Derby Crazy Love -Press Summary

Red Queen Productions

Derby Crazy Love World Premiere -RIDM November 14 th , 2013 World Broadcast Premiere -Global TV November 16 th , 2013 GAT PR Press Summary

Interviews Completed Montreal Gazette Interviewed: Justine Pimlott, Maya Gallus, Val Desjardins

Montreal Gazette Photographer took video and photos during New Skids on the Block practice

CJAD Interviewed: Justine Pimlott, Val Desjardins

CULT MTL Interviewed: Justine Pimlott, Maya Gallus, Val Desjardins

She Does The City Interviewed: Maya Gallus, Alyssa Kwasny

Xtra.ca Interviewed: Justine Pimlott, Maya Gallus

Citytv - Breakfast Television Interviewed: Maya Gallus, Val Desjardins

GlobalNews Toronto Mentioned on air during segment by reporter Carey Marsden

Documentary knows how to hit hard Derby Crazy Love, premièring at RIDM next week, chronicles the rock ’emsock ’em rise of women’s roller derby Bill Brownstein http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Documentary+knows+hard/9144033/story.html MONTREAL — Montrealers, let your chests swell with civic pride. No, not only because we have been blessed with a non-crack-puffing mayor. Also because we boast the best women’s roller derby team in the country.

So forget the woes of the Habs, Als and Impact and get behind the New Skids on the Block, the Montreal women’s roller-derby squad, which has not only been a boon to the city’s tattoo parlours, but which would even give the male practitioners of the sport considerable pause.

Don’t believe it? Well, heed the words of New Skids star Smack Daddy: “Your body is the puck.

Your body is the target … and if you look the wrong way, someone’s going to smoke you.”

Smack Daddy rarely looks the wrong way. And, consequently, is much more the smoker than the smokee.

The players’ names alone command respect and elicit uncontrollable trembling from opposing teams: Iron Wench, Trash ’N Smash, Jess Bandit, Mange Moi El Cul, Georgia W. Tush. As one of the players candidly puts it: “There is something empowering about making someone fall to the ground.”

So much so that roller derby is purported to be the fastest-growing women’s sport on the planet.

More than 1,400 — no typo — women’s leagues are in operation on just about every continent.

Gemini Award-winning filmmakers Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott chronicle the exploits of the New Skids and delve into the ever-burgeoning popularity of the sport in Derby Crazy Love, which makes its world première Thursday at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). As gritty as any doc set in the wide and wild world of sport, Derby Crazy Love is also as revealing as any in the genre. Unlike most pro athletes, these players don’t hold back and are far less imageconscious. They also make next to no money on their roller skates. It is truly all about their love for the sport.

Credit Gallus and Pimlott for earning the trust of the women and, as a result, for penetrating a subculture that owes its roots as much to punk rock as to roller-skating.

They capture — in the words of the ABC-TV sports mantra — “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” as the New Skids take on their nemeses on the world stage, the London Rollergirls and the New York Gotham Girls — featuring the biggest name in the sport, cover girl Suzy Hotrod.

The only guys lurking on the scene — apart from those packing the stands — are New Skids coach The Rev and drag-queen Plastik Patrik, the team’s play-by-play announcer who will never be mistaken for deceased Maple Leafs broadcaster Foster Hewitt — although the wardrobe of fashionista Don Cherry just might make a swell fit.

Yet rough-and-tumble as this world is, many of the players possess surprising grace, displaying deft, balletic moves as they manoeuvre around a menacing opposition that would like little more than to body-slam them into another dimension.

And though they hit hard and the sport serves as an outlet for pent-up aggression, most of the players do have a conscience and fear causing serious injury. It seems that bonding amid this sisterhood is almost as important as winning.

Gallus and Pimlott are no strangers to the world of hard-hitting women’s sports. Their Torontobased Red Queen Productions also did the female boxing doc Punch Like a Girl as well as such acclaimed non-contact fare as Dish: Women, Waitressing & the Art of Service, Cat City, Girl Inside and Elizabeth Smart: On the Side of the Angels.

“People who were fans of our work told us we had to go a women’s roller-derby bout,” says Pimlott, who spent eight years toiling in the Montreal film scene before uprooting to Toronto.

“They said it explored some of the same themes — like female empowerment — that we had covered in our other films,” Gallus adds. “My impression of roller derby was the same as that of many people, that it entailed a lot of contrived drama and fighting. We didn’t really understand it.”

In other words, something akin to the theatrics of the World Wrestling Entertainment.

“But there was nothing fake about the first roller-derby bout we saw in Toronto,” Pimlott recalls.

“It was the World Cup and competing were the top players in the world. I found the athleticism there to be on the same level as that of professional hockey. Their skating skills were just incredible, and it was spectacular to watch. But then there was also the bonus of this incredible subculture of the roller-derby community and that of their fans.”

Then they came upon play-by-play queen Plastik Patrick, and they were thoroughly blown away.

“Like where are we?” Gallus would ask. “The fact that the subculture was as strong as the athletic aspect to it really convinced us to follow through. The whole idea of these players doing it for themselves in a league owned and operated by them just doesn’t happen very often in pro sports.

And everything they make goes back into the sport. I’m sure they would like to get paid, but they don’t.”

“That’s what the heart and soul of roller derby is all about and it will continue to be that way,” Pimlott says.

What also struck the directors was not just the passion of the players, but also their empathy for one another. They note that players acting out physically or throwing temper tantrums is not tolerated — which is quite often the opposite in male sports.

“When that does happen, someone has to take a time out,” Gallus says. “Unlike men’s hockey, that behaviour is just not condoned.”

“Aggression is certainly part of the sport, but there are rules and boundaries,” Pimlott says.

“There is a protocol. As women we are raised like that, but there are actually positive ways in which we can express our aggression and aspects of our physicality.”

Gallus marvels at the dazzling movements of Iron Wench on the floor. “She glides effortlessly, almost like water. She is the women’s roller-derby equivalent to a Gretzky,” she says. “Some of these women on the Montreal team have been ice skating all their lives, so this hasn’t been that tough a transition. But the counterpoint to that is some of the women like Trash ’N Smash never did any sports at all before, and suddenly they’ve found something they could learn to do later in life.”

But what both Gallus and Pimlott found to be the finest aspect of the sport was the support structure of the roller-derby community.

“Someone once joked that if you don’t fit in anywhere, you’ll fit in the derby,” Pimlott says. “It’s also one of the few sports where the women’s brand is far better known than that of the men.

Much the same way some feel about women’s hockey, the derby women not only play a cleaner game but also a more beautiful game.”

The directors do, however, sound a note of caution to Montrealers in the civic-pride department.

Apparently, Toronto’s CN Power squad has worked its way up and is now No. 2 in the country, ready to nip at the heels of the far-superior-named New Skids on the Block.

Derby Crazy Love makes it world première Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cinéma du Parc as part of the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). It screens again Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. at Cinéma Excentris. The festival starts Wednesday and runs to Nov. 24. For more info about the film and the festival, go to www.ridm.qc.ca.

This article also appeared in:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/story.html?id=9144033

Movie Fridays: a review of Dallas Buyers Club and Derby Crazy Love Movie critic Eric Cohen gives us a preview of the Dallas Buyers Club and RIDM, the International Documentary Festival of Montreal http://globalnews.ca/video/969485/movie-fridays-a-review-of-dallas-buyers-club-and-crazy-derby-love

RIDM ROUND-UP #2: 4 JOURS POUR TOUT VOIR Sof la Tof http://bloodyunderrated.net/2013/11/20/ridm-round-up-2-4-jours-pour-tout-voir/ DERBY CRAZY LOVE : N’importe quel Montréalais, et surtout Montréalaise, se doit de sacrifier une heure de sa vie pour Derby Crazy Love. Comme son nom l’indique, c’est un portrait du Roller Derby, rempli de la force et la fougue des femmes qui l’animent. La cinéaste s’est intéressée de plus près à l’équipe New Skids on the Block, en suivant les filles avant un championnat important. On découvre dans ce film des femmes inspirantes, qui vont au bout de leur passion, qu’importe les blessures physiques et émotionnelles qu’elle implique. En plus, le tout est à Montréal! Ce devrait être suffisant pour réjouir les féministes qui se sont fâchées après The eternal night of the twelve moons ;)

There is Now A Definitive Roller Derby Doc Kayla Marie Hillier http://cultmontreal.com/2013/11/there-is-now-a-definitive-roller-derby-doc/#sthash.FFRVRbZ5.dpuf

T he New Skids on the Block vs. the London Rollergirls. Photo by Tyler Shaw Making its world premiere at RIDM this week is Derby Crazy Love, a documentary that explores the subculture and history of roller derby while shining a spotlight on Canada’s top team: Montreal’s New Skids on the Block.

The film sits perfectly within the body of work created by Toronto-based Red Queen Productions, a collaboration between award-winning filmmakers Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott, now in its tenth year. The pair’s first co-production was a series about women’s boxing called Punch Like a Girl, so it’s fitting that they’re revisiting female athletes a decade later.

“Our philosophy is about making films about women and subjects/people who are on the margins and bringing that into the mainstream through our particular lens,” says Gallus. “The roller derby scene is unlike any other sporting event scene. It really is this amazing subculture. It’s this whole DIY community, player-owned and operated — no other sport is like that.”

After attending the very first roller derby World Cup hosted by Toronto in 2011, it became clear to Gallus and Pimlott that they wanted to explore the sport. “Derby is going to the next level. If you haven’t heard about it yet — although I’d be surprised — you’re going to be hearing about it. It’s being taken more seriously as an athletic sport,” says Gallus. “The reason that it’s of interest now is because it’s really about to explode.”

When deliberating over which league to focus on for the documentary, two in particular stood out. “We looked at Toronto, because Toronto has more leagues than anyone. And then we looked at Montreal, because Montreal is the top team. And once we met Montreal, it just became very obvious, I mean, they’re the top team in Canada. So that was the natural story to follow,” explains Gallus.

“There’s this whole subculture in Montreal, with musicians and artists and many people like Val Desjardins and Plastik Patrik who are part of roller derby and also part of the culture. Since we wanted to look at the subculture as well as the sport, that was a natural fit.”

WHO’S YOUR DADDY? The film focuses primarily on local woman-about-town Val “Smack Daddy” Desjardins, a prominent member of the New Skids on the Block (and MVP at the World Cup), who at the time was recovering from a serious leg injury.

“It was clear from the beginning that she was a charismatic player who would figure to some degree in the film but we didn’t know to what degree we would focus on her. The injury became one of the threads that added some interesting drama to the story — but it was real drama, that any derby player could be dealing with. The fact that they were coming up to the championships and she wanted to play so badly and was so determined. And the fact that after her surgery with 13 pins in her leg, she was still going to play — that became really dramatic. That’s when you really see the level of obsession, if you like, of how passionate someone could be about the sport,” says Gallus.

Desjardins began playing derby after DJing a match six years ago and has worked her way up the ranks since then. She views Derby Crazy Love as a good opportunity to not only document derby culture but a way to get rid of some of the stereotypes associated

with the sport. “Maya and Justine really found a nice path in terms of creating a documentary that could expose the whole underbelly of the sport — which is the community and why it’s so special,” she explains. “I think shedding that image with the fishnets and so on, to becoming more serious athletes, and having filmmakers expose what remains of the more spectacle side of it all, and where that comes from, and what it means to the players, is important.”

PHOENIX NO MORE Specific to Montreal derby culture, and featured prominently in the film, is local watering hole the Royal Phoenix, which was operated by Desjardins at the time of filming, and was essentially created with the derby community in mind. But things change.

“Yeah, that’s an important part of the story; that’s very unfortunate,” says Desjardins. “It was my baby and I worked two years full-time on it as a project. I was 25 per cent owner, but I was approached by the [other] owners to do my thing and to be the one to run the bar and bring in the derby girls, then all the queer nights that I wanted and just really take care of the management and programming.

“I was working full-time at the bar and they were supposed to just be investors. But I guess because of the bar’s popularity, their behaviour changed. Some sketchy things happened and I ended up having to get out. So I had to decide to say, ‘See you later; buy me out. I’m getting the fuck out.’ So it’s really… that’s been pretty brutal. The bar is in the film a lot, so it’s going to be really difficult to watch that component, but at least a lot of people in Montreal and a lot of the community that frequented the Royal Phoenix are very aware of the changes. But the film will kind of bring it all back up, I guess.”

Desjardins, who came up with the name for the bar as well as the logo design, was not able to take it with her when she left as the remaining owners registered a trademark while they negotiated her departure. This, of course, has led to some confusion that may be aggravated due to the bar’s role as a location in the film. But the bar is indeed no longer associated in any way with Desjardins or the Montreal roller derby league.

WHAT’S IN A NAME There are concerns that as roller derby gets more attention that there’ll be a need to get rid of the alter ego nicknames or other theatrical aspects of the sport, but Desjardins explains that it’s up to the athletes to guide that inevitable progression. “Personally — well, for the names, for example, I think it’s important that we clean the

names. So names that are either derogatory or sexist both ways — just maybe have a PG version of their names. Some sort of clean-up in terms of making the sport family friendly.

“You’re not either a serious athlete with your real name, in a league, or you’re in the WWF. We can create something outside of that. We can have everything we want but we have to define that and not be gauging ourselves on these standards, from basically just men’s sports.” ■ Derby Crazy Love has its world premiere at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) at Cinéma du Parc (3575 Parc) tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., $11.50. And there’s a second screening at the fest at Cinema Excentris (3536 StLaurent) on Saturday, Nov. 16, 3 p.m., $11.50.

You can also catch a shorter TV version of the film on Global on Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m. And if after screening the flick you decide you need to lace up some skates, you should head here for more information. Or you can also check out the official website here.

#BTMTL: Derby Revolution http://www.btmontreal.ca/videos/2837234691001/

Derby Crazy Love: Red Queen Productions Celebrates a New Kind of Femininity With Roller Derby Documentary Erica Ruth Kelly http://www.shedoesthecity.com/derby-crazy-love-red-queen-productions-celebrates-a-new-kindof-femininity-with-roller-derby-documentary

When it comes to Toronto-based film company, Red Queen Productions, you’d be wise to expect the unexpected. “We like to look at subjects that are frequently on the margins and bring them into the mainstream in some way,” says Maya Gallus, director and co-founder. Now celebrating their 10th year, Gallus and co-founder Justine Pimlott’s latest documentary, Derby Crazy Love, explores the powerful universe of women’s roller derby.

Following Red Queen’s 2003 series on women’s boxing, Punch Like a Girl, various people suggested that Gallus and Pimlott make a film about roller derby. After attending the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto, the spark for the film was ignited: “It just blew our minds,” says Gallus. “Here was this amazing subculture – this whole community of people that was so DIY, player-owned-and-operated, feminist, grassroots and kickass. It was amazing.”

In Derby Crazy Love, Gallus and Pimlott follow Canada’s top roller derby team, Montreal’s New Skids on the Block, as they prepare to confront their rivals, the UK’s London Rollergirls. In it, we meet a host of charismatic characters, like the New Skids’ gender-bending announcer, Plastik Patrik; Roller Derby World Cup MVP 2011, Val “Smack Daddy” Desjardins; and Montreal Roller Derby founder, Alyssa “Georgia W. Tush” Kwasny.

I got the chance to interview Kwasny and Gallus about the sport, the film, and a new kind of femininity.

Shedoesthecity: Could you start by talking a bit about how you founded Montreal Roller Derby?

Alyssa Kwasny: It was in 2006. Roller derby was starting to get pretty popular in the States, and starting to pop up in Canada. There were about 4 leagues at the time in Canada. And then I was kind of waiting for one to start here and kind of obsessed over it for a little while, [but] nothing was happening. Eventually I just got fed up and found some people. At our first meeting, we had 14 people. But within a year, I think we grew to about 50, 60 people.

SDTC: How much of it is a physical game versus it being a mental game? Or is it a balance between the two?

AK: It’s both. You know, you could be a great athlete but if you don’t really understand the rules, or if you’re not paying attention to your team, you’re not going to be as successful. The best players in the sport right now are not only extremely athletic, but they’re also very intelligent.

SDTC: What direction would you like to see this sport move in?

AK: Hmm…a lot of people want to see it go to the Olympics. I don’t know if that’s a realistic goal in the near future.

I’d rather just kind see it go in a direction where it just continues to get more athletic, established, and fan-friendly.

SDTC: Do you have any advice for women who are considering starting the sport?

AK: Make sure they’re comfortable on roller skates. There are a lot of leagues that will accept people that are new to roller skating, but it always helps showing up not thinking you’re going to die the moment you stand up – figuring out that stability, balance, and just getting comfortable on your skates before.

SDTC: Is the fear of getting injured something you simply put out of your mind when you’re playing?

AK: That’s a good question because a lot of people, when we’re talking about roller derby, they’re like “That sounds fun but I’d never want to do it because I don’t want to get injured.” But I know people who’ve broken their leg taking a step, you know? Injuries are more preventable the more fit you are, however it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear for injuries. You’re less likely to get injuries the more comfortable you are with skating and the more strength you have.

Core strength. Strong hamstrings. It’s all about taking care of your body. I have a friend who was walking and slipped on ice and I think she may have broken both ankles. I trip over stuff all the time on the street but I can roller skate pretty well. I can’t walk but I can skate.

Shedoesthecity: Where did you hear about the New Skids on the Block and why were you inspired to follow their story?

Maya Gallus: From our research, we determined that Montreal’s New Skids on the Block were the top team in Canada. So they were a natural in terms of profiling. Once we met them, we knew that they would be perfect to follow because they’re just so colourful and inclusive. The whole art subculture aspect is a really significant part of the roller derby world, so people like Smack Daddy and Plastik Patrik were also really intriguing to us. And they had a really great dramatic story, because they had a chance to go the regional championships and take on their nemesis, the London Rollergirls from the UK. SDTC: There’s a lot of talk in the film about roller derby becoming an obsession for the people who play it. Why do you think this is?

MG: It really does take over your life, that’s what they all told me. It becomes an obsession, if you like, or at the very least, it certainly becomes a way of life, because it’s not just the fact that this is a new sport that not a lot of people know about, but it’s also because it’s player-owned-and-operated and any spare time that they have, they’re either practicing or playing or they’re doing something else, fundraising or organizing or booking, in order to keep the whole thing alive.

SDTC: Was there anything that surprised you about the sport or the people who played it ?

MG: I know what many people do make an assumption about the kind of person that would be attracted to. You know, maybe very tough, aggressive, hard core. I didn’t have that bias, but I was pleasantly surprised at how really lovely and friendly everyone was. And so open. And I think that one of the reasons that people are so open, aside from the fact that derby attracts a certain kind of open person, really, is that they want to get the word out.

SDTC: Given that a lot of your films look at the experiences of women, was there an aspect of women’s experiences in sports you were particularly interested in exp loring through this documentary?

MG: Unlike many other sports, it’s so inclusive, not only in terms of the orientation or the way people present, but also in terms of body shape and size. Derby is truly one of the sports where no matter what shape or size you are, there will be a position where you can actually use your shape or size to your advantage. They all talked about how anywhere you go, anywhere around the world, that if you meet someone who’s in derby, it’s like BOOM! Instant connection. And I loved that. I just found that appealing on so many levels.

SDTC: What, if anything, are you hoping that people take away from the documentary?

MG: My hope is that people will learn something about how empowering and DIY this sport is and also that they’ll maybe start a league in their area. I mean, it’s really a wonderful thing for women, because women are taught that we’re not supposed to be physically aggressive. I think it’s amazing to look at a sport that says Yes, you can be aggressive, and that doesn’t mean, as Smack says, that you have to be a douchebag. If I could summarize the message I’d like people to come away with, it’s that roller derby really is about a new kind of femininity, about women as amazons – women finding their most powerful self and expressing that.

Derby Crazy Love’s world premiere is this Thursday, November 14 at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (7pm at Cinema du Parc, 3575 Parc). It will also be screening on November 16 (3pm, Cassavetes/Cinema Excentris, 3536 St-Laurent). If you can’t make it to Montreal, a shortened version will also be airing on Global TV, November 16 at 8:00 pm EST. Director and Roller Derby Gals with present at both screenings for Q&A session! For more info, visit their site.

The POV guide to RIDM 2013 http://povmagazine.com/blog/view/pov-at-ridm-2013 Derby Crazy Love From the RIDM catalogue: “Derby Crazy Love takes us to the heart of one of the last decade’s most thrilling sporting phenomena. With their blend of passion and humour, the roller-skate warriors emerge as revolutionaries who are changing women’s image, one shoulder-check at a time — and also changing how we experience sports, thanks to their playful spirit and unparalleled sense of spectacle. Lace ’em up!”

Read this career-spanning interview with the creators of Derby Crazy Love, Justine Pimlott and Maya Gallus, from our 25th anniversary issue.

RIDM goes around the world in 135 films Documentary festival takes a typically wide-ranging approach T’cha Dunlevy http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie-guide/RIDM+goes+around+world+films/9073359/story.html

The pop-culture fringe gets nods in Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott's Derby Crazy Love, about Montreal roller derby team New Skids on the Block; the NFB-produced My Prairie Home, about a transgender country singer; Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton, looking at L.A. indie/hip-hop label Stones Throw Records; and The Punk Singer, about Bikini Kill/Le Tigre vocalist Kathleen Hanna.

Six films à voir au RIDM Andréanne Chevalier http://journalmetro.com/culture/402399/six-films-a-voir-au-ridm/ Derby Crazy Love Connaissez-vous les New Skids on the Block? Redoutables compétitrices à quatre roues vêtues de couleurs fluo, les filles des New Skids représentent Montréal dans des tournois contre les meilleures équipes du monde de roller derby. Le film de Maya Gallus et de Justine Pimlott est une incursion parmi quelques-unes de ces femmes fortes, fières et atypiques pour qui ce sport est partie prenante de leur identité. On y explore la fièvre du roller derby, qui a contaminé Montréal, son Mile-End et Plastik Patrick depuis quelques années, et on y croise des adversaires de Londres et de New York. Présenté demain (le 14) et samedi (le 16). AC

Review: Derby Crazy Love Ariel Fisher http://www.rowthree.com/2013/11/14/review-derby-crazy-love/

The niche world of roller derby is one that exists below the radar. Having peaked in the late 1970’s with Disco culture, the female dominated sport all but died out. That is, until the early 2000’s. What was once akin to the WWE is now back with a vengeance, and taking the world by storm. Derby Crazy Love, the latest documentary from Torontonian filmmakers Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott, lifts the veil of mystery, and introduces the world to the sport, its key players, and the beauty of its doctrine.

The film moves as feverishly fast as the women who whirl around the track. From the first frame, it’s as intoxicating as the star players describe the sport. With over 1400 leagues around the world, the derby movement shows no signs of slowing down. “The world is going Derby!” exclaims Montreal’s Plastik Patrik, announcer for the Montreal New Skids on the Block. When it comes to derby, he says, “the weirder the better.” The Emcee is famous for his Frank N Furteresque, Iggy Pop and Ziggy Stardust style, and is very much the New Skids’ mother hen.

The beauty of this documentary is that it doesn’t simply dissect the sport; it seems to accurately represent the culture that surrounds it. While it does give a very brief explanation of the often-confusing object of the game, this is hardly the focus. What Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott have given us is a portrait of a culture, and a way of life.

Like with many counter culture movements, derby started in a grassroots way. The sport’s revival began in 2000 in Austin, Texas, with a group of women who just wanted to start a league. The skaters operated everything themselves, and gradually the fever spread.

We’re shown a diverse cornucopia of women from all around the world. Some scarier than others – you couldn’t pay me to stand up to New York Gotham Girls’ Suzy Hotrod – they all live and breathe derby. Happy to do it for free, they put every cent they can back into the league. Severe injuries are indicative of only one thing – the inability to play.

This is the most devastating heartbreak of all for a derby girl.

All third-wave feminists, these women take pride in building this world as they go. What attracts them to the sport more than anything is the confidence it instills. “Most women are under confident,” says London Rollergirls’ Raw Heidi.

“All the women that I know I think are unbelievably strong and fascinating and brilliant and inspirational. But I don’t think they feel that about themselves. […] Roller derby makes them feel that about themselves.”

The film deftly tackles the stereotypes of masculinity, femininity and the inherent aggression both genders posses.

While it is a sport that started with fishnets and short skirts, it’s not about being thin and sexualized. There’s ferocity to these women, and a beautiful aggression that few want to acknowledge. The film tackles issues regarding unfair gender “norms” – a little boy can be a fighter, but a girl should play nice – and showcases the desire to stomp out the stereotypes.

The future of roller derby is as unclear as some of its rules. Proud to dictate their own way of life, if they want to go pro, some concessions may need to be made. But where does the line get drawn? These are the issues that Gallus and Pimlott leave untouched, because the state of affairs is still uncertain. But what is certain is that Derby Crazy Love is an inspiration. It’s depiction of the sport and its key players is infectious. It’s a true community, one filled with mutual respect and admiration. The feverishly passionate tone of the sport is represented beautifully from start to finish. By its end, you’ll be looking to dust off your mother’s old skates and hit the track.

Derby Crazy Love has its world premiere at RIDM – Montreal International Documentary Festival tonight, Thursday, November 14th at 7:00pm at Cinema du Parc. The world broadcast premiere will air on Global TV this Saturday, November 16th at 8:00pm.

This article also appeared in:

http://arielfisher.com/2013/11/15/derby-crazy-love/

Falling in crazy love with derby Lauryn Kronick http://dailyxtra.com/canada/arts-and-entertainment/film-and-video/falling-in-crazy-love-with-derby?market=206

Roller derby doc looks at the lives, community and competition of Montreal’s top team and their champion opponents Smack Daddy, Apocalypstick and Georgia W Tush race around on the oval flat-track in bright outfits, through a pack of women on roller-skates with hard hits coming their way. Does this sound hardcore? These Montreal roller derby players embody it. Women’s roller derby has become a household sporting name in Canada with over 100 teams across the country run by women for women. Filmmakers Justine Pimlott and Maya Gallus decided it was time to give derby the attention it deserves, and the queer-filmmaking duo launch their new documentary, Derby Crazy Love this month. It premieres in Montreal at the Montreal International Documentary Film Festival and the pair hopes to organize screenings across Canada and in derby communities around the world.

The film follows Montreal’s top team New Skids on the Block on their exciting journey to the regional championships against the London Rollergirls. We are introduced to the derby world’s champions, the Gotham Girls of New York, and meet some of their best players, Bonnie Thunders and Suzy Hotrod, as well the Skids’ Smack Daddy and London’s Raw Heidi.

These fierce players share their stories of being queer in sports, being aggressive versus violent on the track, power, love and community and the DIY culture that truly captures derby for what it is.

“We show Canadian pride in our film when we follow Montreal as they go to playoffs and meet up with their nemesis, the London Rollergirls,” says Pimlott. “We were blown away by athleticism and the community feeling, [gender-bending artist] Plastik Patrik as the announcer and this amalgamation of theatre, spectacle and queer people in sports.

Pimlott and Gallus mark the 10th anniversary of their company Red Queen Productions this year (but they’ve been making films about women, social issues and arts and culture for more than 20 years.) They were encouraged to check out a derby match after audiences had seen their six-part series Punch Like A Girl, about women’s boxing, which features Savoy “Kapow” Howe of the Toronto Newsgirls’ Boxing Club. Once they caught the derby bug, Derby Crazy Love went full steam ahead as the pair set up camp in Montreal to document one of Canada’s strongest teams.

“The wonderful thing about the derby community, unlike some other sports, is that it’s very DIY and has a culture of empowerment; it’s also about inclusivity. When Maya and I were doing the research for the doc, in 2011, we went to the derby world championship in Toronto so we could see what the excitement was about,” says Pimlott. “We were impressed by the game but what struck us was the [derby] community: the fans, the players, the officials, there are lots of queer and trans people who are part of it.”

The “DIY punk rock” environment is what keeps roller derby true to its core of being community-oriented and inclusive; the players and dedicated volunteer coaches and officials run the teams and leagues and, as Pimlott explains, people who feel marginalized because of their gender identity or sexual orientation find a safe space to play sports. Players spend countless hours fundraising for their team and volunteering in their community; chances are, if you’ve attended a Dyke March during Pride, you’ve seen packs of derby girls whizzing by on their skates.

“I grew up playing traditional sports and as a young queer person, there’s the stereotype of the lesbian gym teacher as the very athletic women; in that, I found a level of homophobia that was sometimes more overt than covert,” says Pimlott. “My experience as a filmmaker though ... differences are celebrated and encouraged. That’s also the thought and ethos of the derby community; if you don’t fit anywhere else you fit in [here].”

Smack Daddy truly captures the essence of derby at the beginning of the film: “The fact that you’re combining roller-skating which is like, let’s hold hands and go to the roller-rink, with chicks beating on each physically is like, fireworks.”

Derby Crazy Love premieres at the Montreal International Documentary Festival Sat, Nov 16 Casavettes Cinema/Excentris 3536, Boul St Laurent, Montreal redqueenproductions.com/index.php/portfolio/derby-crazy-love/

Dix films à voir aux RIDM André Duchesne http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/festivals-de-cinema/rencontres-internationales-dudocumentaire/201311/09/01-4708968-dix-films-a-voir-aux-ridm.php

Derby Crazy Love Le roller derby connaît un regain de popularité depuis 10 ans et Montréal est loin d'être en reste. Derby Crazy Love explique ce phénomène et dresse un portrait de notre scène locale, à travers les jeunes femmes qui ont choisi ce sport-spectacle. Entrevues, extraits de matchs et films d'archives composent l'essentiel de ce documentaire rock'n'roll taillé sur mesure pour les hipsters!

Jeudi 14 novembre, à 19h (Cinéma du Parc); samedi 16 novembre, à 15h (Excentris).

Derby Crazy Love http://www.lapresse.ca/agenda/09-43510-derby-crazy-love.php Smack Daddy, Apocalypstick, Bone Machine... Ces pseudonymes évocateurs appartiennent aux joueuses de l'équipe montréalaise de roller derby New Skids on the Block. À travers le parcours de cette équipe attachante et les destins individuels de jeunes femmes qui ont trouvé dans ce sport atypique une communauté soudée et un moyen d'exprimer sans complexe une féminité forte et originale, Derby Crazy Love nous plonge au coeur d'un des phénomènes sportifs les plus jouissifs de la dernière décennie. Passionnées et drôles, ces guerrières en patins à roulettes sont présentées comme de petites révolutionnaires qui font évoluer l'image de la femme un coup d'épaule à la fois, mais aussi la philosophie du sport, grâce à leur esprit ludique et leur sens du spectacle inégalé. À vos patins ! (BD)

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Derby Crazy Love, Cinéma du Parc, Nov 14 & 16 Leila Marshy http://roverarts.com/2013/11/faster-pussycat-kill-kill/ In 3-inch heels, a bustier and cufflinks, Plastic Patrick takes care of the play by play. Smack Daddy sends Miss Tea Maven to the floor in a backwards shove. But Suzy Hotrod breaks through the scrimmage and wins the day for the New York City Gotham Girls. The audience of thousands goes wild. Arch rival team New Skids on the Block have to wait another year to vie for the world championship. Welcome to roller derby With its roots equal parts in Raquel Welch’s long hair and the never-say-never punk riot grrrl scene of the 80s and early 90s, roller derby is the bad girl of sports. Literally. Starring members such as Iron Wench, Mange Moi El Cul, and Apocalipstik, Montreal’s New Skids on the Block is considered the best team in Canada. With a full roster of home and away games – against teams like the Connecticut Death Quads, Les Contrabandistas, and Les Filles du Roi – the team is nonetheless completely amateur in the true sense of the word.

As in dirt poor. Perfect for the Olympics. Ya think?

Toronto filmmakers Maya Gallus and Justine Pimlott’s documentary Derby Crazy Love goes straight to to the heart of the emerging roller derby phenomenon, a vibrant and fun expression of feminist physicality that has expanded to over 100 leagues in Canada and 1,400 worldwide.

“Your body is the puck. Your body is the target… and if you look the wrong way, someone’s going to smoke you,” says Smack Daddy, of Montreal’s New Skids. The fastest-growing women’s sport in the world is not for sissies. But it is a sisterhood.

Crazy Derby Love: world premiere at the Montreal International Documentary Festival November 14 | 7pm | Cinema du Parc 2nd screening on November 16 | 3pm | Cassavetes/Cinema Excentris World Broadcast Premiere on Saturday Nov 16 at 8:00 pm on Global TV.

Derby crazy love [RIDM 2013] Benoît Rey http://www.cinemaniak.net/derby-crazy-love-ridm-2013/ Rollers, filles et baston - ♥♥½

Vous habitez Montréal mais n’avez pas encore entendu parlé des New skids on the block ? Il est temps de se mettre à la page et de s’intéresser au phénomène contre-culture pop du roller derby, qui revient en force depuis quelques années. Derby crazy love nous montre la passion de ces jeunes femmes pour les rollers et les courses musclées.

Le roller derby est un véritable phénomène auquel vous deviendrez accro si tôt que vous aurez commencé à vous y intéressé. Sport de contre-culture pop dominé par les femmes, il est encore aujourd’hui marginal et cultive sa différence en ne se prenant surtout pas au sérieux. Ses icônes sont aujourd’hui Suzie hotrod, Kamikaze kitten, Apocalypstik ou encore Smack Daddy.

Les réalisatrices suivent ici essentiellement l’équipe montréalaise des New skids on the blocks, montrant le terreau dans lequel l’équipe unie et sympathique est née et se développe, à savoir la communauté queer de la nuit du Mile end. On voit (trop) rapidement les extensions de ce mouvement dans les comicstrips, la musique et les performances liées à la musique, notamment avec le flamboyant Plastik Patrik. En approfondissant le personnage de Smack Daddy, le film questionne aussi l’identité, le genre, la féminité … pour abandonner ces réflexions tout aussi brutalement. On voit la passion et le plaisir que prennent ces jeunes filles et on les suit avec compassion dans la compétition, mais cela ne fait malheureusement pas oublier le montage désordonné du film, qui choisit mal son

déroulement (on n’apprend ainsi les fondements et les règles de ce sport, entre jammers et blockers, qu’au bout de 15 minutes). Et pour un sport aussi physique et actif, on aurait aimé ressentir davantage cela dans la forme même de ce documentaire.

Réalisatrices : Maya Gallus & Justine Pimlott, production : Maya Gallus & Justine Pimlott, son : Andy Frech, Grant Edmonds & Catherine van der Donckt, image : Katerine Giguère et Nathalie Lasselin, montage : Dave Kazala, pays : Canada, durée : 65 min.

16e Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal http://www.radiogrenouille.com/actualites-2/sujets/16e-rencontres-internationales-dudocumentaire-de-montreal/

DERBY CRAZY LOVE Quinn MacDonald http://quinnmorganmacdonald.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/derby-crazy-love/ Saturday night, Global TV premiered their documentary Derby Crazy Love as part of their Obsessions series. I don’t have cable so I had to wait and watch it online this morning, but it was worth the wait! The doc follows Montreal’s The New Skids on the Block during the month before the 2012 regional playoffs, and features interviews from Gotham and London players as well.

The caption below the episode (“In the world of professional roller derby, women express their meanest, mouthiest selves, where blood is the new pink.”) still went for the sensational, which is a bit annoying, but the doc did a good job of presenting the sport as a DIY alternative to mainstream sports that still requires serious athletic skill and dedication. As the game becomes more popular, many people are trying to push it more into the mainstream, and while I think it’s, like, the best thing ever, and a sport that prides itself in positivity and inclusion could only be good for society as a whole, I worry about where this leads as people try to make it more “acceptable.”

Many players have started getting rid of their derby names and playing down the performative aspects of the sport in the hopes that it will be taken more “seriously.” Personally, I don’t think this is necessary. Near the end of the episode, one of the girls says we can decide for ourselves what a serious athlete looks like, and I couldn’t agree more. The serious/fun dichotomy is false, and I refuse it.

Anyway, if you love the sport or if you want to learn more about it, I highly recommend you watch it. You might just be converted.

What’s on Tonight?

Saturday, November 16th, 2013 http://tvloon.ca/2013/11/16/whats-tonight-saturday-november-16th-2013/

Obsessions http://www.tvzone.ca/obsessions/ Obsessions is a documentary series that chronicles the extraordinary and unusual worlds of personal obsessions. Each episode introduces us to remarkable people on the outskirts of what is deemed normal. These untold and entertaining stories shine a light on people who are driven, and obsessed, and yet still continue with their lives in a truthful manner.

Derby Crazy Love Aired Saturday, November 16 at 8.00 et/pt http://www.globaltv.com/obsessions/episodeguide/index.html

In the world of roller derby, women express their meanest, mouthiest selves, where blood is the new pink.

November 16th, 2013 No Archive Available

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