About this project

I don't intend to be secretive, but there's a lot going on in my life that I haven't had time to blog about.

For instance, as of June 2011 I have a new partner/mad love, Steen (http://www.mediapathic.net/). He does a variety of video and motion graphics work, including the weird video projections at Death Guild, my favorite Bay Area goth club. We have already made some art together including an amazing video he shot for my cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" (for my covers album Uncovered, which you all funded, thank you!) EDIT: the first version of the "Hurt" video is done! See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYPTUsCJt4M 

Steen will be coming with me up North the weekend of October 14th, my main destination being Steamcon III in Seattle where I will perform three times (!) On this trip I am also performing in Portland at the goth club Shadowplay at the Fez Ballroom (Oct 13), and at the Lovecraft Bar (oct 16). 

I had an enormous "a-ha!" moment the other day when I realized this is the perfect opportunity to film a documentary. It will be a whirlwind trip but full of fun, 5 performances, an awards banquet (the first time I've been nominated for any award, my first acceptance speech I get to write -- whether I deliver it or not, it's exciting) and an absinthe party I'm co-hosting with Steam Federation, the Bay Area steampunk group, at Steamcon. I will be hanging out with some awesome colleagues and friends in goth/steampunk/music scenes at these events and some of them will probably not mind being filmed. 

Like everything I do, this will be on a shoestring budget and fiercely DIY with high quality standards. We need some gear, which is where you come in. I am offering some rewards, and open to suggestions if there's something else you'd like to see offered. 

As for style and content of the documentary: we are not entirely sure what we will get -- what drama will transpire, if I will play a show that flops, if someone will be mean to me (reality TV fans should be warned, that's pretty unlikely; unless something strange happens, negativity will neither be a big force nor be ignored where it does occur.) The camera will be on as much interesting action as possible in the course of the five-day trip. Backstage antics? People asking me to sign their boobs? Writing and preparing new songs? Conversations with show promoters? Relationship talks? (!?) You'll see the most interesting bits of it all.

I don't claim to be an expert or the last word on steampunk music -- I have only recently begun using the word to describe myself (though I've played with many of the best known steampunk acts and at the West Coast's biggest conventions) -- but I want to give you all some insight into how I make my living primarily by playing at steampunk and scifi conventions, and I hope to include some talks with other musicians and steampunk aficionados. 

We don't have a title picked out yet but suspect something will declare itself in the course of filming. 

As for timing, I have been pretty solid at getting album releases out exactly when I say I will. Editing a feature-length film is something I don't have much experience overseeing, and working with other people always adds some chaos to that, but we will try very very hard to have the final cut done by the end of the year, with DVDs shipping in January. Since we're not trying to get this on the festival circuit or whatever filmmakers do, just to have DVDs for me to sell my fans, we won't have to delay the film worrying about promotion and distribution.

(Still photo is of me playing at the Prophouse cafe in Vancouver, by Magpie Killjoy.)

[Edit: the $50 USB reward will also include a download of the documentary!]

[Edit 10/19: the trip went fantastically! There were no trainwrecks. I got great conversation with Mike Perschon at the absinthe party, and Jordan Bodewell, Curtis Eller, and Harlan Glotzer at the Sounds Vintage panel. Steen asked good questions in the car, and lots of concert footage turned out well. We are doing a follow-up tonight and we have our work cut out for us editing now!] 

[Edit 10/22: OMG we made it! I am kinda surprised and extremely relieved. If you do contribute any amount before funding period is up, you'll get to see in backer-only updates an exclusive video of me playing "The Ballad of Serenity." Also more exclusive videos will be added soon... what to choose, oh the suspense! Perhaps me doing karaoke to a Siouxsie song, or me eating Cheesy Poofs in bed...)]