by Quendrith Johnson

Since actor/producer Jamie Kennedy was in David O. Russell's Persian Gulf war movie "Three Kings," it seemed only fitting to catch up with him and get his reaction to Russell's recent Oscar success with "Silver Linings Playbook." "I'm not surprised," Kennedy said, "and I'm really excited for him. He's so hot right now."

While you may know Jamie Kennedy from his comedy performances (as in: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment), or from his recurring roles in the "Scream" franchise, or as a repeat late-night talk show guest, there is more to him than that.

Last year he started a company called Jamie Kennedy Entertainment (JKE), whereby he is putting up his own, yes, his own money to get "lightly budgeted" projects made.

"I have been in the business for 18 or 19 years," Kennedy explained, "I've done big budget, low budget, horror, comedy, you name it. I've been star, co-star, everything; then I said 'look the future is changing.' When I was coming up, the studios did 90 movies a year. Disney does about 8 movies a year now, for about $250 M USD each, and Johnny Depp is in about four of them. It's very constricted. I just think there's an audience for other things."

March 23, this Friday, a movie he produced called "A Resurrection" (Mischa Barton, Michael Clarke Duncan) will open in a roll-out in 12 major American markets. It's a horror movie about a kid whose brother is killed by a bunch of school-thug Lettermen, and guess who returns (spoiler alert: from the grave) for revenge?

This is one Roger Corman would bet money on to make money, and, as everyone knows, he's never lost a dime in Hollywood... or a bet. Betting big with his bank account was on Kennedy's to-do list in a big way, because "I don't have a wife and kids; I don't have other mouths to feed except my staff." So, cha-ching.

Like many before him, from John Wayne to Gary Oldman, both who nearly lost their shirts making lavish pictures, he decided to take the plunge into production ink. As far as laying out the cash, the other Kennedy (no relation to JFK or Camelot's crowd) said "2012 was probably my most financially risky year."

"I put a lot of money on the street, and in this. But I believe in it. I know a lot of talented people (to work with). When you start out, and you're a young company, you try to learn from your elders. I've got a great partner in Steve Small and Phil Glasser."

And how does the former Ghost Whisperer choose his projects? "You start slow, we pick the projects that we think and interesting and lightly budgeted so they will not lose (read: a lot of) money. You don't need a lot of money to make something good."

"I'm always about writer-directors. All the really creative ones are writer-directors, look at the David O. Russell, Baz Lurhmann, Wes Craven, they are all the greats. I've been lucky to work with them. I see it this way, if you are the architect of the house and you're building it, that's pretty unique right? All the great people nominated this year were mostly writer-directors."

Kennedy, who played a hapless boob so well in "Malibu's Most Wanted" a decade ago, is like a stealth CEO. He's no dummy, but he won't let you know that. Just listen to him describe his very successful career in Hollywood: "I have just done about everything you can do. I like to say, 'I haven't been on the cover of Rolling Stone, but I've been in it. I've never been on the cover of Esquire but i've been inside, in the pages.'

In the next breath, the actor/producer, who has been the anti-Charlie Sheen and stayed out of the tabloids, reveals that he is in the middle of shooting a film he wrote himself. "It's the third week. I'm on set right now. It's a comedy. You got to start in your wheelhouse and work out from there. It's called "Tick, Tock," but I can't tell you any more than that. It's "Tick Tock Too," not "two," "oo," as in "t-o-o."

What about ever directing?

"I haven't done it yet. People say I should do it. I have a lot of respect for directors. It's a lot of hard work. Right now, Josh, who is a great writer, is the director of one of our projects. I have to study more guys like him, before I do it; I have to start small. I'm a producer and an actor, not a director yet. But I respect David O. Russell immensely, he improvs a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the scenes in 'Silver Linings Playbook' were improv-ed... I don't want to be an auteur, I'm mean, I'm not a director, but I want to be the guy who puts his stamp on things."

And in Jamie Kennedy's personal life?

"I've lived in LA for 24 years coming up in May (note: he first moved to LA around his birthday, May 25th), that's more of my life than in Philly growing up. Since I was 15, I always wanted to be a comedian. Fortunately my family and my parents are still alive. It's hard to have a relationship that is not in cahoots with you. It's either going to be one of two ways, I have to find a little wife and take her with me. Or I work, then she works, and I support her. Actually it's one of three scenarios!"

Then Jamie gets on a roll. Like most comedians, he's a strong closer. "Hey, I want everyone to see 'A Resurrection,' make sure you add that. It's coming out this Friday. March 23rd. It's a great movie. I also have my show, O Sit!, on the CW, Mondays 8 pm. And spread the word about the company, okay? That's cool too." Jamie Kennedy Entertainment can be found on Steve Small's Facebook page - and see their movie, or else the dead guy from "A Resurrection" might come knocking.

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