Jane White is Sick & Twisted
by Jon Keeyes
In the office of The Global Asylum in Hollywood, California sits a man named David Latt. Amidst the myriad of videos, posters and movie merchandise liesthe press kit for his most recent film, Jane White is Sick & Twisted. "We're getting ready for the premiere in Hollywood," he says. "Would you take a look at this press announcement." Reading it over, I suddenly become intrigued to see this warped little comedy. Not a week later, I had that good fortune.
From David Latt, the director of Killers and Wildflowers, comes Jane White is Sick & Twisted, a wild comedic ride satirizing the tv generation. "I had just seen my 1000th festival drama about AIDS, incest and necrophilia," shares Latt. "I was so angry, that I decided to make fun of these films... thus Jane White. Kim Little (Jane) and I sat down and came up with a variety of festival puns. Within a few hours we had our plot: Jane White is a girl who always wanted to be on the Jerry Show - the most outrageous talk show in history (later this would change in that she thought Jerry was her long dead father)."
And
thus was born Jane White, raised on television and forced into a delusional
world where the characters on her favorite shows have become her family and
friends. Living with her agoraphobic, demented mother, Jane uses television
to escape into her own fantasy world. Then a twist of fate sends Jane into
the real world on a quest to meet Jerry - the talk show host. Along the way
of this crazed, twisted journey she encounters a slew of equally bizarre and
demented characters.
While the comedy is great, one of the most unique and intriguing
aspects of the movie is the cast: "The budget ended up rising because I insisted
that every cast member be a noted tv personality to fit Jane's world perspective.
The budget ended up tripling." 
With a second mortgage and maxed out credit cards, Latt was able to assemble an amazing cast of actors. In the lead is Kim Little of Wes Craven's New Nightmare, but best known for her portrayal of the slutty Nurse Susan Hilliard on Diagnosis Murder. Joining her in the lead is Wil Wheaton, better known as Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: Next Generation. "I was talking with actress Debra Wilson over lunch and she tells me that the greatest improv artist that she has ever met is Wil Wheaton... and that she's been trying to get him on MadTv for years," says Latt. "I then called up Wil's agent to have Wil read the lead part. The next day the agent calls back to say that Wil loves that part and wants it. I was a little skeptical so I insisted on meeting him. It couldn't have gone any better. Wil was a fan of the script and the character. I was so impressed with what Wil could offer this role. It was sealed on a handshake."
Joining Little and Wheaton are new and old faces from some of the most popular television shows ever. The cast includes Alley Mills (Wonder Years) as Jane's wacked mother, David L. Lander (Squiggy of Laverne & Shirley) playing the outrageous talk show host, Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch), Gary Owens (That 70's Show), Andy Lauer (Caroline in the City), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), Michelle Phillips (Popular), Ted Shackelford (Knot's Landing), and Brad Sherwood and Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway? "Dusty Diamon of Saved by the Bell and Colin Mochrie were complete opposites," remembers Latt about the two tv actors. "Dustin is out there. He's always performing. He's on stage doing his comedy, smiling, getting everyone on his side. Colin is quiet. Reserved. Shy? Sure, a little shy. Pretty weird considering he does very outlandish improv every week on his show.
"Both delivered superbly. Colin's understated delivery is so effective that his performance blew me away. He wore the leather outfits without hesitation, and seemed to enjoy being spanked. He'll probably fire his agent, but as for me... it's all on film."
And with that, filming began in what would turn out to be as outrageous of an adventure behind the camera as it was in front. Recalls Latt, " The first day of shooting began and someone from our crew stole 'no parking' signs so we put them all over Santa Monica Blvd. in order to park our trucks and honeywagons. A big budget shoot was filming on the other block and cried 'no fair!' but it turns out they stole their signs adn were illegally parking too. We threatended to turn them in if they turned us in. It was a bluff, but it worked."
Besides the antics of the environment that every lower budget film is exposed to, there are also the fond memories behind the camera: "Mikey Jones has played every biker in every movie for the past twenty years (I think it's a union rule). He's big, mean looking, and tough. Was he in real life? Nope. I'm taller than him, he's a teddy bear, and he is the nicest guy on the planet. Oh, and he sings beautifully - he'll be the first to tell you he was in bands for twenty-three years playing for such legends as Bob Dylan and Kenny Rogers.
"He brought with him a guitar, and sings the blues while waiting to be shot. I had met Mickey about two months earlier at a trade show. I specifically went to see him because he was first on my list to play the serial killer, Kenny Kingman. I felt kind a bad when Dick (Wil) makes fun of him 'he weighs 300 pounds! He didn't kill his victims, he ate them!' - especially since Mickey looked trim and fit when we met. I thought he would be insulted, but he laughed instead."
Filming finished in nearly a year ago, with post-production lasting until September. Through the many hurdles, Jane White is finally finished and preparing for release. It's a comedy any television fan should see.
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Check out the movie at http://www.janewhitemovie.com/
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