Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter
Before the Food Network and social media, Chef Charlie Trotter revolutionized global cuisine. He was a rockstar among the first generation of celebrity chefs, but his meteoric rise came at a price. With exclusive access to never-before-seen archival material, Love, Charlie reveals how his pursuit of excellence ultimately consumed him, with devastating consequences.
Interview with Producer Renée Frigo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
25 years ago Chef Charlie Trotter changed my life. His restaurant was recognized as the best in the world and located in my hometown of Chicago. I was a young and naive but determined entrepreneur - so I booked a kitchen table with hopes he would taste my extra virgin olive oil. He opened the bottle, took a swig, and ordered 6 cases to arrive Friday. He then changed the menu adding "made with Lucini Italia Extra Virgin." Celebrity chefs trusted his stamp of approval. Chef Art Smith shared it with his boss, Oprah. Later Oprah would have me on her show Cooking with Art.
In 2017 I asked a friend who produced a well-known chef series for Netflix why there wasn't a documentary about Chef Charlie Trotter. He said, "Who's Charlie Trotter?" That was the first day of development.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Chef Charlie Trotter revolutionized global cuisine and paved the way for today’s celebrity chefs. His eponymous Chicago restaurant was one of the world’s top dining destinations.
To his employees, Chef Charlie Trotter was an enigmatic guru. To the media, he was an overbearing perfectionist. But to those who loved him, he was Chuck, a fun-loving dreamer whose passion knew no bounds.
With exclusive access to never-before-seen archival materials, Love, Charlie is a searing portrait of what happens when a person’s identity becomes intrinsically tied to their work; and an epic cautionary tale of what can happen when that work fades away. Featuring Chefs Grant Achatz, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Norman Van Aken and Carrie Nahabedian.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Identity is the main theme of the film and a look at what happens when you sacrifice everything for your work and then that work goes away.
Personally, I was connected to what it takes to build something to be the best. My advice to upcoming entrepreneurs is that it isn't about working harder than others, it is really about what are you willing to sacrifice to reach your goals.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We started with a short film I directed that premiered at the Sonoma Film Festival. Chef Tyler Florence saw the film and congratulated us on social media which brought a lot of positive attention and financing to the project so we could attract a great director and make a full-length feature.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Using Charlie's words: excellence! He would be proud: The film was just nominated for a James Beard Award, is still relevant on the top Apple Doc charts, won the "Best of Fest" at the Chicago International Film Festival, the "Audience Choice Award" at the San Diego Film Festival and two Taste Awards for "Best Feature Film" and "Best Director."
Love, Charlie is distributed by Greenwich Entertainment in North America.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
We are amazed at how many people see themselves in Charlie in their own careers. Love, Charlie explores the personal and professional identities of Chef Trotter and the lessons we can learn from his pursuit whether you're in the hospitality industry or not.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Our hope is to bring this film to a larger audience while raising awareness for the mental health support needed in the hospitality community.
Restaurants, culinary schools and theaters have hosted charity screenings and raised funds for organizations supporting mental health for chefs and hospitality workers.
During the pandemic our hospitality community experienced a double pandemic: in addition to struggling as a restaurant owner and being isolated - the suicide rate doubled for chefs.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We have North American distribution with Greenwich Entertainment and would like to launch internationally. Several countries and international chefs are featured in the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We would like culinary students and food enthusiasts to know whose shoulders they stand on. Charlie Trotter was the original who paved the way for everything we take for granted in fine dining today. He was the first to remove salt and pepper from the table, the first to put a table in the kitchen, the first to create degustation menus, the first to put vegetables first, and his cookbooks were legendarily described as the first "food porn."
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
1) How do you show excellence in your day? Charlie would say, "How you sweep is how you do everything". Do you pick up the rug and sweep under it? if so, you were hired:)
2) What sacrifices have I made in my own life and how have I paid the price for them?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for this opportunity and on behalf of our female team, we are honored to be included in Moving Stories.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Our director, Rebecca Halpern, also produced and wrote the forthcoming feature documentary Who Is Stan Smith? that premiered at Doc NYC in 2022. Most recently, she served as co-executive producer of the six-part Netflix series How to Become a Mob Boss.
Renee Frigo, Producer has a new food documentary and two scripted features in development soon to be announced.
Interview: July 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter
Before the Food Network and social media, Chef Charlie Trotter revolutionized global cuisine. He was a rockstar among the first generation of celebrity chefs, but his meteoric rise came at a price. With exclusive access to never-before-seen archival material, Love, Charlie reveals how his pursuit of excellence ultimately consumed him, with devastating consequences.
Length: 1:36:00
Director: Rebecca Halpern
Producer: Renée Frigo
Writer: Rebecca Halpern
About the writer, director and producer:
REBECCA HALPERN is a documentary filmmaker whose work includes multiple seasons directing, writing and producing the hit series American Greed and Gangland, and the critically acclaimed six-part limited series Helter Skelter, which she co-executive produced for Epix. Her award-winning feature documentary Love, Charlie won Best of the Fest at the 2021 Chicago International Film Festival, and was acquired by Greenwich Entertainment. Rebecca also produced and wrote the forthcoming feature documentary Who Is Stan Smith?, which premiered at Doc NYC 2022. Most recently, she served as co-executive producer of the six-part Netflix series How to Become a Mob Boss. Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s Degree in theater and her Master’s Degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where she also played on the Varsity Women’s Golf Team.
RENÉE FRIGO, founder of Oak Street Pictures, produced the award-winning documentary, Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter and continues to enjoy the success of Nine Days and Tesla. Renée worked in the music business before co-founding and leading Lucini Italia for twenty years. She chronicled a 16,000 nautical miles adventure for the Huffington Post and serves on the Ed Asner Family Center Board supporting children with autism and special needs.
Key cast: Chef Wolfgang Puck, Chef Emeril LaGasse, Chef Grant Achatz, Chef Norman Van Aken, Chef Carrie Nahabedian
Looking for: distributors, sales agents, buyers
Facebook: Love, Charlie Movie
Instagram: @lovecharliemovie
Hashtags used: #lovecharliemovie @lovecharliemovie
Website: oakstreet.pictures/project/lovecharlie
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: an Oak Street Pictures Production
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Film Festival/Australia/July Virtual
Apple and Amazon/USA and CANADA now