughout his lifetime there has been no limit to Michael’s generosity. By pledging financial support for this campaign you will play an important role in helping to finish the film - and we will all be able to give something wonderful back to Michael during his lifetime - a film dedicated to him!
2. Spread the love!
Crowdfunding relies on social media, so even if you can’t contribute financially, tell your friends about the film, visit our website and/or Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
Get excited about the film – and start thinking about the party after! Michael practically invented the celebrity party and the CHALKY Gala Party may be his greatest production ever! Make a pledge now and be at the top of the CHALKY Gala Party guest list!
Stay in touch with CHALKY on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chalkythefilm
Follow us on Twitter: @chalkythefilm
** For the premiere and Gala Party you will need to fly yourself in & cover accommodation costs.
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