The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
Production
Production
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The film, by [Dickhouse Productions](/wiki/Dickhouse_Productions "Dickhouse Productions"), was the first non\-[Jackass](/wiki/Jackass_%28TV_series%29 "Jackass (TV series)") feature produced by [Johnny Knoxville](/wiki/Johnny_Knoxville "Johnny Knoxville") and [Jeff Tremaine](/wiki/Jeff_Tremaine "Jeff Tremaine").

Knoxville had been a fan of Director Nitzberg's documentary about Hasil Adkins, and of *The Beastly Bombing*. Having seen Nitzberg's early footage of Jesco White, Knoxville and Nitzberg convinced Nitzberg to return to West Virginia, in order to film a feature around the rest of the White family. Nitzberg spent eighteen months with the notorious family of Jesco White, documenting their history as dancers, criminals and the impact of the coal mining culture upon them.

Shot [cinéma vérité](/wiki/Cin%C3%A9ma_v%C3%A9rit%C3%A9 "Cinéma vérité") style, the film followed four generations of the White family as they flowed in and out of prison and scrambled to get by in rural West Virginia. The film also featured sequences featuring Jesco White tap dancing, accompanied by [Hank Williams III](/wiki/Hank_Williams_III "Hank Williams III").


What other stories might be told about families living under similar circumstances?