Movie of Hank Garland's Life

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

The following was copied and pasted from an article I ran across on the Internet.
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quote:
Hank Garland's Life Hits the Big Screen in "Crazy"

Waylon Payne Stars as Legendary Guitarist Hank Garland

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20, 2005 - "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.

r

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Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I'm pretty sure that forumite (and top LA session guitarist) Dean Parks did the actual soundtrack guitar parts on this.

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

Yes, Dean and Larry Koontz did the actual playing. But, i'm proud to say, i am Hank's "hands" in the movie. The actor playing Hank can play some chords, but he's really not a lead guitar player. So, the producers asked me to play all the parts for the close-up shots in the movie. So far we've spent 2 days shooting my hands and there will be at least one more day. The best part of all this was getting to play Hank's guitars. It's an amazing feeling holding his Epiphone with the "Sugarfoot" name inlayed in it. There are many valuable guitars used in the movie, including the very first Gibson Byrdland. That one is signed by Hank on the back where he also wrote "#1".

Billy Garland (Hank's brother) and his wife Amy were there on the set, too. It was an honor to meet them.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Congrats Dan...very cool!!!

BTW, I also heard that Greg Liez plays steel on the soundtrack.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

Yeah, Greg plays steel on the soundtrack.

[This message was edited by Rich Weiss on 06 February 2005 at 02:07 PM.]

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Very cool. Steve Vai does put his money where his mouth is. I can't think of a guitar player more deserving of this type of tribute. Hank covered all the bases.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

The upcoming Johnny Cash movie ( mentioned in the article ) also sounds very interesting.

John Pelz · From: Kettering, Ohio, USA

It's great to hear that the ball is rolling on the Hank Garland movie. If anyone deserves to have his story told, I'd say it's Hank, who was the very best. Does anyone know when the movie is slated for completion?

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

They're shooting it right now. Garland is being played by a guy named Waylon Payne, who's the son of Sammi Smith.

[This message was edited by Rich Weiss on 09 February 2005 at 10:47 PM.]

Bill Cunningham · From: Atlanta, Ga. USA

It's nice of Ray (Guitar Center) Scherr to "give something back" considering he is almost single handedly responsible for destroying the concept of "music store" that I have known for most of my life.

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"Gimme a steel guitar, 2 or 3 fiddles and a Texas rhythm section that can swing"..R. Pennington

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I have some reservations about all this. I hope someone can assure me that this is going to turn out good for Garland.

Why would I want to go see a movie about Hank Garland in which someone else is playing the guitar parts, someone else is a "hand model" etc.

Why would I want to know anything about Hank Garlands' wife????

Has not been mentioned yet, but are they going to bring up all that conspiracy mess complete with bullet holes in the car??

The incredible legacy of Hank Garland would surely be better served with an in depth documentary using his own playing, pictures of the real person and focusing on his spectacular guitar skills rather than a Hollyweird style movie with actors and some kind of a slant.

I sure hope this movie does this man justice. Please pardon me for being leary of this.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

Well, I just got back from my one and only day on the set of Crazy. I'm playing an old Sho Bud, in the house band of the Ryman reunion scene. I think the real steel guy was named Bob White. The movie takes place through the decades, 40's - 70's, and I was in the 1972 scene, where Hank makes his reunion performance at the Opry, after a 15 year absence.

According to the director, the movie is all but done, but probably won't be released till early 06, or possibly August at the earliest.

I had no idea about his story until today. It's amazing. After a car accident, in which he claimed that someone shot at him, his wife committed him to an asylum, where they gave him shock treatments, till became like a 2 year old. Incredible. It should make a really compelling movie.

All I can say is that everyone on the set was very sincere about this endeavor. It was approved by his family, and even though there's no name actors in it, it was still very serious and professional, and I think it will be a good dramatization.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

memphislim · From: Austin, Texas

I worked several days on this movie as Hank's band mate in the Cowboy Copas band, playing steel. Yes they filmed the car wreck and everything related to it. The story comes direct from Billy and Amy Garland's recounts of Hank's stories so should be factual at least in Hank's eyes. Hanks was alive and consulted during all of the pre-production. Don't expect perfect recreation of the music or steel guitar. They didn't use original tracks but recorded original music to illustrate the story. This is mostly due to liscensing fees and sound track royalties. Although they tried, historically the steel is not very accurate. Pedals are seen and/or heard before they were in wide use. I tried to set them straight but no one listend to me. The best scene I saw filmed of the steel was a close up during Tenesee Waltz. Unfortunelty they used a non-player to mimic the steel players hands. Nice guy, just not a player and you all will spaz when you see it. Give them a break-they knew not of what they did. No one but steel players will notice any of that though.

They had Shawn Colvin and Mandy Barnett act and sing in the movie too. While Mandy did a faithful recreation as Patsy Cline, Shawn's interpretation of Kitty Wells is laughably modern to say the least.

I not sure where this movie will end up, but you all have to see it. I felt priveledged to work on the movie if for no other reason the historical aspect of what the movie is about. Everyone was nice as could be on the crew and cast and I have the highest hopes for it.

Slim

[This message was edited by memphislim on 23 February 2005 at 03:08 PM.]

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Slim,

Thanks for the input. Hank was a friend of mine back in the old days before the car wreck, and I discovered a couple of years ago that he lived near me in Florida, so we had a chance to renew the old acquantance. Also, I worked with Copas on Pee Wee King's band for a couple of years.

Do you know anything about the release date for the movie or how one might go about seeing it? Will it be in theaters, available for purchase on video tapes or DVD's -- etc.

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Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

It will be a theatrical release, out early next year. I might add one thing, which that didn't ring quite true for me. In the scene I was in, the Opry House band. There were a bunch of extras, supposedly performing members of the Opry. About a dozen maybe. All pretty young, under thiry.

I was the oldest guy on the set, at 54. If I remember correctly, there were always a bunch of pretty 'old' guys and gal entertainers, milling about at the real Opry. Not so in this film, from what I saw. Probably no one will notice.

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks. I'll ask Hank's brother, Billy, and his wife, Amy, to let me know when and where I can see it.

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memphislim · From: Austin, Texas

No word yet on the when or where. I should be in the loop on this and I plan on attending the premiere if there is one. As soon as I know anything, I'll let you all know.

Hank_Garland · From: Orange Park, FL 32073

Thanks All! You will truly enjoy this movie. The hand double Dan Sawyer did an outstanding job as well as everyone there. I was amazed at the musicians there. They were all outstanding. Dan Sawyer is one of the best I have ever seen, You go Dan!
The Garland family
Thank you too Roy!

Hank_Garland · From: Orange Park, FL 32073

Here is the link www.crazy-themovie.com
Thanks Roy and Laurie!
Amy Garland

Roy Ayres · From: Riverview, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

A few pictures taken in the Garland home in Orange Park, Florida.

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Hank Garland's Byrdland guitar.

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Hank's first guitar.

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Left to right: Hank Garland, Lil ole me, Amy Garland, Billy Garland

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[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 17 March 2005 at 05:38 PM.]

Stephan Franck · From: La Crescenta, California, USA

I already posted about this somewhere on the forum, where it was moderatelly well received--I think because people didn't realize how much this movie could do for Hank Garland's legacy.

Anyway, I had a conversation with Larry Koonse, who plays a lot of the guitar parts for Hank and also Wes Montgomery in the movie. Some of the parts were written, for historical accuracy, but some other were improvised, for instance in scenes where Hank is rehearsing or practicing.

Larry, is not only a great musician, but also a wonderful guy, and I know he will do Hank justice.

Jason Weaver · From: Topeka, Kansas

I just checked out the movie site, but there isn't much there yet concerning the cast. One thing I did think was odd, the tabs across the top have a bass clef on them.

Kenny Burford · From: Independence, Missouri USA

Hank Garland was one of the leading influences in the development of the electric guitar during its infancy. Hank Garland, Jimmy Bryant, Chet Atkins, Les Paul were all great players who through their genius, innovation and dedication took guitar playing to a pinnacle in the 1950s never heard before and in turn generated a flow creativity that ultimately influenced every genre' of music on the face of this planet.

In addition, Hank Garland along with a handful of other Nashville based musicians deserve to be honored for decades if not centuries for what they did to take Nashville from a less than third rate recording location to the Recording Capital of the World.

Although the movie about Hank Garland's life may have technical inaccuracies the more important aspect to consider is the movies ability to make thousands and possibly millions of music fans aware of the tremendous contribution Hank Garland made to American music. Music as much as politics, industry or finance influences the direction of any single generation; therefore, why shouldn't the people responsible for giving a nation is musical identity be recognized for their contribution to the society they helped sculpture?

I applaud those responsible for creating this movie about Hank Garland life and music and I look forward to seeing it. Also, a special thank you goes out to the family of Hank Garland, his brother Billy and Billy's wife Amy and for their willingness to share their memories of an American musical icon.

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

About that bass clef. When i started in the business, it wasn't too unusual to see guitar parts written out in bass cleff. Lately, it's become the practice to write guitar parts an octave above where it actually sounds. That puts it in treble clef.

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Dan Sawyer
Rickenbacher B6, Fender Dual Professional, Fender Deluxe 8 (trap), Fender "White" 6-string w legs, Carvin steel w HiseTri-plex.

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