Ep 077: Crip Trip and the Labour of Care Work
Today’s guests are the creators and stars of Crip Trip, a new AMI-tv series following Daniel Ennett, a quadruple amputee, and his best friend turned first-time caregiver, Frederick Kroetsch, on a cross-country road trip from Edmonton to New York City in their beat-up 1983 RV.
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Over the course of the series, they tackle the challenges of caregiving, government shortcomings, and personal growth, all while offering a unique and candid look at the disability community, friendship, and the fight for equal opportunities.
In our conversation about the series, we delve into a conversation about the realities of caregiving and how often we forget that care work is labour that often goes unrecognized and unpaid.
Sarah has had the opportunity to work with Daniel and Fred throughout her career and was one of the editors on the series. In fact, this past weekend, Crip Trip won two Rosie awards, including Best Editor for a documentary series over 30 minutes. So proud of them!!
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Music: Deppisch
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ABOUT OUR GUEST
Daniel Ennett is is a filmmaker, arist, and advocate from Amiskwacîwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, so-called Edmonton). Daniel hosted 3 seasons of the web series Invincible and the short film Beneath the Surface. Both of those projects follow his adventures as an above-elbow/knee quadruple amputee, where he tried various adaptive sports like skiing, skydiving, and scuba diving with sharks. He did all of this in collaboration with his friend Frederick Kroetsch. Together they worked on a 35mm art film, Form and Function, as well as a short film Lim(b)itless, where he participated in body suspension. Working with Catapult Pictures, he created a series of pitches while completing his honours degree in psychology. As a sophomore filmmaker, he recently made Flesh Ballet, a visual commentary on ableism. From 2022 to 2023, Daniel worked as a co-director on CBC’s TV series Push. He maintains a thriving painting/photography practice. His work currently focuses on bringing light to disabled experiences.
Fredrick Kroetsch has spent many years both behind and in front of the camera. He spent from 2000 to 2013 as a television presenter on local programs, including ShawTV, HelpTV, and Alberta PrimeTime. Recently, he appeared as the main point of view on a gripping true crime series, Dangerous Breed: Crime. Cons. Cats., which premiered on Peacock and USA TV Network. He also created and directed the groundbreaking TV series "Queen of the Oil Patch" and the thought-provoking documentary "Last of the Fur Traders."
Frederick first met Daniel Ennett in 2013 when trying to find a web series to produce. When their show Invincible was green-lit, Frederick left the world of broadcast journalism to move full-time into documentary TV production. The two of them have been making projects that challenge society’s views on disability ever since.
Frederick’s passion for directing extends to broadcast documentary series, with notable works including Push (CBC), four seasons of Dr. Savanna: Wildrose Vet (Cottage Life and APTN), two seasons of Queen of the Oil Patch (APTN), and The Curse of Oak Island (History). Frederick's passion doesn't stop there. His short films Blind Ambition: The Wop May Story and Snow Warrior (NFB) have received awards at international festivals, while his film
Cracked: The Perplexing World of Egg Donation was nominated for a Golden Sheaf. Additionally, he served as executive producer on the feature-length documentary Wochigiilo, which premiered at TIFF.
Recognised for his contribution to the industry, Frederick has been the recipient of the Edmonton Top 40 Under 40 Award, the esteemed Edmonton Artist Trust Fund, and 5 Alberta Rosie awards, including 2 for Best Non-Fiction Screenwriting. His work has received numerous accolades at film festivals. He was recently named the runner-up for the 2023 Edmonton Film Prize. In 2024, he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Lifestyle Director.
ABOUT CRIP TRIP: AMI and TVO Docs' new road trip docuseries takes viewers on a journey of hilarity, friendship, and hope, while shedding light on glaring holes in support systems for members of the disability community.
On a road trip from Edmonton to New York City in a 1983 RV, pimped out for their specific needs, Daniel and Fred set out to find permanent, full-time work for Daniel, to prevent him from falling through the cracks of a broken government support system. Fred is quickly thrust into the role of full-time caregiver for someone with a disability - something he was absolutely not prepared for.
Daniel Ennett, a filmmaker who is a quadruple amputee, and Frederick Kroetsch, Daniel's best friend and new caregiver, are polar opposites: Daniel is a social justice warrior, and Fred is a high-strung but fun-loving axxhole.
The rollicking journey is filled with memorable ups and downs, including breakdowns, couples therapy, ghost hunting, stand-up comedy attempts, and discussions about disability you've never heard before. They don't shy away from showing the world what caregiving is really like, from inaccessible bathrooms to the dreaded stairs. Every obstacle in their path requires a creative solution.
The result? A "punk-rock, gonzo, road trip, buddy comedy" with a profound and heartfelt message: members of the disability community need more employment opportunities and support systems.
LINKS
Find Daniel online: Instagram, IMDB
Other episodes you’ll enjoy:
PBS’s The Class and the Importance of Mentorship - Episode 073
You’re Not Alone: How Stigma Hurts Everyone - Episode 036
Depression: A conversation with the creators of CBC Gem’s Get Up, Aisha - Episode 052