Kansas Bowling

{{short description|American filmmaker and actress}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Kansas Bowling

| image = Kansas Bowling (cropped).jpg

| caption = Bowling in 2016

| alt =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|8|2}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| education =

| alma_mater =

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|cinematographer|actress}}

| years_active = 2015–present

| known_for = B.C. Butcher, Cuddly Toys

| children =

| parents =

| other names =

| spouse =

| partner =

}}

Kansas Bowling (born August 2, 1996) is an American film director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and actress. She is best known for directing B.C. Butcher (2016) and Cuddly Toys (2022) and acting in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).{{Cite web|url=http://dailydead.com/qa-director-kansas-bowling-discusses-her-prehistoric-slasher-film-b-c-butcher/|title=Q&A: Director Kansas Bowling Discusses Her Prehistoric Slasher Film B.C. BUTCHER|last=|first=|date=December 11, 2015|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pasunautre.com/interviewsmain/2016/1/7/for-the-love-of-gore-a-conversation-with-teenage-filmmaker-kansas-bowling|title=FOR THE LOVE OF GORE: A CONVERSATION WITH TEENAGE FILMMAKER KANSAS BOWLING|last=|first=|work=Autre Magazine |date=|publisher=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/tromas-latest-horror-comedy-bc-butcher-was-directed-b-1751414096|title=Troma's Latest Horror Comedy, BC Butcher, Was Directed by a 17-Year-Old Girl|last=|first=|date=January 6, 2016|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiefilmhustle.com/16mm-film-kansas-bowling/#disqus_thread|title=IFH 059: How a 17 yr old Directed & Sold Her 1st Feature on 16mm Film|date=March 24, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/young-director-crowdfunds-16mm-cavewomen-slasherthe-b-c-butcher/|title=Young Director crowdfunds 16mm Cavewomen slasher,"THE B.C. BUTCHER"|work=FANGORIA® }}

Early life

Bowling was born and raised in California.{{cite web|url=https://autre.love/interviewsmain/2016/1/7/for-the-love-of-gore-a-conversation-with-teenage-filmmaker-kansas-bowling|title=For the Love of Gore: A Conversation With Teenage Filmmaker Kansas Bowling|website=autre.love|date=January 8, 2016 |accessdate=August 20, 2018}} Her parents are Arin Thompson and luxury real estate agent William Preston Bowling of Phoenix, Arizona.{{cite web | url=https://autre.love/interviewsmain/2016/1/7/for-the-love-of-gore-a-conversation-with-teenage-filmmaker-kansas-bowling | title=For the Love of Gore: A Conversation with Teenage Filmmaker Kansas Bowling Autre Magazine | date=January 8, 2016 }}{{Cite web |title=Aerospace Contamination Museum of Education |url=http://www.acmela.org |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.acmela.org}} At age 13, she received a Super 8 film camera as a Christmas gift and immediately started shooting short films with her sister.

Career

= ''B.C. Butcher'' =

{{main|B.C. Butcher}}

Bowling directed B.C. Butcher (2016) starring Kato Kaelin, Rodney Bingenheimer, Natasha Halevi, and Kadeem Hardison. The film was produced by Lloyd Kaufman and distributed by Troma Entertainment on Blu-ray and their streaming service Troma Now on VHX.{{cite web|url=https://troma.vhx.tv/b-c-butcher|title=B.C. Butcher|website=Troma NOW|accessdate=August 20, 2018}}

The movie had its theatrical premiere on March 3, 2016, at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.troma.com/news/24024/theatrical-world-premiere-of-17-year-old-kansas-bowlings-b-c-butcher/|title=THEATRICAL WORLD-PREMIERE OF 17 YEAR OLD KANSAS BOWLING'S "B.C. BUTCHER" – Troma|website=troma.com|accessdate=August 20, 2018}} The premiere had a musical performance by Count Smokula and Ron Jeremy.

Bowling was the first inductee into the Troma Institute For Gifted Youth{{Cite web|url=http://horrornews.net/103636/announcing-the-troma-institute-for-gifted-youth/|title=Announcing the TROMA INSTITUTE FOR GIFTED YOUTH|last=|first=|date=November 21, 2015|website=|publisher=|access-date=}} and listed as one of W Magazine's 42 up-and-comers in their April 2016 "Next in Line" issue.{{Cite web|url=http://www.horrorsociety.com/2016/03/29/kansas-bowling-makes-w-magazines-whos-next-list-comers/=|title=Kansas Bowling Makes W Magazine's Who's Next List}}

= Music videos =

Bowling has directed over 30 music videos for various artists (shot on 8mm or 16mm film).

In the music video for Kat Meoz's "Here I Wait", Bowling shot the only existing footage of Richard Brautigan's papier-mâché bird Willard who was the subject of his 1975 novel Willard and His Bowling Trophies.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/kat-meoz-here-i-wait-2526591339.html|title=Garage Rocker Kat Meoz Searches for Postmodern Literary Legend's Muse on "Here I Wait" (premiere)|date=January 18, 2018|website=popmatters.com|accessdate=August 20, 2018}}

On April 13, 2018, {{ill|Drangsal|de|Drangsal (Musiker)}} released a video through Universal Germany for their song "Magst Du Mich" directed by and starring Bowling and her sister Parker Love Bowling.{{cite web | url=http://neon-ghosts.de/drangsal-magst-du-mich/ | title=Drangsal – Magst du Mich – | date=April 14, 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/de/article/dank-drangsals-neuem-video-zu-magst-du-mich-ekeln-wir-uns-plotzlich-vor-pizza/|title=Dank Drangsals neuem Video zu "Magst du mich" ekeln wir uns plötzlich vor Pizza|date=April 13, 2018|website=vice.com|access-date=August 20, 2018}}

On August 15, 2018, Rolling Stone released a video Bowling directed for the Death Valley Girls' song "Disaster (Is What We're After)".{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-iggy-pop-casually-eat-a-hamburger-in-new-death-valley-girls-video-709455/|title=Watch Iggy Pop Casually Eat a Hamburger in New Death Valley Girls Video|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=August 15, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 23, 2018|language=en-US}} The video is four minutes of musician Iggy Pop eating a hamburger.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-video-of-iggy-pop-eating-a-burger-is-the-anti-asmr-you-didnt-know-you-needed/|title=This Video of Iggy Pop Eating a Burger is the Anti-ASMR You Didn't Know You Needed|date=August 16, 2018|work=Munchies|access-date=September 23, 2018|language=en-us}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/iggy-pop-hamburger-music-video-death-valley-girls-andy-warhol|title=Iggy Pop Recreates Famous Andy Warhol Hamburger Eating Scene for New Music Video|work=Food & Wine|access-date=September 23, 2018|language=en}} The video is an homage to Jørgen Leth's 1982 film 66 Scenes of America, where Andy Warhol eats a hamburger.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-iggy-pop-recreate-andy-warhol-eating-a-hamburger-in-new-video/|title=Watch Iggy Pop Recreate "Andy Warhol Eating a Hamburger" in New Video {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=August 15, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2018}} Yahoo Entertainment named it one of their favorite videos of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/20-best-music-videos-2018-180327584.html|title=The 20 best music videos of 2018|website=yahoo.com|date=December 26, 2018 |access-date=March 25, 2019}}

On October 2, 2018, Stereogum premiered another video Bowling directed for the Death Valley Girls for their song "One Less Thing (Before I Die)".{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2016918/death-valley-girls-flat-earth-kansas-bowling/video/|title=Death Valley Girls – "(One Less Thing) Before I Die" Video|date=October 2, 2018|website=Stereogum|access-date=December 25, 2018}} Bowling attended the home-made rocket launch for the daredevil and limo driver Mad Mike Hughes and filmed his successful attempt at launching in the sky.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

= Acting =

Bowling and her sister Parker Love Bowling starred in Jared Master's biblical period film Absolute Vow.{{cite web|url=https://reprobatemagazine.uk/2017/01/30/news-biblical-epic-exploitation-film-absolute-vow-unleashes-mad-trailer/|title=News: Biblical 'Epic' Exploitation Film Absolute Vow Unleashes Mad Trailer|date=January 30, 2017|publisher=|accessdate=August 20, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.horror-fix.com/bizarre-biblical-shocker-absolute-vow-now-available-amazon-prime/|title=Bizarre Biblical shocker 'Absolute Vow' is now available on Amazon Prime – HorrorFix – Horror Movie News Reviews and More!|date=January 21, 2018|website=horror-fix.com|accessdate=August 20, 2018}} In 2018, Bowling produced and acted in the short film Swamp Women Kissing Booth which was the first film to feature actress Kathleen Hughes, star of It Came from Outer Space, in a starring role since 1958.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycake.com/archives/52659|title=Video Licks: Enjoy The Cautionary Tale of SWAMP WOMEN KISSING BOOTH – Comedy Cake|date=January 23, 2018|website=comedycake.com|accessdate=August 20, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/youth-culture-killed-my-dog/bmovie-mania/e/53023086?autoplay=true|title=INTERVIEW: Kansas & Parker Bowling from B-Movie Mania|website=stitcher.com|accessdate=August 20, 2018}} In 2020, Bowling starred as the protagonist, Nancy Banana alongside Bill Weeden in the parody film, Psycho Ape!, and will return for the upcoming sequel.{{cite web |last1=Lanier |first1=Hunter |title=Psycho Ape! {{!}} Film Threat |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/psycho-ape/ |date=October 17, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Watching Movies – Psycho Ape – Without Your Head |url=https://withoutyourhead.com/viewnews.php?autoid=110965 |website=withoutyourhead.com |language=en}}

In 2019, she portrayed Sandra Good, a member of the Manson family, in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Bowling appeared in Glenn Danzig's Verotika{{Cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/three-disc-release-of-danzigs-anthology-film-verotika-up-for-pre-order|title=Three disc release of Danzig's anthology film Verotika up for pre-order|date=January 7, 2020}} as well as Glenn Danzig's sophomore feature Death Rider in the House of Vampires, alongside Julian Sands and Devon Sawa.{{cite web | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3680511/review-glenn-danzigs-death-rider-house-vampires-charm-flaws-verotika/ | title=[Review] Glenn Danzig's 'Death Rider in the House of Vampires' Has All the Charm…and Flaws of 'Verotika' | date=August 29, 2021 }}

In early 2020, The Killers debuted a short film to coincide with the release of their new album Imploding the Mirage starring Bowling and Griffin Dunne. Two music videos were edited of the short film for the songs "Caution" and "My Own Soul's Warning".{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|title=Watch the Killers' New "Caution" Video|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-the-killers-new-caution-video/|access-date=June 26, 2020|website=Pitchfork|date=March 20, 2020|language=en-us}}

Bowling was featured in Joe Begos' Christmas Bloody Christmas which was released theatrically December 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.joblo.com/christmas-bloody-christmas-sequels/ | title=Christmas Bloody Christmas director Joe Begos is hoping to make back-to-back sequels | date=December 9, 2022 }}

In 2023, the 1990s throwback slasher film The Third Saturday in October Part V premiered featuring Bowling in the lead role.{{cite web | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3720897/the-third-saturday-in-october-part-v-review-infectious-slasher-homage-recreates-the-video-store-era/ | title='The Third Saturday in October Part V' Review – Infectious Slasher Homage Recreates the Video Store Era | date=June 27, 2022 }} Bowling is also in the lead role of the 2023 aerobics slasher film Murdercise.{{cite web | url=https://moviesandmania.com/2022/09/30/murdercise-movie-film-comedic-horror-2023-teaser-trailer/ | title=MURDERCISE (2023) 80s-inspired comedic horror – teaser trailer | date=September 30, 2022 }}

= ''Cuddly Toys'' =

As of 2023, Bowling has been touring the United States theatrically with her film Cuddly Toys.{{Cite web |title=Black Lodge Hosts Premiere Screening of Cuddly Toys |url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/undefined |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=MemphisFlyer}} The film has been described as a "saccharine nightmare"{{Cite web |last=Akceylan |first=Suzanne |date=2023-04-21 |title=Screening soon in Brooklyn: mondo doc 'Cuddly Toys' |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2023/04/21/screening-soon-in-brooklyn-mondo-doc-cuddly-toys/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Brooklyn Eagle |language=en-US}} about taboo matters on girlhood{{Cite web |last=Coviello |first=Will |date=2023-08-12 |title=Actor-director Kansas Bowling screens 'Cuddly Toys' and holds a Q&A on Aug. 17 at The Broad Theater |url=https://www.nola.com/gambit/film/kansas-bowling-screens-cuddly-toys-in-new-orleans-aug-17/article_414c3b9a-36cb-11ee-9d7d-b70a1ed3475a.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}} told in a "shockumentary" style.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive Interview: Kansas Bowling On CUDDLY TOYS |url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/exclusive-interview-kansas-bowling-cuddly-toys/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=FANGORIA |date=October 29, 2021 |language=en}} The film stars Cynda McElvana, Brissa Monique, Parker Love Bowling, Caroline Williams, Schooly D, Don Devore, Mickey Madden, Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Charlotte Sartre, Dylan Greenberg, D.C. Douglas, Sune Rose Wagner, and Keith Allison.{{Cite web |title=Cuddly Toys - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cuddly_toys |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Cuddly Toys (2022) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/cuddly-toys-2022 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}

= Writing =

Kansas Bowling has written and published two books with publisher Far West Press.{{Cite web |title=Far West {{!}} Kansas Bowling |url=https://www.farwestpress.com/kansas-bowling-far-west-author |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Far West Press |language=en-US}} Her first book A Cuddly Toys Companion details the making of her film Cuddly Toys.{{Cite web |title=A Cuddly Toys Companion {{!}} Kansas Bowling |url=https://www.farwestpress.com/far-west-books/p/kansas-bowling-cuddly-toys-book |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Far West Press |language=en-US}} The second is titled Prewritten Letters For Your Convenience, which she wrote with her sister, Parker Love Bowling, when they were children and published as adults.{{Cite web |title=Prewritten Letters For Your Convenience {{!}} Kansas Bowling and Parker Love Bowling |url=https://www.farwestpress.com/far-west-books/p/prewritten-letters-for-your-convenience-book |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Far West Press |language=en-US}}

Personal life

She is the older sister of actress Parker Love Bowling.

In 2019, Bowling sued musician Ariel Pink after he hired her to go on tour with him to film his concerts and did not pay her. Pitchfork reported that as of 2020, the case has been settled in court.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-01 |title=Ariel Pink Sued by Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood Actress Over Scrapped Tour Film |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/ariel-pink-sued-by-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-actress-over-scrapped-tour-film/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

Bowling's longtime boyfriend is musician Don Devore.{{cite web | url=https://glamourbuff.com/actress/kansas-bowling-age-bio-parents-boyfriend-dating-movies/ | title=Kansas Bowling and Boyfriend Don de Vore Are Long-Time Partners — Know Her Bio and Movies & TV Shows | date=May 19, 2021 }}

She currently lives in Nevada.{{cite web | url=https://www.farwestpress.com/kansas-bowling-far-west-author | title=Far West | Kansas Bowling }}

Filmography

Film

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Writer

! Director

! Actor

! Producer

! Role

2003

| Klepto

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Nick's daughter

2016

| B.C. Butcher

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Model

2016

| The Bridemaker

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Bride

2017

| Absolute Vow

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Bithiah

2017

| Curious Females

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Tara

2018

| Swamp Women Kissing Booth

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Sissy

2018

| Reagitator: Revenge of the Parody

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Nancy the Demon Cheerleader

2018

| Primitiva

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Katrina

2019

| Verotika

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Young Peasant Girl

2019

| Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| "Blue"

2019

| Beyond the Law

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Chastity

2020

| Psycho Ape!

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Nancy Banana

2020

| Tales From the Grave: The Movie

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Emma

2021

| Death Rider in the House of Vampires

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Rider's Dead Sister

2022

| Cuddly Toys

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| Professor Kansas Bowling

2022

| Christmas Bloody Christmas

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Liddy

2023

| Third Saturday in October Part V

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Maggie

2023

| Murdercise

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Phoebe

2024

| Psycho Ape 2

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Nancy Banana

TBA

| Creek Encounters

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Evie Tucker

TBA

| Bad Brain

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| TBA

TBA

| Untitled Crispin Glover Film

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Mary

TBA

| Untitled True Crime Project

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| TBA

Television

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Episode

! Writer

! Director

! Actor

2017

| Party Legends

| "Breaking Bad Vibes" (S1E3){{cite web|url=https://www.viceland.com/en_us/video/party-legends-breaking-bad-vibes/594426cead6178e906666943?latest=1|title=Breaking Bad Vibes|website=Viceland|accessdate=August 20, 2018}}

| {{no}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

Music videos

class="wikitable"
style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Song

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Artist

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit

1998

| "Believe"

| K's Choice

| Actor

2010

| "Farmer's Daughter"

| Crystal Bowersox

| Actor

2014

| "So Long"

| Alyeska

| Director

2015

| "You Needed to Know"

| CTZNSHP

| Director

2016

| "Post Teenage Angst"

| Kill My Coquette

| Director

2016

| "Disco"

| Death Valley Girls

| Director

2016

| "Muffins"

| Them Guns

| Actor

2016

| "Zombie Movie"

| Peter Litvin

| Actor

2016

| "I Just Sued the School System!"

| Prince Ea

| Actor

2016

| "Bloom"

| Papa M

| Director

2017

| "Spin Spin"

| Tilli

| Director

2017

| "Flesh Flower Dream"

| Tilli

| Director

2017

| "Always"

| The Fontaines

| Director

2017

| "Dd"

| Taffy

| Director

2017

| "Forever Blue"

| The Moonkids

| Director

2017

| "L.A. Don't Love You"

| Kat Meoz

| Director

2017

| "Murkiii"

| Taffy

| Director

2017

| "Never Slow Down"

| Livingmore

| Director

2017

| "The Jester"

| Silas Nello

| Director

2017

| "Christmas in Hollywood"

| Kat Meoz

| Director

2018

| "Disaster (Is What We're After)"

| Death Valley Girls

| Director

2018

| "The Resort Beyond the Last Resort"

| Collapsing Scenery

| Director

2018

| "Burn Down the Cornfield"

| Collapsing Scenery

| Director

2018

| "Modern World"

| Collapsing Scenery

| Director

2018

| "Here I Wait"

| Kat Meoz

| Director

2018

| "Magst du mich"

| Drangsal

| Director

2018

|"(One Less Thing) Before I Die"

| Death Valley Girls

| Director

2018

| "Trashworld"

| Surfbort

| Director

2018

| "More Dead"

| Death Valley Girls

| Actor

2018

| "Diamond Nights"

| Lauren Rocket

| Director

2019

| "Falling"

| CRX

| Director

2019

| "Get Close"

| CRX

| Director

2019

| "The Bold One"

| Kristeen Young

| Director

2020

| "Imploding the Mirage: The Short Film"

| The Killers

| Actor

2020

|"Caution"

|The Killers

|Actor

2020

|"My Own Soul's Warning"

|The Killers

|Actor

2020

|"Beam Me Up"

|Lauren Rocket

|Director

2021

|"Corpse Grinding Man”

|Harley Poe

|Actor

2021

|"My Sweet Lord”

|George Harrison

|Actor

2022

|"You Already Know”

|Collapsing Scenery

|Director

2022

|"Feathers in the Clouds”

|James Marlon Magas

|Director

2022

|"Violence”

|Headkrack

|Director

2023

|"Morbid Symptoms”

|Collapsing Scenery ft. Tippa Lee, Avalon Lurks, and L'Espiral

|Director

2023

|"Shakin'”

|Basic Elements

|Actor

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year

! Award

! Work

! Category

! Result

2020

| Screen Actors Guild Award

| Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

| Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

| {{nominated}}

2020

| Independent Horror Movie Awards

| Psycho Ape

| best actress

| {{nominated}}

2021

| New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival

| Psycho Ape

| best actress

| {{nominated}}

2022

| Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival

| Cuddly Toys

| best film

| {{nominated}}

2022

| LA Live Film Festival

| Headkrack: Violence

| best music video

| {{won}}

2023

| GenreBlast Film Festival

| Murdercise

| best actress

| {{nominated}}

References

{{Reflist}}