Clint Catalyst (b. Clinton Green, April 8, 1971) is an openly gay American author, actor, screenwriter, television producer, spoken word performer, stylist, and self-described “accidental model". Often referred to as “the most photographed model of the underground” due to his surprisingly long run of editorial, catalog and print work in an industry not associated with longevity.
Catalyst has covered music, LGBT issues, and popular culture for numerous magazines including Los Angeles magazine, LA Weekly, Hustler, Frontiers (magazine), LA Alternative Press, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Instinct Magazine, Permission (magazine),Out (Magazine), Useless magazine, Ritual Magazine (U.K.) and Shepard Fairey & Roger Gastman's Swindle Magazine.
Early life
Clint was raised an only child to Southern Baptist parents. During all 18 years of his adolescence, he lived with his family “on a dusty gravel road” in an isolated area of Arkansas. Wildly imaginative, the fact that there were no other children with whom to interact in the neighborhood was less of a hindrance than a creative challenge: Catalyst simply made up his own. While it is common for youngsters to have an ‘imaginary friend,’ Clint took it a step Beyond—he had “an entire realm” of make-believe characters with whom he interacted, often venturing into the forest and pretending that they were the sole survivors of a lost world. In an interview with Chicago-based journalist Sukie de la Croix, he explains this part of his history as quite likely “why [he] started writing” in the first place.
Education
An astute student, Catalyst excelled academically. His degrees include a Bachelor of Arts (with honors ‘Distinction’) in English from Hendrix College, as well as a Master of Arts in Writing from the University of San Francisco.
Published work
Clint is best known for his book Cottonmouth Kisses, which was released in the summer of 2000 through the San Francisco-based publisher Manic D Press. In support of the book, Clint toured across the U.S. and Canada with long-time friend and author Michelle Tea. It was during this trek that they came up with the idea to solicit stories written in the first-person narrative for an anthology they co-edited entitled Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache. The book premiered in the #10 slot on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List (category: nonfiction paperback) the week of its release, March 14, 2004 and was a Lambda Literary Awards Finalist among the “Top 5 Fiction Anthologies” released during the span of that year.
Cottonmouth Kisses, however, has established itself as a subcultural mainstay with a widespread cult following Without the assistance of a publicist or agent, the book went into its second printing in 2007.
Spoken Word
Clint is an accomplished spoken word performer who has presented his talent on stages everywhere from mainstream festivals (Bumbershoot, OUTFEST) to subcultural gatherings (New York Fringe Lit Festival, Dark Arts Festival 2001, 2002, Homo-a-Go-Go, Convergence 9, Scutterfest); from bars (The Paradise Lounge, Amnesia, the Red Lion Pub, The Parlour Club) to book fairs (West Hollywood Book Fair); from theatres (Highways in Santa Monica, The Village in Los Angeles) to public libraries from art galleries to literary salons (The Radar Reading Series in San Francisco, Beyond Baroque in Venice, CA, Sundown Salon in L.A.) from cafés to the California state capitol Additional listings of Catalyst's readings can be seen on his website, http://www.clintcatalyst.com
"To Push Away Or Clutch" -- Spoken Word by Clint Catalyst was on display at the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh,PA. The exhibition (an 8 year retrospective of Glenn Kaino's work) ran from May 3 - August 31, 2008
Acting
Clint was “discovered” by director Hilary Goldberg during a dramatic Reading he did at the Los Angeles bookstore Skylight Books. She cast him in his first ‘principal’ role as the nefarious charlatan Bell Wartock opposite actress Guinevere Turner in the short film “In The Spotlight.” ”In The Spotlight” was released in 2007, and is slotted to continue making the festival rounds throughout 2008. In November 2008, the Belgian magazine Secret published a feature that describes the film as "a black and white Short with a Black heart and biting social commentary about fame, art, artifice, shadowy figures who hold the power and public personas who reign as their submissives in the eternal quest for eternity: that possessed by actors, charlatans, heartbreak-for-hire, and the tragically hollow 'faux real.
Bitch (magazine) published a 2-pg article about "In The Spotlight" in its Winter 2009 issue. Entitled "Liars Poker," this discourse by journalist Jessica Hoffman explores how the short "plays literary games" and is a "feminist upending of the [noir] genre."
Catalyst also has a small role as an Oompa-Loompa impersonator in Darren Stein’s short “Color Me Olsen,” which was released in 2007. Clint also plays the role of Jared Silver in Lisa Hammer's forthcoming film, POX. In 2008, he has been cast in Matthew Mishory's film, Portland (2008 film), as "Sid - the Emcee". Most recently, Clint Catalyst has been cast in upcoming film directed by Christopher Cummings, TBA in 2009.
Television
In 2004, Clint set his sights on writing and working within the television industry. With a writing partner, Darren Stein, he co-created and wrote a pilot under a development deal with Touchstone/ABC. As an Associate Show Producer, he worked for three cycles (2005-2006) on the reality series “America's Next Top Model.”
February 8th, 2008, Clint won the first place for TV Host in CBS's BigShotLive contest. His role for the followup winner's episode was Red carpet commentator for the 2008 Grammys. This marks the second time that he's done red carpet commentary for a major awards Show.
May 22, 2008: Clint appeared as a guest on the talk Show "Good Things Utah" regarding his duties as the MC—and one of the guest judges for the model "open call"—for Salt Lake City-based clothing designer Jared Gold's Czarina/'Farewell' show. Two other guests appeared with Catalyst and Gold on-screen: models Audrey Kitching and Stevie Ryan.
November 2008: Clint Catalyst has a cameo as the stylist for Antoine de Caunes in Allez a L.A.!, a five-part series that ran on the French Cable Network Canal Plus. In the episode, de Caunes asks for Clint's assistance before attending Lenora Claire's birthday party at the Houdini Mansion.
Model
Shortly after his arrival in San Francisco, Clint's foray into modeling "all started with a book cover"—though the cover of the book was not his own. He was discovered by photographer Phyllis Christopher, who had an assignment to shoot the cover of an anthology entitled Sons Of Darkness. She thought his dark aesthetic would work well for a book about vampires, and so began his first paid modeling assignment.
From that moment on, his assignments have run the gamut from Goth to custom latex-wear, from fetish/corsetry to dapper hats, from contemporary urban gear to post-punk casual wear, from cravats to high-end costume jewelry. He also modeled for the cover of another book, The best of Alice Joanou.
Despite the tear sheets and campaigns accumulated over the years, Catalyst refutes the term 'model' in reference to himself. Explaining that it's "just part of the brand," he prefers being described as a hyper-hyphenate. "If seeing my [image] one place causes people to look me up somewhere else," he says, "then it serves its purpose."
March 2008: Catalyst was announced as one of the 'personalities' to appear in a national Peta2 "Fur Is Dead" campaign in conjunction with the clothing line Skelanimals and the style emporium Fred Segal.
April 2008: Alternative models Audrey Kitching and Clint Catalyst are photographed as the latest faces in support of Janine Jarman's Hollywood Salon "Hairroin: Addicted to Style." Photographer Steven Barston was hired for the job, at which each of the models were shot on an antique mortuary gurney to accompany the Fashion-forward "un-salon" logo: a human skull adorned with an "up-do" and feminine bow, framed in the elegant style of a 19th century brooch.
May 2008: Clint Catalyst is announced among the roster of new runway/promotional models for the clothing line Killers Never Die, a Los Angeles-based company for "the distressed" and "the relentless."
July 2008: Clint announced among the roster of models (runway and print) for the jewelry line Hello Drama. Hello Drama is the latest endeavor from Kaila Yu and Kit E. Katt, who--among many other things--host the on-line talk-Show "Nylon Pink."
August 2008: Clint Catalyst and Audrey Kitching are selected as "spokesmodels" for custom milliner Creepsuela Switchletto.
September 2008: Clint has a two-page editorial in the Fall 08/Winter 2009 magazine produced by Ali Barone to showcase her clothing line Lipstick Prophets.
February 2009: Artist and correspondent Sham Ibrahim of MaryTV.net reports Clint Catalyst and Kayley Gable--actress, socialite and granddaughter of Hollywood legend Clark Gable--were two "stars" who modeled couture designs by Pol' Atteu of Beverly Hills for his 'Pre-Oscar Academy Awards Fashion Show.' Atteu is famous not only for his high-profile clientele but also his close friendship with Playboy magazine Playmate of the Year and television personality Anna Nicole Smith. With his partner, talent agent Patrik Simpson, Atteu co-authored the book Portrait of an Icon, a first-person account of their life as Anna Nicole's best friends and confidantes.
March 2009: Release of a formal announcement from Bang Bang Baby! Designs that "the oh-so-fabulously fierce Clint Catalyst" has been chosen as the jewelry and t-shirt company's "very first male spokesmodel."
Stylist
Catalyst has been employed as a stylist, called upon for avant-garde and editorial looks for everything from stagewear for musician/model Lisa D'Amato to comedian Margaret Cho, whom he helped “transform” for Taylor Chang-Babaian’s book Asian faces to the glamour transformation of Beth Ditto, lead singer of The Gossip with celebrity photographer Albert Sanchez. Catalyst has also styled Antoine de Caunes, most famous for his decade-long stint co-hosting the series "Eurotrash" with designer Jean Paul Gaultier.
Trendsetter
Buzznet has Clint Catalyst as a designated "Buzzmaker," a term the site uses for members "who are top tier." Buzzmakers are identified by a Pink star on their page. Out of the entire site, only 40 users are designated with the "Buzzmaker badge."
Catalyst has also been described as an "It" Boy, among his extensive catalog of 'social titles.'
June 13, 2006: L.A. Weekly’s ‘Style Council’ noted Clint among guests at the private/invite only Show of musician Peaches as making an impression with a “to-Die-for feathered hat.”
April 4, 2007: Noted in print among the Fashion Show "Front Row/A-Listers" at Project runway winner Jeffrey Sebelia's standing-room-only premiere at L.A.'s elite 2121 Lofts.
July 17, 2007: Frontiers magazine runs a two page article in which Clint is deemed the 'King of What's Next'.
October 18, 2007: "Clint Catalyst, at BOXeight, is on top of the trend with a miniature top hat like the ones being sported all over London." - Lawrence K. Ho, Los Angeles Times
December 7, 2007: Nexia Holdings’ Holiday runway event is hosted by “Fashion Icon” Clint Catalyst.
December 20, 2007: Fashion News California describes Clint as a host, “an author, artist, and internet persona” who is among a “growing online social community creating a buzz…“
January 2008: Instinct magazine deemed Clint a “Red-carpet-stalking fashionista [who’s] in the moment before anyone else is.” ""Instinct Magazine"". http://instinctmagazine.com/celebrity-interviews/Clint-Catalyst-takes-our-pop-quiz.html.
February 2008: Catalyst is a Metromix party host
March 5, 2008: Fashion Journalist Caroline Ryder deems “Clint Catalyst a queer fashion figurehead.”
May 14, 2008: Metromix magazine deems Catalyst a "Fashion Renaissance Man."
In Out.com’s 2008 coverage of ‘power Gays,’ Clint Catalyst is listed as one of the three “Buzznet celebrities” who, “one 14-year old girl at a time [is] beating the hype machine at its own game.” In the same article, journalist Japhy Grant goes so far as to describe him as perhaps an “unintended role model” since “At long last, for mainstream middle American tweens, the popular kids are weirdos and outcasts.”
July 29, 2008: The popular website gay.com refers to Catalyst as a 'Scene King.' When asked to describe his inimitable personal style that has garnered this title for him even within a definition of "scene kings" on UrbanDictionary.com, Clint replied "If Isabella Blow had a male counterpart who was portrayed in a Mark Ryden painting and weasled his way out." In an interview for the Peta2/Fur Is Dead campaign, he simplified his 'look' as being focused on "Dark themes, bright colors. Hats, pomp, humor...and circumstance. A motto of mine when getting dressed-up? "Nothing exceeds like excess."
2009: Catalyst is listed in the Myspace celebrity directory
March 14, 2009: Journalist Gendy Alimurung's coverage of Gen Art's Fashion week kick-off Show at the historic downtown Los Angeles theater states: "There are even the requisite few celebs. Clint Catalyst, looking handsomely vampire-like, is sitting across the aisle."
Uberstar
Clint Catalyst is an Uberstar! The ‘Uberstars’ are a modern day twist on Andy Warhol’s ‘Factory Superstars’ of the 60’s & 70’s. The Uberstars were chosen by Glenn Kaino to be a part of his recent exhibition {Transformer: The Art of Glenn Kaino} at the renowned Andy Warhol museum.
The Uberstars section of the exhibit features Polaroid photos taken with a ‘Big Shot Polaroid camera’. Each photo taken was then paired up Next to one of Warhol’s Polaroids of the original Factory Superstars. Catalyst found his photo to be displayed alongside of Mick Jagger. A few other notable Uberstars in the exhibit include: Cory Kennedy, Rose Apodaca, Dirk Mai {a.k.a. Fingers Crossed}, Aaron Sandnes, & Rami Kashou. Further information on the 'Uberstars at the Warhol museum' May be found at TheStylephile.com
Host
Catalyst working the Red carpet at the 2007 Emmy Awards
due to his infamy in certain social circles, Clint is often hired as a Club host, as well as a host for magazine parties and Fashion shows. As a ‘fashion Icon,’ he’s done everything from community outreach work as a “celebrity judge” (with model/actress Jenny Shimizu and designer Nick Verreos) for the Asian Pacific AIDS Alliance Quest Beauty Pageant to Paper magazine hiring him as a judge for Audrey Kuenstler's 'High Fashion Wrestling' event. He's done Red carpet duty at several awards ceremonies, including the 2007 Emmy Awards for Buzznet. March 16, 2007: Clint hosts Jared Gold's "Quiet Army" Fashion Show. March 14, 2008: Clint hosts Jared Gold's Czarina fashion show. The event received rave reviews, with journalists going so far as referring to it as the 'Show du jour' that "upped the ante" of L.A. FASHION week.
September 02, 2008: Clint co-hosts an AltitudeTV segment with Jayme Foxx, called 'Fashion POLICE- Sunset Junction LA Hipster fashion Dos and Donts'. He is also seen hosting for AltitudeTV again at the 'Box Eight - LA Fashion Party' in October 2008.
personal life
Clint is often asked to give advice on skin and Beauty products by newspapers, radio shows, and the ‘Contact Clint’ option on his own website.
June 2003: Clint was a noted guest at the marriage of comedian Margaret Cho and the L.A. Cacophony Society’s Reverend Al Ridenour, a "double ceremony" keeping the element of surprise akin to its date of Friday the 13th. As the sun set, the couple had a traditional Korean service involving both families, a live rooster and hen, and an ample supply of flying chestnuts and dates. If the first service was for the family, the second was for the couple's eclectic crew of night-crawlers: Bridesmaids were decked out in 'High Goth' gowns rife with dark sparkle and black bouquets; wedding bands were extracted from small coffin-shaped boxes, and Cho’s outfit was a 150-year-old beaded gown, complete with 30-foot-long veil adorned with Black rubber snakes, à la Medusa.
Catalyst was one of the guests to attend the wedding of Jessicka and Christian Hejnal of Scarling. on October 13, 2007 in Los Angeles. He served as the couples' master of cermonies and read an original piece written for the event.
Clint is known for his close friendship with avant-garde designer Jared Gold and has even been described as his 'muse.' They often attend social events and Fashion shows together, and Clint has worked as an event producer for some of Jared's fashion shows. In the spring 2008 collection of Gold's company, Black Chandelier, there is even a garment dedicated to/inspired by his friend: the "Clint Catalyst Tarot Card Destroyer" t-shirt.
Alternative model and internet celebrity Audrey Kitching has also been linked in the press as one of Catalyst's comrades.
Actress Pauley Perrette--famous for her role Abby Sciuto on the CBS hit series NCIS--is a personal friend with whom Clint has modeled, collaborated (her autobiographical story "Cheers" was published in Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache under a shortened version of her name--"Pauley P"--due to its intensely Personal subject matter), attended Fashion shows, social events, as well as Clint's birthday parties, infamous both for their outrageous themes ("Cholo A Go Go," A Gaygnster Glam-Fest; a formal 'Wake,' to "mourn the death of his youth"; "Clint and His Thousand Closest Imaginary friends," thrown by legendary mash-up D.J.s Adrian & the Mysterious D of Club Bootie et Al) as well as the eclectic mix of hipsters and celebrity guests known to grace the roster: model/actor Tony Ward, celebrity photographers Austin Young and Albert Sanchez, model/actress Angela Lindvall, jewelry designer/style Icon Tarina Tarantino and her husband, director Alfonso Campos, music video director Justin Coloma and his wife, singer/songwriter Linda Strawberry, milliner Adele Mildred, casting director Jason James, Music journalist/ D.J./Vlaze TV correspondent Ali Maclean, clothing designer Jessica Louise, journalist Dan Kapelovitz and actress/musician Giddle Partridge, photographer David Lee, America's Next Top Model contestant-turned-rapper Lisa D'Amato, and controversial musician Jeffree Star, fetish model Courtney Cruz and visual artist/clothing designer TonyMech, filmmakers Matthew Mishory, Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer, Hilary Goldberg, and Darren Stein, "co-conspirator"/photographer Amanda Brooks, stylist Sonja Teri and Swindle Quarterly editor Roger Gastman, actress Kat Turner and rock photographer/videographer Piper Ferguson, model/actress Jenny Shimizu, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer/songwriter Linda Perry to actor/producer Joel Michaely--that have caused even house parties he's thrown to be written about in Gossip columns.
Awards
* Isaac Andrew Campbell Memorial Prize for Poetry, received while at Hendrix College.
* "Congress Bundestag/Open Door" scholarship, by which he lived & studied in Germany for a year.
* Murphy Foundation for Programs in Literature and Language: Poetry, Second Place; Mixed Media, first place; short story, Second Place
* Levi-Strauss San Francisco 'Poetry Slam' Competition – "winner" (1997)
* CFF deems Clint "Renaissance Man of the Year" & "Author With Most Anticipated New Release" (2008)
Works
- Cottonmouth Kisses (2000) ISBN-13: 978-0916397654
- Pills, Thrills, Chills, and Heartache: Adventures in the First Person (with Michelle Tea) (2004) ISBN 1555837530
- Cottonmouth Kisses (2007 - second printing) ISBN-13: 978-0916397654
music Collaborations
* Catalyst worked on the "Assassin" track from Apocalypse Theatre's CD Angry Angels. The track is actually an unpublished prose poem Catalyst wrote as a tirade against the apathy prevalent among contemporary youth (a key passage of which is " The name of this disease is apathy/And apathy, disease has changed us all/It's Changed The Human Race To Human Crawl"). A remix of the aforementioned track entitled "Angel's Fawk" surfaced several years later, first on a bootleg entitled The XPeriments, then in 2005 as a track available for free download among the tracks rotating on both the band's Myspace page (www.MySpace.com/apocalypsetheatre) and personal site (www.apocalypsetheatre.com). Currently, Catalyst has both tracks available among the MP3s on his Personal site.
* Eager to experiment with different art forms—and particularly drawn to burgeoning radical subcultures—Clint befriended homohop performer Deadlee, known for his controversial presence as an "in your face" "homo-revolutionist" within hip-hop, a genre often associated with homophobia. After Deadlee saw Clint do a spontaneous performance art set at the Parlour Club's infamous club Touché, the two began tossing around ideas for a future collaboration. While they have performed on stage together numerous times, the end result is The track "gay Pac" (featuring Clint Catalyst) from the 2006 full-length Assault With A Deadlee Weapon.
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