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CRAZY, a Film Inspired By the Life of Guitar Legend Hank Garland, is an Official Selection at the Riverside International Film Festival in Riverside, CA

Posted on: Monday, 14 April 2008, 12:00 CDT

LOS ANGELES, April 14 /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 Southern California's Riverside International Film Festival (4/11-4/20) in Riverside, CA. CRAZY screens at 7:15PM on Friday, April 18 at the Regal Theaters At Riverside Plaza (3535 Central Ave, Riverside, CA 92506). Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with director Rick Bieber and actor Scott Michael Campbell, as well as musical performances from cast members Stacy Earl, Ryan Cross and others.

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 has 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 Academy Award-winning film Walk The Line, stars as Hank Garland. 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. Payne headlines CRAZY opposite Ali Larter (Heroes, Legally Blonde, Varsity Blues), who plays Hank's wife, the beautiful but deeply troubled 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: The Palm Beach International Film Festival (4/10-4/17); Newport Beach Film Festival (4/24-5/1); Charleston International Film Festival (5/1-4); Jacksonville Film Festival (5/15-18); Big Island Film Festival (5/15-18; 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/.

Favored Nations Films

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

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

Source: PRNewswire

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