Karaoke People - A Documentary (Formerly: Tip The KJ - A Karaoke Movie)
Portland, Oregon | Film Short
Documentary
You know what karaoke is, right? Drunk people trying to sing Don’t Stop Believing. Late night scream-a-longs of Sweet Caroline. What else is there? I used to think that's all there was to karaoke, too. Until I built a Karaoke Confessional Booth and found out I was wrong.
Karaoke People - A Documentary (Formerly: Tip The KJ - A Karaoke Movie)
Portland, Oregon | Film Short
Documentary
Green Light
This campaign raised $20,475 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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You know what karaoke is, right? Drunk people trying to sing Don’t Stop Believing. Late night scream-a-longs of Sweet Caroline. What else is there? I used to think that's all there was to karaoke, too. Until I built a Karaoke Confessional Booth and found out I was wrong.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
How it started
I was a stay-at-home mom at the end of a looooooong Tuesday of being slowly depleted by 2 tiny humans. I needed a break.
So, when my husband got home, I handed over the kids and walked out the front door with no plans in mind. Next thing I knew, I was in a karaoke bar on a Tuesday night, where I stayed for 5 hours.
I made a list of every song I might ever want to sing in this lifetime.
I made friends with everyone who walked in the door - plying them with questions about who they were and why they were there.
I was smitten.
It turns out that lots of people sing karaoke by themselves on random Tuesday nights.
Black. White.
Gay. Straight.
Young. Old.
Liberal. Conservative.
Karaoke is common ground, and people were there for a lot of different reasons.
Some of these people simply love to sing. But others were what I started calling "Karaoke People," like me. The karaoke connection these people had went deeper.
So after 10 years of bonding with other Karaoke People, I decided to build a Karaoke Confessional Booth to help the world hear our stories.
What happened next
Once I started asking people questions, it became clear that my movie was going to be about more than karaoke.
People opened up to me about their lives, their dreams, their problems...and about the role karaoke played in their lives, their dreams and their problems.
And as I watched the country around me become more and more divisive, I took solace in the connections I was making with Karaoke People.
From People like Bob
A Vietnam Vet who lost his wife in 1997, who has been singing old cowboy songs EVERY Friday & Saturday night at the same place for the last 20 years.
And Whitney
A woman who credits karaoke with saving her life more than once.
And Byron
A parent who regularly escapes to karaoke solo just like I do.
And Gabe
A guy who takes great pride in having karaoked 116 songs by the same artist.
And Tia
A woman who found freedom in karaoke at the end of 30 years of marrriage.
And JJ & Rachel
A couple I could have spent all day watching sing karaoke together.
What I need
I wanted to preserve the intimate nature of these conversations, so instead of cutting away to a lot of B-roll of people singing, I began to work with an animator to create an animated evolution - from people who simply like to sing...to Karaoke People.
Obviously I already love karaoke, though even I don't want to see a feature length film with a lot of people singing karaoke. It just doesn't translate.
Instead, I'm making a documentary short about something that it turns out EVERYONE has an opinion about, whether they realize it or not.
So whether you love karaoke or hate it, I plan to:
satisfy the addicts
entice the curious
and, delight the naysayers.
I hope you'll consider helping me share Tip The KJ - A Karaoke Movie with the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Share this update!
About This Team
Jen Tate - Director/Producer/Editor
After years of storytelling as a writer, performer, producer and parent...
After a BA in Creative Writing, and Masters in Media & Education...
After working from Sesame Street to Silicon Valley, and over a decade of karaoke-love...
Jen is making a documentary with help from:
Jonathan Boone - Camera Operator
Laura Roe - Editor
Jenny Kincade - Art Director
Sarah Moyle - Initial Animation
Kerri Lynn Thorp - Editorial Support
Megahn Kramer - Sanity & Editorial Consultant
Kevin Tate - Technical Director & Life Producer
Patti Kramer & Alan Burjoski - Executive Producers
Mira Waldman & Chikai Ohazama - Executive Producers
Greg Wright - Associate Producer & Moral Support
MeiMei Fox - Perspective & Panic Monitor
Rylan Tate - Booth Design & No-BS Feedback
Brinley Tate - Musical Inspiration & Hug Provider
Lutz & Lisa Kramer - Executive Booth Producers
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
How it started
I was a stay-at-home mom at the end of a looooooong Tuesday of being slowly depleted by 2 tiny humans. I needed a break.
So, when my husband got home, I handed over the kids and walked out the front door with no plans in mind. Next thing I knew, I was in a karaoke bar on a Tuesday night, where I stayed for 5 hours.
I made a list of every song I might ever want to sing in this lifetime.
I made friends with everyone who walked in the door - plying them with questions about who they were and why they were there.
I was smitten.
It turns out that lots of people sing karaoke by themselves on random Tuesday nights.
Black. White.
Gay. Straight.
Young. Old.
Liberal. Conservative.
Karaoke is common ground, and people were there for a lot of different reasons.
Some of these people simply love to sing. But others were what I started calling "Karaoke People," like me. The karaoke connection these people had went deeper.
So after 10 years of bonding with other Karaoke People, I decided to build a Karaoke Confessional Booth to help the world hear our stories.
What happened next
Once I started asking people questions, it became clear that my movie was going to be about more than karaoke.
People opened up to me about their lives, their dreams, their problems...and about the role karaoke played in their lives, their dreams and their problems.
And as I watched the country around me become more and more divisive, I took solace in the connections I was making with Karaoke People.
From People like Bob
A Vietnam Vet who lost his wife in 1997, who has been singing old cowboy songs EVERY Friday & Saturday night at the same place for the last 20 years.
And Whitney
A woman who credits karaoke with saving her life more than once.
And Byron
A parent who regularly escapes to karaoke solo just like I do.
And Gabe
A guy who takes great pride in having karaoked 116 songs by the same artist.
And Tia
A woman who found freedom in karaoke at the end of 30 years of marrriage.
And JJ & Rachel
A couple I could have spent all day watching sing karaoke together.
What I need
I wanted to preserve the intimate nature of these conversations, so instead of cutting away to a lot of B-roll of people singing, I began to work with an animator to create an animated evolution - from people who simply like to sing...to Karaoke People.
Obviously I already love karaoke, though even I don't want to see a feature length film with a lot of people singing karaoke. It just doesn't translate.
Instead, I'm making a documentary short about something that it turns out EVERYONE has an opinion about, whether they realize it or not.
So whether you love karaoke or hate it, I plan to:
satisfy the addicts
entice the curious
and, delight the naysayers.
I hope you'll consider helping me share Tip The KJ - A Karaoke Movie with the world.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Share this update!
About This Team
Jen Tate - Director/Producer/Editor
After years of storytelling as a writer, performer, producer and parent...
After a BA in Creative Writing, and Masters in Media & Education...
After working from Sesame Street to Silicon Valley, and over a decade of karaoke-love...
Jen is making a documentary with help from:
Jonathan Boone - Camera Operator
Laura Roe - Editor
Jenny Kincade - Art Director
Sarah Moyle - Initial Animation
Kerri Lynn Thorp - Editorial Support
Megahn Kramer - Sanity & Editorial Consultant
Kevin Tate - Technical Director & Life Producer
Patti Kramer & Alan Burjoski - Executive Producers
Mira Waldman & Chikai Ohazama - Executive Producers
Greg Wright - Associate Producer & Moral Support
MeiMei Fox - Perspective & Panic Monitor
Rylan Tate - Booth Design & No-BS Feedback
Brinley Tate - Musical Inspiration & Hug Provider
Lutz & Lisa Kramer - Executive Booth Producers