Tribeca hosts ‘Whites of West Virginia’
Jesco White
Independent films are generally not big money makers. Documentaries tend to fare even worse at the box office, if they ever get into a theater at all. However, an independent documentary is garnering so much attention at the Tribeca Film Festival that it just may break the stereotypes and bring in some cash.
Star power
Maybe “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” is getting so much attention because of the subject matter. The film documents a year in the life of the White family, who live in –you guessed it — West Virginia. IMDB says the documentary includes “shoot-outs, robberies, gas-huffing , drug dealing, pill popping, murders and tap dancing.”
While that sounds like the makings of a blockbuster, my bet is that at least some of the attention has been attracted by executive producer Johnny Knoxville. Considering how much money Knoxville already has and how little it cost to make the film, I am sure he didn’t need any short-term loans to pay it off. He probably didn’t even need to bust out the credit cards.
Knowing Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville is, of course, the mastermind behind the MTV show “Jackass” and subsequent movies. He rose to fame thanks to his penchant for grossing out, injuring and humiliating himself and his friends for a laugh.
He has expanded his career as of late, though. After years of reality jackassery, he started acting and recently starred in the move “The Ringer.” Now he has switched roles to producer for “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.” Knoxville got some help paying for the making of the film from MTV. Now Knoxville and the other filmmakers are screening it at the Tribeca Film Festival, and it’s getting rave reviews.
Fans find film fascinating
The Hot Blog raves that “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia is going to be one of the best, most talked about, best remembered documentaries of this year.”
The story of the Whites began to unfold on the screen when Jesco White starred in the PBS documentary “Dancing Outlaw.”
Where it began
“Dancing Outlaw” follows Jesco White on his journey to attempt to become a renowned “mountain dancer” like his father was. Knoxville explains that Jesco’s style of dance is “kind of a hybrid of clogging and tap and then you huff a little gasoline.”
Eventually Knoxville and his business partners decided to do a full-length film on the whole family. In the year during the film, the family experiences prison, adultery, stabbing, pregnancy and birth, according to Metro International.
It’s just a matter of time before the filmmakers can start counting the cash this wacky documentary makes from curious movie watchers.
Should be interesting. Perhaps more scintillating than another Jackass sequel, but it should be worth a look.
I am not a big fan of Johnny Knoxville. But hey, the man is doing his thing and is obviously admired by many. We’re just going to have to wait and see what the outcome will be.
I’m really hoping this movie doesn’t do well or be national released in any form. I’m from West Virginia (one county over from the Whites) and am terrified of what this documentary is going to do to the state. It’s one of those things where everyone in the state knows about the Whites (mostly Jesco), and we’ve all seen The Dancing Outlaw, but we would never tell the rest of the country or world about him. No such thing as bad publicity…this will be.
I don’t see why everyone from West Virginia is making a big fuss over this movie. I live in the same county as the Whites–heck, I’m related to them–and I don’t mind Knoxville’s movie. I mean, it’s not about where they’re from, it’s about their lifestyles. These people live sad lives, and I think that in the end, moviegoers will realize that and not care where the Whites are from.
Im not from anywhere near there but i am a fan of D. Ray and Jesco and honestly i think that if this comes out big its not only going to attract tourist attention to Bandytown and Boone County but also get a lot of people to just act like they know anything about them and turn the family into some drama series and i dont know that they want that kind of attention. i know i wouldnt. As Hank III said “they dont need nothin from nobody cause they’re already doin fine”
i am from wv, and i can only pray that for the people that produced, and directed this very stupid film, about a idiotic family will live years and years with bad luck. really people leave us alone.. stick with your rock of loves, and your tia tequila’s, and leave wv alone… the whites are a disgrace, and should all be locked up in a mental ward.
I am from Lincoln County WV,and I have to say that this film is indeed a good thing..It’s real,it’s funny,it’s sad.This film is not to intend the whole damn state acts this way.Its raw and honest,I was wild and partied just like them growing up there..It’s about the white family,not WV..WV needs attention,I think this is better than the barbie bil…uh huh..uh huh..who’s with me?
I am from WV and I am a very big fan of Jesco and his family!!! I actually went and seen him in concert, and he rocked the stage. This movie isn’t meant to prove anything or to try and downplay the knowledge of us West Virginians; it was made to inform this country that people like the Whites still exsist in every state. Face it people, everyone knows someone like the Whites whether or not you like to admit to it. They are just uneducated people who do not know any better; they live how they have been taught. In fact, I am more embarassed by people who write blogs on these websites that do not know you have to put an “an” in front of idiotic and not an “a.” You are the type of people who act like you are better than them, yet you can’t write a sentence correctly. How about trying to learn your basic grammar, before you gripe about anyone else! Rock and Roll Jesco! Keep dancing in your daddy’s shoes!
I think anyone from West Virginia who thinks this movie will ruin “their image” needs to hop off their high horse and realize WV didnt have a great one before the Whites, nor will it have one after the Whites. If you cant be proud of where you came from, maybe you should move. Im from the same part of Boone as the Whites. I went to school with almost all the younger ones that are on the preview. None of them have ever did anything bad to my family (besides not moving over on their fourwheeler on the main road, LOL).. I wish all these people who are soooooo worried about how THEY’RE going to look could meet the Whites, they may learn a lesson!
I am from WV and I think it’s hilarious. Can’t wait to see it. I have family that is much like the Whites. Who cares what people think! The world is full of all different types of folks and that’s what makes it wonderful!! Enjoy the differences and embrace them. People are way to concerned what others think of them when really God is the only one to judge. WV is WILD and WONDERFUL and I love every bit of it!!
I am from WV and I can’t wait to see this movie!!! I love watching about Jesco and his family! We all know that the entire state isn’t really like this. I agree with what “WV born and raised” stated! Embrace the differences, we all know that the entire state isn’t like this!
IT IS WHAT IT IS….. It might bring the wrong attention to the state but it might have some people wanting to vist the state and that will be a good thing since every bodys boy in DC hates coal and if they get there way it will be less money for the state from coal.
What is the big deal? Who in West By God Virginia will really be offended by this movie? The ones with money, politicians, and assholes on their high horse! I am living in North Carolina, but am from Kanawha County. I can’t wait to see this movie! I think Jeseco, Knoxville, and Hank are all just good ole hillbillys and are actually the heart and soul of the Appalatians! Now maybe everyone will get to see mountain living aits best! If you want to get to heaven…you gotta raise a little hell!
I am from WV and anyone who doesn’t think there are a lot of people like this in WV is fooling themselves. Yes there are a lot of nice people and nice places in WV but there is also massive amounts of poverty and uneducated people that the media completely ignores. I think this film could also open up the eyes to all of these rich people, media, and celebrities that there are children in trouble and starving right here in the good ol’ U S of A.
I want to know when this movie is going to be released so I can see it!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t waint….want more info about the release!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m from boone county, and i’m proud of these people. The only virgins around here are the ones that can out run their brothers and daddys.
I am from WV. I am from mercer county and have met family’s that make the White family look pale in comparison. WV Sucks. I left. You have the crazy people and then you have the people with their nose in the air. There is very little in between. The people with there nose in the air like to act as if these people do not exist. If you don’t like the world seeing what you are like then it’s pretty obvious you are not content. There is similar controversy about a film in a town that’s near the one I live now in TX. I would like to make a film that does not single out one area. You have “trash” everywhere.
i knew a few of the whites when i was a kid and one of the younger ones has my brother’s name (r.i.p.) on his calf – they’re a pretty cool family. at least MTV’s doing a documentary on something remotely interesting and not fake. i’m sick of all the b.s. they’ve been coming out with and this actually looks funny. hooray for boone county getting a little recognition even if i’m not technically from it, or wv for that matter.
i do live in boone county right now, ftw.