Principal Photography Begins in Los Angeles on CRAZY, an Independent Feature Film Inspired by the Life of Legendary Guitarist Hank Garland

Principal Photography Begins in Los Angeles on CRAZY, an Independent Feature Film Inspired by the Life of Legendary Guitarist Hank Garland LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- CRAZY, an independent feature film inspired by the life of legendary guitarist Hank Garland, began principal photography in Los Angeles on January 13 under the Favored Nations production banner; Ray Scherr and Steve Vai are executive producers. The film marks the directorial debut for Rick Bieber, following his prominent career as a producer on such acclaimed features as Flatliners, Made In America, and Radio Flyer. CRAZY stars Waylon Payne and Ali Larter as Hank and Evelyn Garland. Co-written by Rick Bieber, Jason Ehlers and Brent Boyd, CRAZY is an original screenplay-from a story by Bieber -- based on the remarkable life of Hank Garland, who just passed away last December 27. The making of CRAZY was spearheaded by executive producer Ray Scherr, who met Hank Garland and his family almost a decade ago. Garland was involved throughout the film's development, and the entire production team regrets that he didn't live to see it realized. Hank Garland joined the Grand Ol' Opry at 15 and rose to fame in the early 1950s as Nashville's premiere session guitarist. His immense, innovative talents grace the timeless recordings of music icons including Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Patsy Cline. In 1961, he startled the music world by jumping genres from country and pop to jazz with the release of Jazz Winds From A New Direction, a tour de force that to this day is considered an all-time classic jazz album. Later that same year, a crippling, near-fatal auto accident cut short his extraordinary ascent. CRAZY's narrative is driven by Garland's stunning artistic triumphs and dramatic personal travails, and his passionate and stormy relationship with his wife Evelyn. Screen newcomer Waylon Payne stars as Hank Garland, following his debut film role as Jerry Lee Lewis in the forthcoming Twentieth Century Fox feature Walk The Line, the James Mangold-directed Johnny Cash/June Carter biopic in which he stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. The godson of namesake Waylon Jennings, and son of GRAMMY(R)-winner Sammi Smith ("Help Me Make It Through The Night") and Willie Nelson guitarist Jody Payne, Waylon Payne is also a country rocker whose first album The Drifter was released in 2004 on Universal Records. Ali Larter also stars as Hank's beautiful but troubled wife Evelyn. Known for her performances in Legally Blonde, the Final Destination films, Varsity Blues, American Outlaws, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and The House on Haunted Hill, she will next be seen in A Lot Like Love and Syriana. Additionally, Larter recently completed a successful run on the New York stage in the Vagina Monologues. CRAZY director Rick Bieber currently owns and operates his own independent film production company, Rick Bieber Productions. Previously, Bieber served as chief executive of HBO Pictures and Stonebridge Entertainment, which he formed with Michael Douglas. Most recently, he produced the just-completed independent feature Aurora Borealis, starring Josh Jackson, Juliette Lewis and Donald Sutherland. Steve Vai and Ray Scherr are executive producers under the banner of Favored Nations. The production partners felt CRAZY was an ideal fit for their joint venture ... the GRAMMY-winning Vai, a modern-day guitar hero and NARAS(R) board member, is one of rock music's most acclaimed players. Entrepreneur Ray Scherr was the owner of Guitar Center, the United States' largest musical instrument retailer. He also founded Guitar Center Hollywood's "Rockwalk(R)," which now honors-and displays the handprints of -- over 200 musical pioneers, including the great Hank Garland, who was inducted on August 16, 1997. For more information on CRAZY, log on to www.crazy-themovie.com Source: Favored Nations CONTACT: Michael Jensen, +1-626-585-9575, or Meghan Helsel, meghan@jensencom.com, for Favored Nations Web site: http://www.crazy-themovie.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment