Getting To Know KtCat94 – UMR Hall Of Fame Class of 2015

This is the 15th page in a series of “Getting to Know” interviews from UMR Hall of Famers  This time we interviewed KtCat94.   KtCat94 was the primary editor for the first years of UMR.  Of my 6 children she was the 2nd and so far last kid to earn HoF status. She is also the youngest member of the UMR Hall of Fame.  So we figured it was time to learn a little more about KtCat94…or as we call her Katie.

Cogerson –  It has always interested me in knowing which thespian made the first impact on a person. Who was the first actor or actress that you knew by their actual name?

KtCat94  Hmmmm.  Not 100% sure but if I had to guess I would go with Keira Knightley.  I remember you made me watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.  When I told you I liked the Elizabeth Swann character, you started showing me other Knightley movies like Pride and Prejudice, King Arthur, Love Actually and her last two Pirates movies. 

Cogerson – Interesting, I was hoping it would be Bruce Willis.  If I would have guessed I would have picked one of the three Harry Potter actors….Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint or Emma Watson.

Cogerson – Is there a person in your life that pushed you down the path of liking movies?  For me, it was my parents and my grandmother.

KtCat94   For me it was my mom…..(a pause)…..of course it was you!  I watched musicals like The Sound of Music with mom but you introduced me to many more movies and many more genres.  I remember when you convinced mom into letting me go to the midnight movies.  I have fond memories of seeing some of the Harry Potter movies at midnight on a school night.  And I never missed any school the next day.

Cogerson – You and Harry Potter!  One of my favorite memories is the night the final book of the Harry Potter series got released.  My store was located right next door to a Barnes and Noble, and hundreds of people were waiting in line to buy the book at midnight.  My store was also selling the book, but like the book store we could not sell them till midnight.  So to get around that rule, you came to work, went to my office and started reading the book you were going to buy at midnight.  So while people were standing in line outside, you were quietly reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in my office.  You got a 4 hour head start on millions of Potter readers.

Cogerson – When I was younger, I was convinced that Disney’s Gus was the greatest movie of all-time.  Today, I realize, though it might be the best mule playing football movie, it is not very good.  What movies did you think were awesome and now you question their greatness.

KtCat94 –  Nothing comes to my mind right away.  Let me think some more.  Ok….the last time I watched Treasure Planet I was not too impressed.  I remember watching that one many many times and loving it every time.  Maybe it was because Brandon was not enjoying it.  So that made me not enjoy it too.

* Editor’s note – Brandon is KtCat94’s husband.  Which makes him (SILoC1….Son-in-law of Cogerson #1).

Cogerson –  So who are your favorite actors or actresses?

KtCat94 – Lots of people come to mind, so picking my favorites is difficult.  Well, I have to give a shout out to Keira Knightley again.  I have been a fan of hers for the last three decades.  I also have to include Tom Hanks.  You know if Tom Hanks is in the movie, then it is going to be a good movie.

Cogerson – Once again no love for Bruce Willis? I thought I had helped raise you better.  I thought for sure you were going to say Gary Oldman.

KtCat94 – I like Bruce, and you certainly made me watch a bunch of Willis movies, but he would not make my favorites list.  You do realize that I have still not seen Pulp Fiction? As for Gary Oldman, he is on my favorites list, he just has not made much lately that has interested me.  

Cogerson – Yeah….I never really felt comfortable watching Pulp Fiction with you.  But I do remember making you watch 12 Monkeys, The 5th Element, The Sixth Sense, Armageddon, Die Hard, Death Becomes Her, The Kid and so many more.  Pretty sure we skipped Sin City as well.

Cogerson –  What are your Top 3 movies of all-time? Or share as many as you are willing to share.

KtCat94- I will share my Top 3.  The very first Harry Potter movie – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  The very first Pitch Perfect.  And the third chapter in the Pirates movies – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

Cogerson – Really?  The third Pirates movie?  What did you think of the third Pitch Perfect movie.

KtCat94- Yes the third Pirates movie. In that one Elizabeth Swann becomes a Pirate King, she becomes an empowered woman and she ends up with Will.  It was a great way to wrap up that trilogy.  I have not really enjoyed the other stories that followed.  As for Pitch Perfect 3….yes…I admit it was pretty bad. 

Cogerson – Do you remember the first R rated movie you attended in which you were allowed to purchase the ticket on your own.

KtCat94 –  That is a tough question.  Not sure I even know which movies were rated R and which ones were not.  Not 100% sure, but I would guess the first Purge movie.  

Cogerson – Do you have any memorable movie experiences?   I remember seeing Porky’s in theaters.  People were laughing so hard, I thought the walls might crumble.

KtCat94 – I remember seeing an African-American lady crying when Lee Daniels’ The Butler ended. The movie brought back so many emotional times for her.  That made me appreciate the movie even more. 

Katie as Ms. Granger

Cogerson – This might be a tough question, at least that’s what other UMR Hall of Famers have told me, is there a movie character that best represents KtCat94?

KtCat94 – That is actually one of the easiest questions you asked.  Without a doubt in would be Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies.  She is smart and has a tendency to correct everybody.  I actually wrote a paper in college about being a “Know It All” and used Hermione as an example in my paper.  I still have and use the Hermione costume my mom made for me oh so many years ago.

Cogerson – Alright, to wrap up this interview, let’s talk about M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs.  Do you remember the movie?

KtCat94 – Yes, I remember the movie Signs.  But, before you go down this road, please remember I was only about 11 or 12 when you made me watch the movie.

Cogerson – After getting you to watch M. Night’s The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, I thought Signs would be a good movie to watch. I remember we got about a hour into the movie, and you left the room to go talk to your mother (WoC). You complained to her that I was MAKING you watch a scary movie on a school night!  WoC came into the room, turned off the television, sent you to bed and wanted to know why I was MAKING a middle schooler watch scary movies on school nights.  That was about 15 or 16 years ago. My question is….have you ever finished Signs?

KtCat94 – Look, that was a scary movie!  You told me before watching the movie, that there was a kitchen pantry scene that was scary, so I was looking out for that. Before getting to that scene I remember freaking out during the Mexican birthday party scene when the aliens were first spotted. So when the kitchen pantry scene started I was done. As for the answer to your question….no I have never finished Signs.

Cogerson – Well you should finish it. I think the kitchen pantry scene is at about the one hour mark.  That leaves you only about 40 minutes left to watch.  I can’t believe it might take you 20 years to finish watching a movie.

KtCat94 – Maybe one day I will finish it.

Cogerson – Well that finishes this interview.  Thanks for all your help over the years.

In case you missed the first interviews.

Two more to go….Mike and saving the best for last Steve Lensman.

25 thoughts on “Getting To Know KtCat94 – UMR Hall Of Fame Class of 2015

  1. I like it. Good to get to know your daughter better.Thanks for the email. Hope all is going well. A lot has happened to me in the last 18 months, I am now married and six months pregnant. I guess I need to change my name as I am no longer a Helakoski but now a Ricks. I miss coming here.

    1. Hey Helakoski.
      1. First of all congratulations on the double good news of your marriage and your pregnancy. I am very happy for you.
      2. So your baby will be due around the beginning of November……November babies are awesome!
      3. I have always felt Umr would make a good name for a boy or girl…lol.
      4. Thanks for checking out Katie’s interview..
      5. So you are now a Ricks…..I like it. One of my best friends growing up was a Ricks.
      Great comment!

  2. Nice addition to the series. Good back-and-forth between you and your daughter. Seeing this one pop up, had me go back and read mine again. I think her interview is better

    1. Thank SteinHOF16. Glad you were able to check out her interview. I think your interview is a good one too.

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