KAT
KAT
Fascinated with those who are unapologetically bold, constantly splashing my toes in the pools of discomfort, I am a rebel at heart, a conjuror of stories that hide in the subconscious. I regurgitate nightmares and channel exquisite dreams in the same breath. I make films that will leave you sticky with alacrity.
I am a writer/director at heart, a producer out of necessity, and get my hands dirty in nearly every other department as needed. I'm well versed in producing VFX and animation, but my passion as a director lies in live-action storytelling with a touch of VFX/animation. My preferred genre is Magikal Surrealism, with a side of horror.
You might catch me lurking about during a dark moon, but most often I'm in my laboratory trying to make gold out of lead. My current attempt is a collection of 26 short films entitled L’alphabête Noire. A meditation on archetypes that explore our shadow selves, it is the first cinematic “tarot deck” based on the alphabet.
E-mail: Kat@KatFarmProductions.com
IG: @kat.macabre (main), @beyond_the_radiator (movie recos)
Affiliations: NYWIFT, The Gotham (formerly ifp), Sundance Co//ab, FREE THE WORK
Directing Reel
Current FILM PROJECTS
“L’alphabête Noire”
An abecedarian tale of the tragedy, beauty, and absurdity of life. With generous support from the NYC Women’s Fund by @nyfacurrent and @MadeinNY, the letters “A-D” are set to be completed by April 2024. More details at: www.alphabêtenoire.com
“The Widow’s Hand”
A trilogy of surrealistic horror shorts that reimagine three well-known fairy tales: Sleeping Beauty, Hansel & Gretel, and Bluebeard. The first film, “HYSTERIA,” has ventured out into the world making way for the next in line, “PHANTASMA.” Created under the pseudonym, Lucretia Grimm, these films are meant to reclaim the stories the famous Grimm brothers stole from their rightful owners. More details can be found on the project website: The Widow's Hand
KilL Me Later: The Mystery of Stiffs, Inc.
Recently resurrected, this experimental documentary is currently in rehab soon to have a fresh(ish) start. The excerpt below gives a glimpse into the project.
PAST FILM PROJECTS
From Left to Right: “Renaissance of Strings” with Veronika Rabinovich ~ “Paper Doves” music video for the band Submarine Bells ~ “Men Who Have Made Love to Me,” a collaboration with Normandy Raven Sherwood, and “Girl with the Haunted House Tattoo” for the band The Long Losts.
Photography
I was a photographer before I was a filmmaker. This was something my dad and grandfather passed down to me. While most Alaskans spent their permanent fund dividend on a vacation to Hawaii I took mine down to the guys at Stewart’s Photo and found a way to spend the winter in even less sunlight - that is, a darkroom. Being in any darkroom was meditative and all the different film stocks to play with at the time were magical. I am quite rusty with printing now but I adore the analog process and take out my film cameras when I can.
The UMBRELLA BOOK
Once upon a time I made this proof of concept and sent out to a couple publishers. In return I received one of my favorite rejection letters so far - it was dated before I even submitted it! Living in NYC , I see more of these poor creatures every year and have been hoping to revamp this project. The original Proof can be found HERE in the meantime.
A Note About Family
Wilson Bryan Allen (below left) is a little known key figure in my life. Decades after thinking I have been exploring the world solely with my own eyes I noticed a clear line between my grandfather’s life experience and what stories I choose to tell. His images of trauma mixed with his peaceful reverence for nature are perhaps the two most enduring themes in my work. Because of him, I first stepped into the magic of the darkroom as a child. This prompted an initiation ritual of him kicking me out of it and me sneaking back in enough times until a station by the developing bath was earned (metaphorically). Though I was never part of his physical process, I feel I have inherited part of his creative process and hope, like him, my images may inspire others to connect deeply with the natural world and to find heart in the darkest moments. Below is a meager sample of his WWII photos (as a member of the 165th Signal Photo Company) and his nature photography.
