WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND: AUGUST 2013

WITH KATE KROLL A.K.A. CALAMITY KATE

Summertime is a season equated with fun, travel and music. Filmmaker, Kate Kroll a.k.a. Calamity Kate, the performer lives this 365 days of the year! Kroll is known for her work with No Fun City, but right now she is deep into her latest documentary. Calamity Kate is an accomplished burlesque performer, but these days her onstage focus is, as the creative director of punk ‘n’ roll band Kentucky Womanizer where she performs and sings lead and back-up vocals.

BeatRoute: Can you tell me about No Fun City?

Kate Kroll: Hands down, one of my favourite films and not because Melissa James and I made it (with Lynn Booth). I love it because the film is full of incredible music, people and their stories. It’s great to be able to screen it all over the world and have people tell us “this is exactly what’s going on in our city too.” I think we were able to show the world that Vancouver has a rad music scene.

BR: How do you balance all these careers?

KK: I don’t sleep much. Really. I work almost every minute that I’m awake.

BR: How do all these occupations connect and is there a muse?

KK: The last music video that I made for Christa Couture featured two burlesque performers, Melody Mangler and Lola Frost. Another short, Happily Ever Evil, features a cast of burly-q girls and was co-created with Tristan Risk. Burlesque has definitely crept its way into my film work. They are the best to work with – not shy. Watch Pirate Jenny & the Storm on Youtube.

BR: As a filmmaker, how did you get started telling stories?

KK: I love documentary because it’s an opportunity to give a voice to people. I recently returned from filming in Nepal and India with writer/producer Marilyn Thomas. We interviewed a man named Palden Gyatso – an 80 year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk who spent 33 years as a Chinese political prisoner. He faced unbelievable tortures, such as when he lost all of his teeth because a guard shoved a cattle prod in his mouth. All this for standing up against China’s occupation of Tibet. He doesn’t have weapons or money to free Tibet with, he only has his story. If I can help people look at the world a little differently, then it’s all worth the blood, sweat and tears that go in to my projects. Path of Pilgrims will air on Vision TV in May.

BR: Some of your most meaningful projects?

KK: One of my tops is Shi-shi-etko, based on the book by Nicola Campbell. Filmed in the traditional Sto:lo language, Halq’eméylem, it’s a story about a young girl’s last days before being sent off to residential school. The residential school system is a black mark in Canada’s history and I was surprised to learn that many of my peers didn’t even know what it was. My generation and generations before weren’t really taught about it in school. Now the film is being screened in schools across Canada and the US, it was even included in language kits for children. For me, that’s bigger than winning an Oscar.

BR: Life-changing moments on the job?

KK: Recently, filming with Buddhists in Nepal and India was a big eye-opener. People there are much more patient, hospitable and compassionate. Made me realize I’ve been doing a shitty job practicing that in my own life.

BR: Many women say that burlesque performance is an empowering experience and what are some of the positive outcomes for you?

KK: I started performing in 2009 and quickly realized how supportive the burlesque community is. I actually really hated my body before I did burlesque and wouldn’t even wear shorts or a skirt. It’s been positive and uplifting for me, as it is for many others. I was part of the musical Shine and toured many countries with Big John Bates. I don’t consider what I do with Kentucky Womanizer to be burlesque but it’s inspired by it.

BR: Do you listen to music while working or getting ready to perform?

KK: Music is always a big part of my films. I feel that it really helps to set a pace and lets the audience lose themselves in what they are watching. I always listen to Turbonegro before I perform. It pumps me up and gets me feeling sleazy.

Kentucky Womanizer is playing the Eight Ways to Eargasm II event at the WISE Hall August 16th and Catch Calamity Kate as she will be performing burlesque at Kitty Night’s live punk edition, September 1st at the Biltmore Cabaret.

Interview and photo by Tiina Liimu