Jennifer Longo's "Six Feet Over It"

Jennifer Longo holds an M.F.A. in Writing for Theater from Humboldt State University. She credits her lifelong flair for drama to parents who did things like buy the town graveyard and put their kids to work in it-because how hilarious would that be? Turns out, pretty hilarious. Longo lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and daughter.

Here Longo dreamcasts an adaptation of Six Feet Over It, her debut novel:

Six Feet Over It is a contemporary story set in a cemetery in Northern California. The story is fiction with a bunch of my own childhood memories mixed in (as so many debuts are) so the characters are mostly composites of fictional characters and people I grew up with. I’m a playwright first, and Six Feet Over It began as a grad school play script, so I imagine it as a play with fabulous stage actors no one knows. My daughter is helping me cast the movie, she’s eleven and has the best taste!

Leigh, the pained main character: A 15 year-old Ellen Page
Dario, the gravedigger: Jay Hernandez (from that jacked movie Hostel)
Emily, the Best Friend: A thirteen year old Lily Collins (Snow White!)
Elanor, the new friend: Julia Goldani Telles (amazing actor from Bunheads on ABC)
Wade, the ridiculous father: Steve Carell. (Perfect)
Meredith, the equally ridiculous mother: Patricia Clarkson (Goddess)
Kai, the sister: Bailey Buntain (another amazing actor from Bunheads)
Gramma, the super ridiculous grandmother: Jessica Walter (from Arrested Development)

One of my favorite directors, who is also a really wonderful writer (He wrote the novel What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) and who is adept at letting humor have a place beside heartbreak, is Peter Hedges. Have you seen Pieces Of April? I could just die. One of my top 10 movies, ever! Oh, and Dan In Real Life. Love!

I would absolutely love to see this movie.

Learn more about the book and author at Jennifer Longo's website.

The Page 69 Test: Six Feet Over It.

--Marshal Zeringue