CRAZY, a Film Inspired by the Life of Guitar Legend Hank Garland, Screens at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Friday, April 25 at 5:30PM

CRAZY, a Film Inspired by the Life of Guitar Legend Hank Garland, Screens at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Friday, April 25 at 5:30PM

A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND Q&A WITH DIRECTOR RICK BIEBER AND WAYLON PAYNE - WHO STARS AS GARLAND - WILL FOLLOW

CRAZY, WHICH ALSO STARS ALI LARTER, JUST WON 'BEST SCREENPLAY' AWARD AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S METHOD FEST

LOS ANGELES, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- CRAZY, an independent feature film inspired by the tragic life and groundbreaking music of legendary 1950s-era guitarist Hank Garland, is an official selection at Newport Beach Film Festival (4/24-5/1) in Newport Beach, CA. Launched in 1999, the Festival has since became a major cultural attraction in Southern California, drawing over 40,000 people to Orange County for its film presentations and events. CRAZY screens at 5:30PM on Friday, April 25 at the Edwards Island Cinemas (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660).

Immediately after the screening, cast member and recording artist Stacy Earl will sing, accompanied on guitar by Evans Forde, who appears in the film as Nashville music legend Chet Atkins. Their set will be followed by a Q&A with director Rick Bieber and Waylon Payne, who stars as Garland. LA.com recently wrote of his performance, "The brash and brilliant musician is well played by charismatic actor Waylon Payne." In addition to acting, Payne is a country artist with deep musical roots. He was named for his godfather, Waylon Jennings, and is the son of GRAMMY-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne, longtime guitarist for Willie Nelson. There will be a second screening of CRAZY on Monday, April 28 at 1PM (but without any special after-program).

Rick Bieber also co-wrote the script for CRAZY with Jason Ehlers and Brent Boyd. Their work was just honored with the Daily News Award for Best Screenplay at the Los Angeles area's 10th Annual Method Fest in Calabasas, CA, where it had its west coast festival premiere. Ray Scherr and guitar hero Steve Vai (who also performs a cameo as Hank Williams) are the film's Executive Producers under the Favored Nations Films mantle.

Waylon Payne, acclaimed for his debut film role as Jerry Lee Lewis in the Oscar-winning film Walk The Line, headlines CRAZY opposite Ali Larter (Heroes, Legally Blonde, Varsity Blues, etc.), who plays Hank's beautiful but deeply troubled wife Evelyn Garland. Cast members also include: Scott Michael Campbell, who plays Garland's friend and fellow Nashville guitar ace Billy Byrd; Lane Garrison as Hank's brother and manager Billy Garland; music artist Stacy Earl, who performs as country singer Goldie Hill; and Ryan Cross, who plays jazz bassist Joe Benjamin.

CRAZY chronicles Hank Garland's rise to fame in the Nashville music scene, from playing on hits for icons including Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison through his brief but influential solo career as a visionary jazz artist. Garland's flame-out was as spectacular as his success. In 1961, a near-fatal car accident, his tempestuous marriage and personal life and repeated clashes with the "Nashville Mob," who then controlled the country music establishment, led to a series of electro-shock treatments that tragically ended his playing career. Though he ceased performing, Garland lived until 2004, and was involved in CRAZY's development.

CRAZY is also an official selection at upcoming 2008 festivals including: Charleston International Film Festival (5/1-4); Jacksonville Film Festival (5/15-18); Big Island Film Festival (5/15-18); New Jersey International Film Festival (5/31-6/15); Boston International Film Festival (6/6-14); Maui International Film Festival (6/11-15); Long Island International Film Expo (7/9-17) and the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival (7/16-28).

For more information, log on to http://www.crazy-themovie.com/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Favored Nations Films

CONTACT: Erin Podbereski, +1-626-585-9575, erin@jensencom.com, for
Favored Nations Films

Web site: http://www.crazy-themovie.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment