"A Cut Above" Celebrating 10 years of Killer
Films Independent film pioneer Christine Vachon, 43, knew making movies was her
calling when she saw Todd Haynes' experimental 43 minute film, SUPERSTAR: THE
KAREN CARPENTER STORY, depicted with Barbie dolls. "It was so funny and heartbreaking
and provocative and so unlike anything I'd ever seen, it kind of showed me what
was possible. I pretty much told Todd, "I want to be your producer." "
In 1995,
Vachon partnered with fellow producer Pamela Koffler to form Killer Films, and
in 2001, Katie Roumel, a former unpaid intern, joined them as a third partner.
The dynamic trio has worked with auteurs as diverse as Haynes, Robert Altman,
Todd Solondz, Mary Harron and John Waters, and has produced the award-winning
films Velvet Goldmine, Boys Don't Cry, and Far From Heaven.
This month, Killer
Films will be honored with a retrospective a the Museum of Modern Art. Over the
past decade, the company has stayed true to its manifesto -- to produce visionary
independent films -- making Vachon as synonymous with Sundance as Robert Redford
is. "First time films tend to be the culmination of an insane amount of passion
and drive, " explains Vachon, a champion of ingenue writer-directors. "Watching
a first-time director finally get their vision put on celluloid reminds me why
this whole process is so great."
Krista Smith
September Vanity Fair