Late last year I was introduced to the great Charlo Crossley, a former member of Bette Midler's Harlettes, and a featured player in such films as Beaches, Sister Act, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Behind the Candelabra. We met over coffee after Christmas to discuss the documentary, and she shared some lovely recollections of her friendship with Richard, and his beloved movie nights in his NYC apartment.
After some delay in trying to work out logistics, we finally were able to conduct a filmed interview at the historic Blinn House in Pasadena. Very special thanks to Kirk Arnold-Smith and Sydney Colston for helping to make it happen.
Often in filmmaking, one keeps their eyes too squarely focused on the final product, forgetting the value of the journey it takes to finally get there. Not so for me here, as I've been fortunate to meet and befriend so many wonderful, talented, and kind hearted people. Ms. Crossley is a class act: funny, charming, gracious, and very, very funny.
On our first meeting, she said something that struck an emotional chord with me: "Let mercy kick in." She elaborated on this during our interview, and it was a moving tribute to her late friend, and to the many other friends she lost from AIDS over the years.
Photos kindly provided by Sydney Colston.
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