Stone Cold Jane Austen is a film featuring an all-star cast of local
celebrities, due for release in Nu Metro cinemas on 22 May 2015. This reality-style comedy pushes boundaries whilst taking viewers on a journey into the lives of
two loveable, yet delusional rogues, Johnny and Karel – the main members of the
band Stone Cold Jane Austen.
Jon Savage, writer, director and actor in the role of Johnny Van Heroine, has spent
the past three years sourcing funding and convincing South African celebrities to
help him create the movie. Together with co-star Rob Van Vuuren, the two main
characters set out on a journey of humiliation, aggressive self-promotion and epic
downfalls in their musical careers.
The film tackles how hard it is to achieve stardom in the SA rock music scene and
shows the lengths one band will go to in order to achieve respect and recognition
for their wares. Although essentially a black comedy, the film tells the story of a
musician who has never given up on his dream, despite it being utterly unrealistic.
Savage, the once lead singer of rock band Cassette, sees an amplified version of
himself in the main character Johnny Van Heroine, “I remember what it was like to
be a complete egomaniac in a semi-successful rock band in SA only too clearly’, he
states, “We had a hugely disappointing reality check at the end of it all.’
Some of the artists featuring in the movie include Fokofpolisiekar, Jack Parow, Kurt
Darren, Die Hewels Fantasties, The Parlotones, aKing and many more. “Everyone
was amazing’, Savage recalls. “They all brought their own set of challenges and
gave so generously to the movie.’
