EXCLUSIVE: Comedian Terence Hartnett’s battle with stage III cancer is the central theme of Cancer Free, a feature documentary from Joke Zero that has just wrapped production across Europe and North America.
The film follows Hartnett who had set out to produce a national park documentary with his best friend, and the film’s director, Mike Dlugosz, when he began battling a rare form of testicular cancer in 2021. The film’s synopsis reads: During their adventure, the camera rolls on their private conversations – both in hospitals and nine national parks – capturing the spread of cancer, musings of mortality, conflict, and devastation.
The film was shot at nine national parks: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Acadia, Canyonlands, Arches, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Cairngorms (Scotland), and Hohe Tauern (Austria) alongside comedy clubs and hospitals in Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Syracuse, New York City, Indianapolis, and Denver. The film was produced by the comedy-focused production company Joke Zero as well as Dlugosz and Hartnett’s new banner, Good Journey Pictures. The film is also being produced in association with the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation which supports adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors. More than 20% of the film’s profits will be going to the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation and other cancer-related charities.
Joke Zero’s Brandon Tamburri (Plan B) is executive producing alongside Hartnett and Dlugosz. Hartnett is fresh off his second sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his hour-long stand-up performance, 1 Lung Run. The show is the follow-up to his previous show 1 Ball Show. He was also a 2022 selection for New York Comedy Festival’s Comics to Watch.
Joke Zero’s most recent film Plan B, which Tamburri directed, produced, and co-wrote was released on September 27 by Quiver Distribution. Plan B stars Jamie Lee (HBO’s Crashing), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Tom Berenger (Platoon), Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie), and Kate Flannery (The Office).
Cancer Free marks the first documentary from Joke Zero. The company launched a podcast network last month.
“I wish that everyone with cancer had a best friend with a camera. Making this film with Mike helped me get through cancer, and looking back on the footage has helped me process it,” Hartnett said.
Tamburri added: “To me, the best comedy films make humor out of serious situations. Cancer Free does just that. Mike directed a beautiful film and the way that Terence deals with his diagnosis is truly inspirational. As someone who has been affected by cancer, I can’t wait for other people to see this film.”
Producers have said they are aiming for a 2025 festival launch.
