TMC Interview: Katrina del Mar maker of raunchy grrl biker film Hell on Wheels tells us how it is

by Petit Fours

Film-maker and photographer Katrina del Mar let us inside her crazy universe for a few minutes this week to tell us about her raunchy high-speed diesel and dyke film coming out – Hell on Wheels, Girl Gangs Forever – just ahead of its London premiere on Saturday. She also discusses lactose-intolerant witches, whether her work really is erotica, and attempts to answer the age-old question of why lesbians like bikes so much.

1) Hell on Wheels – Girl Gangs for ever – tell us about it. What can viewers expect?

First thing you should know is that it’s ridiculous. Second thing: It was made with almost no money at all. Thirdly and, hopefully most importantly it’s hugely ambitious packed with wildly talented and beautiful women and entirely invested in a queer D.I.Y. F/U sensibility. It’s a world populated with butch mechanics, sexy modern go go dancers, a crazy mother, a bitter & depressed daughter, cyclists who love animals, homeless queer youth who aren’t all that young, dyslexic bikers, and a gambling addicted scooter gang. We have a French Monotonist on skates. It’s a tiara of pure fantasy with elements of ugly reality embedded within.

2) Katrina, you are well-known photographer – what made you want to do film?

I was setting up these photoshoots which were getting more & more elaborate, with women and their bikes & dogs. The story got too big to contain in a single moment. I had a super 8 movie camera so I decided to make a movie one day. I had made movies before, one of which was called ‘non dairy creamer’ about a lactose-intolerant witch who conjures a personified spirit creamer; that film was made for about 17$ and I made over 150$ on screenings around NYC before the original & only copy of it was stolen out of my car on avenue A. That was heartbreaking. Then I made a movie called “Wet Nurse” about a spoiled princess who was never weaned. The film lab processed the film in the wrong chemistry & it came back completely opaque. Black. I should show that film now in a gallery & call it “art” or “censorship” or something.

3) What’s the main difference between doing a film and a photoshoot?

Films take much longer; they’re more complicated & expensive; there are many more things to manage & wrangle. Basically we are introducing movement, time and music. A temporal story rather than a moment. Also it seems I always wind up making movies which are mobbed with giant casts whereas my photos are more intimate & less populated.

4) Notice your work has been described as erotica – is that how you see it?

I try to explore textures and themes which I hope for some can render an erotic experience. But it’s more fetishistic and personal to my tastes and I don’t really see my work falling neatly into the “erotica” category. Do you? Glitter on a womans cheek, licking a lollipop, tight jeans, zippers, ripped t shirts in extreme closeup to me can produce an erotic meditation. I love to see girls making out or head banging to loud music I don’t think everyone finds that erotic though. There’s not much sex in my movies, but they are incredibly sexy. I’ve been told by some people that they have the DVDs and put them on when they bring a girl home, to, you know, get the ideas going. I’m serious! it’s true don’t laugh.

5) Are girls with rides sexy? What is it about that world of biker gangs that appeals to you?
I like bikers; I think they have such great style. My brothers are both bikers so I grew up with that harley davidson rumbling in my backyard. I was riding a little yamaha minibike at the age of 7. My neighbor across the street was a former Hells Angel. If I were male I would grow a vast long beard and braid it. So yeah girls with rides are sexy!I see these skateboarder gangs rolling down the avenues of NYC it’s fantastic! Revolution on wheels!

6) Bikes and wheels tend to be a bit of a constant in lesbian culture, got any ideas why lesbians like them so much?

It’s about liberation, mobility and the appropriation of male symbols of power. Whether tomboy james, dean butch or sexy batgirl purple sparkle femme. Denim pocketknife comb t shirt. Or knee high gogo boots & a cape. Aren’t we lucky? Some women don’t have any choices at all.

7) Future projects?

I’ve co-written, with Genny Pavitt, a TV show called “Fashion Ass,” about a neurotic bisexual fashion designer who is a somewhat failed recovering addict and her best friend who is a butch lesbian. I’ve also written a lesbian rocknroll vampire movie, a feature. That one is really sexy and gory and humorous. The scripts are getting really good feedback so right now I’m looking for a good producer & seeking funding. I’m also working on an art installation about surfing; It entails a video piece, photo prints and these book objects, so I’m writing and publishing a series of paperback novels as part of this show. Nancy Loeber is collaborating with me on the paperbacks; she is called my publisher. We will be making 5 distinct boxed sets of these books to be exhibited & sold along with the books. This is a very sexy and dark meditation on the draw of the sea and the pull of feminine mysticism. I really want to eventually make the whole thing into a super expensive genre movie along the lines of step up 3D. Imagine a queer 3D action movie about women who surf at night and fight with sharks!

Hell on Wheels – Girls Gangs for Ever
is screening in London this Saturday 18th September at the Horse Hospital, Colonnade, London WC1N 1JD
Reception @7pm, screening at @8pm
Event on Facebook

More about Katrina & Girl Gangs on her website – www.katrinadelmar.com and on www.ganggirlsforever.com