Inside the mind of artist Ray Troll and his obsession with science, art, and fish.
Patrick Troll, Director
Katie Davis, Producer
Mark Titus, Producer
Nancy Burnett, Associate Producer
APPEARANCES BY
Dr. Kirk Johnson, Director of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Dr. Henry Gee, Senior Editor of Nature science journal
Nathan Jackson, Celebrated Alaskan Tlingit carver
Photo: Marc Osborne Jr.
Photo: Patrick Troll
LOGLINE
An artist’s son profiles his father’s life, work, and obsession with the natural world during a transitional period in both of their lives.
Over 40 years, artist Ray Troll turned an obsession with fish into a career as the t-shirt king of Alaska, in the process becoming a gonzo advocate for the creatures that captivated his imagination. Now he and wife Michelle are closing their much loved Ketchikan store and expanding their horizons to Kansas. In this unorthodox and heartfelt documentary, Ray and Michelle's son Patrick turns the camera on his parents for a full accounting of their life’s work while investigating the relationship between art, science, place, family, and legacy.
ADVISORY TEAM
Far Star Action Fund: Film impact specialists (Seattle, WA)
Duct Tape Then Beer: Eco-documentary experts (Seattle, WA)
Dr. Henry Gee: Senior Editor of Nature science journal (Cramer, England)
Dr. Dominique Didier: Ichthyologist, Millersville University (Millersville, PA)
Dr. Ferdinando Boero: Marine Biologist, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples, Italy)
SUMMARY
"Spawn Till You Die" begins with Ray and Michelle having made the difficult decision to close their longtime storefront and artistic headquarters, the Soho Coho. They have also purchased property in Lindsborg, Kansas, Ray’s old college town, indicating a possible move from Ketchikan Alaska—the town that has supported Ray (and vice-versa) for some 40-odd years. This moment of great transition for the Troll family causes Ray and Michelle’s son Patrick to pick up a camera and make a documentary about his father’s life, work, and legacy.
Patrick invites us into Ray’s weird and colorful world: beautiful, psychedelic artwork that takes inspiration from the old masters, science museum and art gallery openings, rock ‘n roll shows, and of course: lots and lots of fish. In turns we explore the reasons behind the family’s sudden life change, Ray’s journey from “T-shirt guy” to preeminent Alaskan science communicator, his creative process, and his legacy as a father and artist. Patrick infuses elements of his own personal journey into this epic narrative, going into detail about the challenges that can ensue from living in the wake of an uber-successful artist father, while also showing the deep love and respect the two have for one another.
Featuring new music from Ray’s sub-aquatic neo-folk, fish-punk-funk rock group The Ratfish Wranglers (also produced and recorded by Patrick), “Spawn Till You Die” features unconventional interviews, trippy animations, archival footage, and father/son travels from Ketchikan, Alaska to Lindsborg, Kansas.
The film takes its title from Ray’s wildly popular artwork of the same name that has sold countless shirts, had cameos in movies, been worn on celebrities of Hollywood and science, and in true Ray Troll style, is a sly nod to the creative collaboration between a father and his spawn.
Ray Troll's Wildly Popular Artwork
"Spawn Till You Die" Shirts
Daniel Radcliffe Wearing Ray Troll
Mötley Crüe Wearing Ray Troll
STATUS
From Alaska to Kansas and NYC to San Diego, Ray and filmmaker son Patrick Troll have had adventures across the country for over a year to tell the story of Ray’s work. Principal photography is finished and the team has moved into post-production, which includes editing, sound, composing, and coloring. The film will be released in 2025.
IMPACT
The visual delight of Ray’s art is always a path towards expanded knowledge of the natural world, for all ages. The full-length film will be available to stream free for schools, museums, and community organizations. A short companion film intended for students will feature an animation of Ray’s “Tree of Life” drawing and a STEAM discussion guide.
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Patrick Troll
DIRECTOR
Patrick Troll is an award-nominated filmmaker, editor, and composer. Raised in Ketchikan, Alaska and now living in Seattle, Washington, Patrick’s work is infused with the wildness and beauty of the greater northwest.
Patrick's 2022 film about prolific midwestern painter Mike Hartung received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. The film, “Hartung: Not For Sale,” was an Official Selection at nine film festivals across the country and was a Best Documentary finalist at the Oregon Short Film Festival in Portland, Oregon.
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Katie Davis
PRODUCER
For more than 15 years, Katie Davis has produced projects for clients such as Microsoft and Seattle University. As a fundraiser early in her career, she was the youngest member elected to the board of the PNW Grantwriters Association.
Katie has filmed and edited short films for nonprofits that have shown at the Hui No’eau Gallery in Maui and at Seattle’s Town Hall. Her most recent work was testing an impact project for documentary “Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down” in multiple states. Katie holds bachelor’s degrees in Media Studies and Gender/Feminist Studies from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA.
