Python ctypes MemoryError in fcgi process from PIL library

I'm trying to run Django on shared hosting (Bluehost). I'm using functionality that requires PIL. PIL imports and works from an interactive shell, but in my fcgi process it crashes with a MemoryError at from PIL import image. Any help on why it might be failing inside fcgi would be much appreciated.

__Environment Info__:  
Python2.7

Local installs of libjpg, zlib, freetype, and lcms

Virtualenv:  
Django 1.3, PIL, flup, etc.

__Stack Trace__:  

    File ".../feincms_thumbnail.py", line 3, in <module>  
        from PIL import Image

    File ".../PIL/Image.py", line 45, in <module>  
        \__import__("FixTk")

    File ".../python2.7/lib-tk/FixTk.py", line 15, in <module>  
        import ctypes

    File ".../python2.7/ctypes/__init__.py", line 549, in <module>  
        CFUNCTYPE(c_int)(lambda: None)

__.fcgi__:  

<!-- language: python -->
    # setup paths
    # set DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE in os.environ  

    from django.core.servers.fastcgi import runfastcgi  
    runfastcgi(method="threaded", daemonize="false")