Kittie: Origins/Evolutions | |
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Directed by | Rob McCallum |
Written by | Rob McCallum |
Produced by | Rob McCallum |
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Production company | Pyre Productions |
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Language | English |
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 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]
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.
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]
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]
This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 American mockumentary film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner. The film stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as members of the heavy metal band Spinal Tap, who are characterized as "one of England's loudest bands". Reiner plays Martin "Marty" Di Bergi, a documentary filmmaker who follows them on their American tour. The film satirizes the behavior and musical pretensions of rock bands and the perceived hagiographic tendencies of rock documentaries such as The Song Remains the Same (1976) and The Last Waltz (1978), and follows the similar All You Need Is Cash (1978) by the Rutles. Most of its dialogue was improvised and dozens of hours were filmed.
Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band from London, Ontario, formed in 1996 by guitarist Fallon Bowman and sisters Mercedes and Morgan Lander, on drums and vocals/guitars, respectively. 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.
Jennifer J. Arroyo is an American bassist best known for her tenure in the Canadian heavy metal group Kittie.
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.
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. It expands upon the death metal stylings of Kittie's previous album Oracle (2001), while incorporating more melody and dynamics into their sound. Kittie wrote the album while they were engaged in a lawsuit with Artemis, and its lyrics and artwork reflect the band's feelings of uncertainty and "being suffocated and held down" during that period. After recording concluded, Kittie recruited guitarist Lisa Marx for a tour in support of the album.
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 to Ng in 1999 after Jake Weiner, the record label's second-in-command, witnessed one of the band's shows. Produced by Garth Richardson, Spit was recorded over nine days in May 1999 at EMAC Studios in London, Ontario, and was completed in August 1999. 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.
Talena A. L. Atfield is a Canadian bass guitarist, best known as a former member of the heavy metal group Kittie.
Oracle is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on November 13, 2001, through Artemis Records. Produced by Garth Richardson, 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 in May 2001; 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.
Today Is the Day is an American noise rock and experimental metal band that originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The band's diverse sound combines influences from areas such as noise music, avant-garde metal, grindcore, post-hardcore, and alternative rock among other genres. Most of the band's recordings make extensive use of dissonance and sampling, as well as unusual production techniques and psychedelic overtones. Lyrical themes include depression, warfare, violence, altered states of consciousness, and mental disorders.
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.
Cannibal Corpse is a five-piece American death metal band formed in 1988 in Buffalo, New York. In 1989, their self-titled demo drew the attention of Metal Blade Records, with whom they signed a contract to record their debut album Eaten Back to Life, which was released in 1990, followed by two studio albums, 1991's Butchered at Birth, and 1992's Tomb of the Mutilated. In 1993, lead guitarist Bob Rusay was fired, and was replaced by Rob Barrett, who joined the group in time to appear with the band in Jim Carrey's film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Titanic: The Complete Story is a 1994 American two-part documentary chronicling the story of the ocean liner RMS Titanic which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. It is a compilation of a four-hour documentary special produced by A&E Television Networks in 1994. A&E Home Video originally sold the entire documentary in a 4-tape VHS set and later a DVD release. It is considered by many critics and historians to be the definitive documentary regarding the Titanic. It is most famous for being one of the few Titanic documentaries to feature survivors.
"Funeral for Yesterday" is the first single and title track from Kittie's album of the same name.
The discography of Kittie, a Canadian heavy metal band, consists of six studio albums, one video album, four extended plays, thirteen singles and thirteen music videos.
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 in late 2007. Recording sessions for the album were held with producer Siegfried Meier at Beach Road Studios in Goderich, Ontario. Disappointed with the production of the band's previous album Funeral for Yesterday (2007), Kittie sought to return to a stripped down and more aggressive metal sound.
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.
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've Failed You is the sixth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Kittie, released on August 30, 2011, through eOne Music. Considered by the band to be their darkest and most introspective release, the album acts as a continuation of the sound featured on In the Black (2009), and features more personal and introspective lyrics that drew from various events of turmoil that vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander experienced in the two years following the aforementioned album's release. The album was produced by Siegfried Meier and was primarily recorded at Beach Road Studios in London, Ontario; Ivy Jenkins' bass tracks were recorded separately in the United States, as immigration difficulties prevented her from travelling to Canada.
Metal Evolution is a 2011 documentary series directed by anthropologist and filmmaker Sam Dunn and director, producer and music supervisor Scot McFadyen about heavy metal subgenres, with new episodes airing every Friday at 10 pm EST on MuchMore and Saturday at 10pm EST on VH1 Classic. Its origins come from Dunn's first documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, which included the acclaimed "Heavy Metal Family Tree."
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.
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.