Kittie: Origins/Evolutions

Last updated

Kittie: Origins/Evolutions
Kittie Origins Evolutions.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRob McCallum
Written byRob McCallum
Produced byRob McCallum
Starring
Cinematography
  • Rob McCallum
  • Ryan Dawezewski
  • Kaila Jarmain
  • Chris Bucanac
Edited by
  • Rob McCallum
  • Morgan Lander (sup)
  • Mercedes Lander (sup)
Production
company
Pyre Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • October 27, 2017 (2017-10-27)(Rum Runners)
  • March 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)(United States)
Running time
  • 94 minutes (theatrical release)
Countries
  • Canada
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Kittie: Origins/Evolutions is a 2017 documentary film produced and directed by Rob McCallum. It follows the history of the Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, from their formation in 1996 and through their first six studio albums, from Spit (1999) to I've Failed You (2011). The film also includes interviews with the current, and most of the past, members of the band, interspersed with archival footage. Its production was funded by a successful Indiegogo campaign, which reached its goal within 8 hours, and ultimately raised more than $40,000. The film was dedicated to the memory of bassist Trish Doan, who died prior to the film's completion in February 2017. [1]

Contents

Kittie: Origins/Evolutions premiered at Rum Runners in the band's hometown of London, Ontario on October 27, 2017, where the band also performed a career-spanning set. [2] The film was released on March 30, 2018; its digital and theatrical release was handled by Lightyear Entertainment, whilst Caroline Records distributed the film as a three-disc box set, containing the film on DVD and Blu-ray formats along with a live CD from the band's premiere show. [3] The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

Production

The idea for Kittie: Origins/Evolutions was first conceived in 2013 by founding members Morgan and Mercedes Lander in order to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary, at a time when Kittie's future as a band remained uncertain. [4] [1] Production on Kittie: Origins/Evolutions began in early 2014, [4] and on March 29, 2014, an Indiegogo campaign was set up to fund production of the documentary, as well as a tell-all book. [5] The campaign's goal of CA$20,000 was met within eight hours, [6] and went onto gross over $40,000. [7] The band initially reached out to David Brodsky to direct the documentary, but he was unable to do so. [8]

In January 2015, Kittie bassist Trish Doan reached out to Rob McCallum, asking if he would be interested in directing a documentary about the band. [8] McCallum and Doan had been acquainted since college, and McCallum had previously reached out to Kittie eight months prior to obtain permission to use a Kittie song in one of his other documentaries, Nintendo Quest (2015). [8] McCallum agreed, and quickly became frustrated with his research after finding that a lot of press coverage of the band "was really hug up on an apparent 'gender curiosity.'" [9] He subsequently strove to avoid that, and gave the band a “rags to riches” story to work with. [8] McCallum also sought to remove "any presence of himself" from the documentary, in order to give the band "a forum in which to tell their story, those events, from their very distinct perspective." [8] McCallum filmed interviews with most of the band's current and former members, bar bassist Talena Atfield (who initially appeared in early photoshoots but then ultimately decided to not appear in the film) and guitarist Lisa Marx (who declined to participate in any capacity), between March and October 2015. [10] [9] McCallum also utilized a plethora of archival footage the band had recorded from the late 1990s to 2013. [9] [11]

The documentary's rough cut, from July 2015, lasted four hours long; by September 2015, McCallum had reduced its length to two-and-a-half hours, removing parts which were repetitious. [8] [9] Thereafter, the band and McCallum attempted to shop the film around to distributors. However, most distributors were unwilling to take on a film of its length, resulting in the idea of the film being split into two parts: "Kittie: Origins", detailing the band's beginnings, and "Kittie: Evolutions", about the band's progression and future. [12] [4] The film's title of Kittie: Origins/Evolutions was revealed in March 2016. [4] By May 2016, "Origins" had a length of 90 minutes, whilst "Evolutions" had a length of 88 minutes. [12]

Production became slower and more frustrating for McCallum and the Lander sisters during 2017, as further reductions were made to compile both "Origins" and "Evolutions" into a single, 94 minute film. [13] Work was also affected by the death of Trish Doan on February 11, 2017. [13] In August 2017, Kittie sold the documentary's worldwide rights to Lightyear Entertainment, with distribution from Universal Music Group. [13] [14]

Reception

Kittie: Origins/Evolutions received generally positive reviews from critics. [15] Denize Falzon of Exclaim! gave the documentary an 9 out of 10, stating that it did "an excellent job" at telling the band's "colourful and fascinating" story. [16] Cryptic Rock's Jeannie Blue called it "Honest, sincere, and fully entertaining" and compared its style to VH-1's Behind the Music "due its professional and fair representation of Kittie’s career to date". [17] Carl Fisher of GBHBL found it to be "very well made and interesting", but noted the absence of some finer details from Kittie's history, such as their 2003 lawsuit with Artemis Records. [18] NM Mashurov of Stereogum was more mixed, feeling that by omitting the band's struggles as "teenage girls in an industry dominated by older men", the documentary played out like a "live-action Wikipedia article" that lacked "the context that gives a band’s narrative formidable historical weight." [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim "Ripper" Owens</span> American heavy metal singer

Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal singer who currently performs with KK's Priest, Spirits of Fire, the Three Tremors and A New Revenge. He first gained attention as the lead singer of Judas Priest and then Iced Earth. He took the nickname "Ripper" from the Judas Priest song "The Ripper" during his time in the tribute band British Steel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kittie</span> Canadian metal band

Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band from London, Ontario, formed in 1996 by lead guitarist Fallon Bowman and the Lander sisters, drummer Mercedes and lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Morgan. Tanya Candler completed the band's early line-up on bass. The Lander sisters have remained the band's sole constant members. Collectively, their material released via independent record labels has sold over two million copies worldwide.

Fallon Bowman is a Canadian guitarist and singer best known for her involvement with the metal band Kittie. Since departing Kittie in 2001, Bowman has worked with Pigface and as a solo artist under the name Amphibious Assault, as well as under her own name.

<i>Until the End</i> (Kittie album) 2004 studio album by Kittie

Until the End is the third studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on July 26, 2004, through Artemis Records. It was their only album with bassist Jennifer Arroyo, who joined the band in March 2002. The album was recorded in March 2004 with producer Steve Thompson at Long View Farm Studios in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Musically, it continued Kittie's transition away from their early nu metal sound, whilst placing a heavier emphasis on melody than on their previous two albums. Kittie wrote the album while they were engaged in a lawsuit with Artemis, and its lyrics and artwork reflect the band's feelings of frustration and uncertainty during that period. After recording concluded, Kittie recruited guitarist Lisa Marx for a tour in support of the album.

<i>Spit</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Kittie

Spit is the debut studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, originally released on November 13, 1999, through Ng Records. Kittie were formed in 1996, and signed a four-album deal with Ng following their performances at the Canadian Music Week festival in March 1999. Recorded over nine days in May 1999 with producer Garth Richardson at EMAC Studios in London, Ontario, Spit is a nu metal album that incorporates various elements from several heavy metal subgenres, and its lyrical themes include sexism, hatred, ignorance, betrayal, bullying and life experiences. The album is Kittie's only release with their original line-up, featuring bassist Tanya Candler and guitarist Fallon Bowman; Candler was replaced by Talena Atfield, who appears on the cover of all subsequent reissues of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talena Atfield</span> Canadian bassist

Talena A. L. Atfield is a retired Canadian bass guitarist and Indigenous persons historian of the University of Waterloo, best known as a former member of the heavy metal group Kittie.

<i>Oracle</i> (Kittie album) 2001 studio album by Kittie

Oracle is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on November 12, 2001, through Artemis Records. Produced by Garth Richardson and co-produced by vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander, the album saw Kittie transition towards an extreme metal and death metal-based sound, moving on from the nu metal sound of Spit (1999). The album was recorded as a trio, following the departure of co-founding member and guitarist Fallon Bowman weeks before recording was due to commence; Jeff Phillips was subsequently brought in as an additional guitarist for the band's live performances in support of the album. Oracle was Kittie's only album with bassist Talena Atfield, who left the band four months after its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Soussan</span> British bassist

Philip Raphael Soussan is an English bass guitarist, songwriter and producer, known as a member of Last in Line, Ozzy Osbourne, Vince Neil Band and Big Noize, as well as writing and producing for Dokken and Toto.

<i>Funeral for Yesterday</i> 2007 studio album by Kittie

Funeral for Yesterday is the fourth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on February 20, 2007. It was the only album released through the band's own record label, X of Infamy Records, and Merovingian Music (MRV). The album was produced by Jack Ponti, and was recorded at RetroMedia Sound Studios in Red Bank, New Jersey, between July and August 2006. Loosely themed around the band's demise and rebirth following a period of turmoil, the album saw Kittie transition towards a more melodic and accessible sound while retaining some of their heavier sensibilities, and was also noted for its greater focus on clean singing than on the band's previous releases. It was the first Kittie album with guitarist Tara McLeod, and only with bassist Trish Doan.

Nick Raskulinecz is an American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funeral for Yesterday (song)</span> 2007 single by Kittie

"Funeral for Yesterday" is the first single and title track from Kittie's album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kittie discography</span>

The discography of Kittie, a Canadian heavy metal band, consists of seven studio albums, one compilation album, one video album, four extended plays, seventeen singles and eighteen music videos.

<i>In the Black</i> 2009 studio album by Kittie

In the Black is the fifth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on September 15, 2009, through E1 Music. It was the band's first album with bassist Ivy Jenkins, who joined the band in 2007. Recording sessions for the album were held with producer Siegfried Meier at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario, in November and December 2008. Featuring a raw, stripped-down sound and elements of black metal, metalcore and melodic death metal, Kittie intended the album to be an "antithesis" to their previous album Funeral for Yesterday (2007), having been disappointed with its production and style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightyear Entertainment</span>

Lightyear Entertainment, headquartered in Studio City, California, is a distributor of independent motion pictures in theaters, on DVD, Blu-ray, Video On Demand, as well as a distributor of music and music videos on CD, DVD, and digital distribution.

<i>Alive</i> (Meshuggah video) 2010 video by Meshuggah

Alive is the first live album by Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah. The film was released as a double album through Nuclear Blast on 5 February 2010 in Europe and 9 February 2010 in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy Jenkins</span> Canadian bassist

Ivana "Ivy" Jenkins, is a Serbian-born Canadian bassist. She is best known as the bassist for the heavy metal band Kittie over two stints, from October 2007 until March 2012, and again since January 2022.

<i>Ive Failed You</i> 2011 studio album by Kittie

I've Failed You is the sixth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on August 30, 2011, through eOne Music. The album builds on the style and production of their previous album In the Black (2009) and features more personal and introspective lyrics, drawing from various events of turmoil that vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander experienced in the two years following the aforementioned album's release. It was produced by Siegfried Meier and was primarily recorded at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario; Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks were recorded separately in the United States, as immigration issues prevented her from travelling to Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trish Doan</span> Korean Canadian musician (1985–2017)

Trisha Jaimee Doan was a Korean-Canadian musician, photographer and television producer, best known for her tenure as the bass guitarist for the Canadian heavy metal band Kittie.

<i>Fire</i> (Kittie album) 2024 studio album by Kittie

Fire is the seventh studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on June 21, 2024, by Sumerian Records. It is the band's first album in almost 13 years following the release of I've Failed You (2011), in between which time they were largely on an indefinite hiatus due to rising costs associated with touring and making music, a lack of public interest, and the death of bassist Trish Doan in 2017. After receiving several offers to play shows in late 2021, Kittie ended their hiatus in January 2022, with bassist Ivy Vujic returning to their lineup after a decade-long absence. Following their performances at the When We Were Young festival in October 2022, the band were signed to Sumerian and began working on new material.

<i>Never Again</i> (Kittie EP) 2006 EP by Kittie

Never Again is the third extended play by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released exclusively on digital storefronts on February 7, 2006, through Rock Ridge Music. Recorded at Mole Studios in London, Ontario, The EP contains four demos of "Never Again", "This Too Shall Pass", "Breathe", and "Everything That Could Have Been", which were later re-recorded for Kittie's fourth album Funeral For Yesterday (2007). The band supported its release with the Never Again Tour across America for two months, which allowed the band to develop their songs before recording them in the summer of 2006.

References

  1. 1 2 McAllum, Rob (director) (March 30, 2018). Kittie: Origins/Evolutions (Motion picture). Canada: Lightyear Entertainment.
  2. ↑ BraveWords. "KITTIE Announce Origins / Evolutions Documentary Afterparty Show Featuring Past And Present Band Members". bravewords.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ Blabbermouth (January 9, 2018). "KITTIE's Career-Spanning Documentary 'Origins/Evolutions' To Arrive In March". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "KITTIE: Title Of Upcoming Career-Spanning Documentary Revealed". Metal Warehouse (in Dutch). March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ Childers, Chad. "Kittie Celebrate 20 Years With Documentary DVD + Book". Loudwire. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ BraveWords. "KITTIE Reach IndieGoGo Crowd-Funding Campaign Goal For 20th Anniversary DVD And Biography In Only Eight Hours". bravewords.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ Blabbermouth (March 13, 2015). "KITTIE: Teaser For 20th-Anniversary Documentary". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McAllum, Rob (April 30, 2016). "Kittie: Origins/Evolutions – Part 1 |". robmccallumfilms.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 McAllum, Rob (May 14, 2016). "Kittie: Origins/Evolutions – Part 2 |". robmccallumfilms.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Biography". Kittie Online. Retrieved February 23, 2024. The trailer promising never seen before footage saw the return of Jenn, Fallon, Tanya & Talena, though Talena ultimately decided that she didn't want to take part in the documentary.
  11. ↑ Blabbermouth (January 21, 2018). "MORGAN LANDER On KITTIE's Career: 'Our Story Is Not Always A Happy One'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  12. 1 2 McAllum, Rob (May 23, 2016). "Kittie: Origins/Evolutions – Part 3 |". robmccallumfilms.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 McAllum, Rob (December 4, 2017). "A long overdue update… |". robmccallumfilms.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ wookubus (August 4, 2017). "Kittie Find Distributor For Upcoming Documentary 'Kittie: Origins/Evolutions'". Theprp.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kittie's origins/evolutions documentary review". Cam Brio Music. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ Falzon, Denise (March 27, 2018). "Kittie Origins/Evolutions". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ↑ Blue, Jeannie (March 27, 2018). "Kittie – Origins/Evolutions (DVD/CD Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  18. ↑ Fisher, Carl (December 29, 2020). "Music - Movie Review: Kittie: Origins/Evolutions (2018)". GAMES, BRRRAAAINS & A HEAD-BANGING LIFE. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  19. ↑ Mashurov, NM (April 5, 2018). "Here's To 20 Years Of Kittie". Stereogum . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.