Michael Butler, producer of the hit musical Hair, his first Broadway effort, has extended his activities into the motion picture field. He and Peter Yarrow, of the singing team of Peter, Paul and Mary, will present the 75-minute film "You Are What You Eat."
It was described as a psychedelic montage, depicting the younger generation's struggle to find an identity, all unfolded to the accompaniment of songs.
The forthcoming presentation, on September 22 or September 24 at the Carnegie Hall Cinema, was announced by the principals yesterday.
The subject was conceived by Barry Feinstein, director and co-producer with Mr. Yarrow. Mr. Yarrow shot all the film's footage with a single hand-held camera on location here and in Los Angeles and Woodstock, N.Y.
Among those participating are Tiny Tim, Mr. Yarrow, Paul Butterfield, Barry McGuire, Father Malcom Boyd, the Electric Flag, Harper's Bizarre, Super Spade, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. The motion picture was said to be 95 per cent music.
Mr. yarrow traced the origin of the film to his extensive travels during which he, Noel Paul Stooky and Mary Travers gave four concerts a week for eight months of the year. Mr. Yarrow said: "I saw an urgent struggle on the part of young people to fins an alternative way, a better way of living. The search is essential and sometimes frightening. The movie, in form and content, is part of this search as well as a description of it."
The production cost, estimated at $300,000, was underwritten by Mr. Butler. After that amount is returned to him who from the first box office receipts (sic) , he, Mr. Yarrow, and those who appeared in the film will divide the proceeds. Columbia Records has advanced $50,000 against royalties for the album.
Explaining his entry into the motion picture business, mr. Butler said: "The picture field is really what I'm after," Mr. Butler said, "because I don't think Broadway's atmosphere is very receptive to a newcomer like myself."
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