Jann Arden has range. In the last several decades, the multiple Juno Award-winning singer, author and actress released 15 albums, found time to write five books, and became the self-deprecating subject of her own CTV television series, 鈥淛ann.鈥�
It鈥檚 why, at 60 years old, she鈥檚 primed for more levity. 聽
鈥淚t was fun to swear,鈥� says Arden of her new role in the Canadian indie comedy film 鈥淰andits,鈥� in which she plays an unhinged bingo hall receptionist named Blanche.聽
鈥淚 just did a little piece on a Hallmark series but there's definitely no swearing on Hallmark. And on the 'Jann' show, any kind of swearing is beeped out. I think I've done a 鈥榞oddamn鈥� maybe once or twice, so it鈥檚 very liberating.鈥澛�
Directed by Stu Stone and written and produced by Adam Rodness, 鈥淰andits" imagines a chaotic, upbeat heist scenario 鈥� under the guise of a Christmas Eve bingo hall break-in 鈥� where the four robbers have no idea how to actually pull off a heist.聽
The film, debuting in theatres on Friday, is indulgently goofy with a side of time loops in the vein of "Groundhog Day." It's a curse-throwing, anything-goes tone, which Arden embraces.聽
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really consider myself an actor. I certainly don鈥檛 have formal training 鈥� it鈥檚 really challenging and kind of scary,鈥� says Arden of the idea of becoming someone else.聽
鈥淢usic I know sideways, backwards, eyes closed, hands tied behind my back. I've done it all my life. I've done it professionally for 40 years, so to try other things, there鈥檚 a risk of really getting it wrong 鈥� you have to just be prepared to fail. I don't mind it at all.鈥�
To that end, for Arden and the rest of the cast and crew, failure 鈥� or the prospect of it 鈥� was in the air during production after a trailer and truck containing $250,000 worth of equipment was stolen before filming even started.聽
Rodness says that the truck was found abandoned shortly after and the perpetrators were never caught. But "90 per cent" of their gear remains missing. Winnipeg police say the investigation remains open.
Shortly after the incident took place, Stone and Rodness filed a police report and posted about the ordeal online, after which it became a news story.聽
鈥淲e started getting calls ... blackmailing us saying, 鈥榮end me 300 bucks to this email address and I鈥檒l tell you where your truck is,鈥�" says Rodness. 鈥淭hen the RCMP got involved because of the blackmail, so now, like, this little Canadian movie is the biggest news piece in the Midwest.鈥澛�
Rodness says the theft changed the energy on set as they sought to keep disruptions away from cast members, while local Winnipeg production and equipment suppliers stepped in to replace their gear.
鈥淚t made everyone come together. Everyone took a step back and saw what really matters," says Rodness, who hails from the Toronto suburb of Thornhill. "That was probably the greatest part about it."聽
What鈥檚 more, Rodness was hell-bent on ensuring that the entire experience felt well-suited for Arden, who he says carries a great deal of admiration and respect.聽
鈥淲e actually wrote the movie with her in mind,鈥� adds Rodness when speaking of Arden鈥檚 reputation. 鈥淪he just brings so much credibility to what we're about. She's awesome.鈥�
While the singer has enjoyed critical and commercial success in spades, she in part credits her positive image to being unafraid to be her authentic self, on and off the camera, while she鈥檚 still among the living.聽
鈥淚'm gonna drop dead at some point. There鈥檚 a time limit here,鈥� says Arden who likens her recent choices to a dialogue she鈥檚 consistently having with herself over her passions and speaking out about social issues such as addiction, literacy or animal welfare.聽
鈥淚 take a lot of vitriol on social media for my stance," says Arden. "I don't get too involved in politics but I'm certainly not going to sit on my hands and shut up and make other people do the heavy lifting.鈥澛�
It鈥檚 a mindset Arden says she brings to all of her projects, whether it's "Vandits" or her CTV comedy series, "Jann," that's loosely based on her life.聽
Although CTV has not yet confirmed whether "Jann" will be renewed for a fourth season, the network is expected to air a "Jann" Christmas special in December.聽
"It would be really great to get the funding to be able to do season 4," says Arden. "I certainly haven't lost hope."
More than anything, though, Arden says she鈥檚 thankful to be in the position she鈥檚 in, even when things don鈥檛 always go as planned.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud to be in an arena where, you know, it's making people happy. That鈥檚 a pretty great legacy I think,鈥� says Arden. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad that this is what I鈥檝e done with my life." 聽聽
"Vandits" will play theatres starting Friday for one week in Toronto, Winnipeg, Halifax and be available for VOD on Hollywood Suite as of Dec. 1.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2022.
Noel Ransome, The Canadian Press
