Last month, the fourth edition of the East End Rockabilly Riot took place at The Dominion on Queen in Toronto. I have mentioned the EERR before in The Mysterious Vault, and have participated in each event as the house DJ, sharing the bill with live rockabilly acts. The shows so far have been a great success, which is quite rewarding considering how much work has gone into them. The fourth installment of the EERR was the East End Rockabilly Weekend, held over three days in September (see my previous post for details on the lineup), with seven different bands, two DJs, a car show, and two rock and roll movies. This is the first time that we have scheduled films as part of the event, the featured titles being Rock, Rock, Rock!, a vintage 1956 Alan Freed movie, and Rockabilly 514, a Canadian documentary focusing on the Montreal rockabilly and vintage lifestyle community. In preparing the programme guide for the EERW, I conducted an interview with Rockabilly 514 director Patricia Chica. Chica was very supportive of the EERW, and helpful in setting up the screening. Since only part of the interview ended up being printed in the programme guide, I thought that I would post the complete copy here on The Mysterious Vault. You can also read it on the East End Rockabilly Riot Myspace page (in the blog section), as well as view photos from the weekend's events. I will post a selection from my EERW DJ playlist here at a later date. Meanwhile, enjoy the interview, and check out Rockabilly 514 if you get a chance, it's a great rock 'n' roll documentary with a French Canadian twist! The film plays on Bravo! occasionally, although the DVD cut is longer. Thanks again to Patricia Chica for taking the time to do this interview.
Interview with filmmaker Patricia Chica
Rockabilly 514 director Patricia Chica, self portrait
Patricia Chica: Rockabilly 514 was first presented at the Red Hot and Blue Rockabilly festival in 2007 and soon after it started its festival circuit. Even after two years the film is still very popular among the rockabilly community as well as the general public!
EERR: What projects are you currently working on? You work as both a photographer and filmmaker, is that correct?
PC: I consider myself a visual storyteller. My new short film Day Before Yesterday is presented on Bravo! Canada as well as the film festivals around the world. I'm also working on the development of new TV series and a feature film. I still continue to do rock n' roll photography!
EERR: You co-directed Rockabilly 514 with Mike Wafer. What were your respective roles in making the film? Do you have any future projects planned together, or was this a one-off?
PC: Even though my co-director Mike Wafer and I were both involved in all the aspects of the making of the film, I can say that he was in charge of most of the writing and research and I was in charge of the look and cinematography. Mike resides in London, England so it makes it hard for us to collaborate on other projects together.
EERR: Rockabilly 514 is quite unique in that it focuses on the rockabilly and vintage lifestyle community in Montreal, which is to a large degree French. How has the reception been to the film in English Canada and the U.S.? Has Rockabilly 514 been screened much in Ontario, or across Canada?
PC: Rockabilly 514 has had a huge success everywhere. Rockabilly and film festivals in the United States have presented the film many times in the last two years, and we have got a great response everywhere we went from Los Angeles to New York! The full 86 minutes version hasn't been presented much in Canada, that's why we are very honored to be part of the East End Rockabilly Weekend!
EERR: Are there any Montreal-based bands that you didn’t get to include in Rockabilly 514 that you would have liked to feature?
PC: When the film was being produced, we were able to include all the rockabilly bands that we had heard about at the time and that were willing to appear in the film. I think that it represents the scene of the years 2003 to 2006. There were new bands who surfaced in the scene after the production was completed and I hope that the promotion we got for the film will help them get the recognition they deserve!
EERR: As a filmmaker, do you have interest in continuing to make films with a strong focus on music and musicians?
PC: I'm a rockumentary filmmaker at heart. I'm fascinated by the creative process and the personal and professional stakes of a musician. I shoot camera myself, bringing a strong visual sense to my work that wins quickly their trust. I have the ability to bring the best of a musician in front of a camera, allowing the viewer to feel and experience their emotions too. I am not a musician myself, I'm a visual artist and storyteller, but I think that I have a musical sensibility when I shoot – I just use a different type of instrument to express myself!
EERR: Bravo! has been very supportive of your film. Was it a surprise to you as a young filmmaker to get national support for such a unique documentary?
PC: We were very lucky to be supported by two networks, Bravo! in Canada and Canal D in Quebec. I was the first surprised! They got involved in the film after reading the first treatment and watching a teaser that we created in the earlier stages of research! Bravo! has always supported my work and I hope that I will continue collaborating with them for a long time!
EERR: Considering the vintage nature of the music, fashions, automobiles, and lifestyles profiled in Rockabilly 514, was it ever a consideration for you to shoot the film in a traditional medium, such as 16mm?
PC: Budget wise, it was not possible to shoot Rockabilly 514 in film. We filmed for 56 days over 3 years. We collected 300 hours of footage. To shoot on film was not even an option at the time!
Bloodshot Bill
EERR: Your film took you on the road down to the U.S., following Bloodshot Bill on tour. The U.S. is the home of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll, do you have any desire to do more filming down there?
PC: I would love to do more filming in the US. I always feel very inspired when I spend time in New York and Los Angeles! I collaborate closely with Kelly Padrick, a New York singer-songwriter, and I have directed her four music videos. I still keep going back to the US for various projects.
EERR: In a lot of ways, Rockabilly 514 tells a story that is left unfinished, the viewer wonders what becomes of the artists and individuals profiled in the film. Will we ever see a sequel, or is this to be left to our imaginations?
PC: At the moment, there is no sequel in the works. However, I'm presently collaborating with Bloodshot Bill on some other video projects that I'm very excited about! Who knows, maybe I'll decide to do a Rockabilly 514 tenth year anniversary follow up in the future!!!
EERR: Has the film Rockabilly 514 had much impact on the careers of the artists that you profiled? How has the Montreal rockabilly and vintage community changed since you made the film?
PC: I think that Rockabilly 514 helped get the Montreal rockabilly scene some mainstream media and international recognition as one of the strongest subcultures in Canada. It also helped the "Red Hot and Blue Weekender" get some press attention. Now the festival has moved to downtown Montreal and attracts a larger audience than when we first started documenting it. I'm very happy for Nathalie Lavergne, the promoter, who now has more and more support.
The Comets (top) and Wanda Jackson (below), first generation rockers
who both appear in Rockabilly 514
EERR: Do you find the rockabilly community welcoming of “outsiders” or alienating? There are a lot of fans of the music and early rock ‘n’ roll that do not necessarily feel the need to live a “vintage lifestyle”, but nonetheless love the music just the same.
PC: I think that the Montreal rockabilly scene is very welcoming! It attracts hard core rockabillies but also the general rock n' roll music lover. It also attracts jive dance students, alternative clothing designers, pinups, burlesque dancers, retro culture lovers and artistic people. They just want to have a good time. It's all about the music and the fun, in my opinion!
EERR: Finally, would you give us a list of 5 rock ‘n’ roll movies that top your list?
PC: I was recently at the Hollywood Premiere of Rock Prophecies, an amazing and well crafted rockumentary about the life and work of legendary rock n' roll photographer Robert Knight. I have to say that it was one of the most compelling rock documentaries that I've ever seen!
I also recommend the new It Might Get Loud featuring Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. (also saw it when it premiered in Los Angeles).
Other excellent films:
Anvil! The Story Of Anvil
Global Metal
Metallica – Some Kind Of Monster
EERR: Thanks Patricia!
Rockabilly 514 filmmaker Patricia Chica
