FAQ

• Who have you interviewed?

  The conversations we've had -- with Chuck's friends, lovers, business rivals, admirers, stars (and some of them who are all of the above).

  We've shot interviews with stars from Chuck's thirty years at Falcon: Jim Bentley, Tom Chase, Zak Spears, Matthew Rush and others. We've also talked to (but haven't had the time or money to shoot) stars like Kevin Williams, Chase Hunter, Kris Lord and Johnny Harden. Others we've located include Eric Manchester, Jeff Stryker, Jeff Palmer and Ken Ryker). Tracking down stars takes time, getting them on a flight takes money.  While we've found dozens of stars, we haven't been able to shoot nearly as many. Of course, we have stories about dozens of others: Dick Fisk, Sky Dawson, Kurt Marshall ... the list goes on.

  We've also shot Falcon directors (and pioneers in their own right) like Steven Scarborough, John Rutherford, Chi Chi LaRue and John Summers, and talked to John Travis, William Higgins, Chris Ward and Kristen Bjorn about Chuck's influence on them. Even John Waters, who met Chuck briefly but was a big fan of Falcon, chimed in.

  And of course, we've talked to people who knew Chuck from the HRC, and some of the politicians for whom Chuck helped raise money. And people from all walks of life -- journalists, delivery boys, philanthropists and a-gays who helped us piece together this exciting gay history.

  More to come!

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• Why don't you just get Falcon to pay for this?

  Falcon has been exceedingly generous with us, allowing us unrestricted access to their archives and providing us with much needed footage from the films. However, it's important for us to remain independent so that we can talk about all aspects of Chuck's life.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• Are you getting paid?

  No. At this point, the budget only includes costs that we're paying out of pocket. It's possible that we'll receive a small stipend during final editing, but it's outside the scope of this fundraising.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• Is this donation tax-deductible?

  No. We do have tax-deductible status for larger grant donations and for high level donations. If you're interested in making a large donation or are an instituion, please contact me here.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• What do we get? (CHECK OUT THE REWARDS!)
  REWARDS

  While the real reward is your contribution to gay history, we've got some amazing rewards to thank you for your generosity. Here are some of the images mentioned in the rewards section.

  Smut History of SF (details about each item here, via Bold Italic)

  A still from "Smut Capital of America" (view trailer here)

  Vintage Pins from 1984 Protest Against Bathhouse Closures (more info here, via New York Times)

  The Other Side of Aspen (1978) Platinum Edition

  Thanks for all your help and generosity. Any questions, feel free to email.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• What's the money going to then?

  We've shot about half the interviews we need, but we've got a long way to go. It costs a lot to make a documentary -- even on a shoestring. Some of the major costs include:

  final rounds of interviews (including equipment and travel) transcription, research and legal fees footage rights (news footage can be up to $200/second) editing and post-production 8mm film transfers and equipment

  So far we've been paying for it with credit cards and favors. As much as we hate to admit it, we need help.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• Why are you making this? And who the hell are you.

  We came across the story almost accidentally. Jack Shamama (Producer) worked at Falcon after Chuck's death, as the company was being prepared for sale. He watched as Chuck's history was (sometimes quite literally) thrown away. Chuck's name was on the Gay and Lesbian Center on Market Street, but even there, no one knew who he was. At the time, I was writing a lot about the industry and together with Ben Leon (DP/editor), we decided to start getting down the story of a company that was old as the first pride parades, and the dashing but complex man who'd helped found it.

  For two years we've been interviewing Chuck's lovers, protogés, business rivals and stars (Chuck himself died of HIV-related illness in 2000). What we've found is a story more exciting than we could have imagined: obscenity busts, FBI raids, unrequited love, onyx dildos, Studio 54, gay brothels, Golda Meir, Sylvester, HIV, corn cobs, Qualuudes, Halston and Bentleys. Heady stuff, to be sure.  But we also found Chuck's incredible generosity and commitment to the gay and lesbian cause -- a commitment that, perhaps because the politics of pornography are loaded, hasn't been recorded.

  While we each have our own credits, together we produced the award-winning doc short SMUT CAPITAL OF AMERICA, which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, Frameline, NewFest and dozens of other festivals.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST
• I don't have much money. Can I still help?

  Post it on Facebook. Post it on Twitter. Email friends. Give five bucks. We know times are tough, and we appreciate any help in getting the word out.

  Last updated: Saturday Nov 19, 2:12pm EST