I knew Werner Schroeter from when I lived in Berlin. Along with being an extraordinary filmmaker he was the most generous and fun person. Life with Werner, was an adventure which he gladly shared. During the early 1970's I did some location scouting for a film that he was going making. Subsequently, myself and a few others stayed for a while in a suite at the Chateau Marmont. I believe it was here that Werner got to know one of the girls that hung out during the Manson trial. The was a while after the convictions and she had become a penpal with Charles Denton "Tex" Watson who at the time was in a prison near Lompoc. Werner got an idea to make a film about the Manson case and somehow got permission for an interview. Initially myself and another Chateau friend who was a model were going to wait in the car while the interview was happening. Somehow, powers that be asked if we wanted to go in as well. Charles (who shortly after become an ordained minister and fathered 4 children) did not speak German- so I was the translator. The experience was surreal. Turns out the same prison housed Timothy Leary and some other 60's icons that were serving time. I don't remember too much of what Charles shared, however Werner never made the movie- and we continued on Route 1 to San Francisco. Truth.
