Morty Fineman (Jerry Stiller) is an independent schlock film producer-star-director with a problem. He's broke, and he can't finance his new film about a singing serial killer. The bank offers to buy his film library (a whopping 427 films!) but they're only willing to pay him $8 a pound. "We've weighed them," the bankers tell him, "and it's an impressive body of work." Fineman enlists the aid of his estranged daughter, Pamona (Janeane Garofalo) and his long-time assistant Ivan (Max Perlich). They try to rekindle interest in his films by getting Fineman a retrospective at the High Desert Film Festival in the remote town of Chaparral, Nevada, a haven for legal prostitution. Stephen Kessler co-wrote and directed THE INDEPENDENT, a hilarious but affectionate homage to B-movie visionaries like Roger Corman, Russ Meyer, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. The consistently funny film includes appearances by Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Jonathan Katz, porn star Ginger Lynn Allen, and rock legend John Lydon. There are also cameos by Hollywood luminaries like Ron Howard and Peter Bogdanovich (who sing Morty's praises), but the comedic highlights are the clips of Fineman's hysterically awful films, including such wonders as "The Foxy Chocolate Robot" and "Bald Justice."

Theatrical Release: NOVEMBER 30, 2001 (NY/LA)
FEBRUARY 8, 2002 (WIDER)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Morty's 427 Film Catalog

Jerry Stiller: American comedian, actor, SEINFELD, KING OF QUEENS
Janeane Garofalo: Actress
Ben Stiller: American Director/Actor, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
Andy Dick: Actor/"In The Army Now"
Ethan Embry: Actor, DUTCH
Billy Burke: 
Jonathan Katz: Comedian/"Dr. Katz"
Fred Dryer: Supporting Actor
Anne Meara: American film & television actress
Max Perlich: Star, HOMEWARD BOUND II: LOST IN SAN FRANCISCO (1995)

Stephen Kessler: Director, THE INDEPENDENT (2001)

Mike Wilkins: Screenwriter/Producer, THE INDEPENDENT (2001)

Mike Wilkins: Screenwriter/Producer, THE INDEPENDENT (2001)
Stephen Kessler: Director, THE INDEPENDENT (2001)

Ben Vaughn: Composer, film and television sitcoms

"...Expertly done in a loose-jointed, semideadpan style..."