"Drive Me Crazy" is based on a novel for young adults by Todd Strasser entitled "How I Created My Perfect Prom Date". Producer Amy Robinson, who happened to be looking for such a novel to turn into a film, was intrigued by the title and found the book to have considerable potential. "I thought it was almost a teenage 'When Harry Met Sally'" she remembers. "It had a good story, romance, friendships, laughs and characters who go through some interesting changes." In the course of her work, Robinson became familiar with the young adult novels of another writer, Rob Thomas, whom she hired to turn "How I Created" into a screenplay. Thomas would later go on to write for the popular teen series "Dawson's Creek." Director John Schultz appreciated not only the script's humor but also its look at teen life. "It was the only screenplay I had read that reminded me of when I was in high school and the way I see my nieces and nephews in high school now," he comments. "It was straight ahead and honest - and a lot of fun." Schultz, whose previous film, "Bandwagon," received much critical praise and was a hit on the worldwide film festival circuit, seemed like an excellent choice to helm "Drive Me Crazy." "We were looking for a young, interesting, hip director," Robinson recalls. "I was going through tapes of films, and came across "Bandwagon". I thought it was charming and funny, and that John got great performances from the actors." Robinson believes Schultz made the most of the "Drive Me Crazy" themes and characters. "I think he brought a tremendous amount of humanity to the film," she notes. "The characters are treated with respect, so we can understand them, laugh with them and identify with them at the same time." Schultz's understanding of the material and rapport with the actors was evident early on. Says Robinson: "John once said to me, 'The reason you and I get along so well is because in our hearts we're still teenagers'," she says, laughing. "And I think in some ways that is true." Key to bringing out these themes, in addition to being the film's romantic center, are the two actors who play Nicole and Chase. Melissa Joan Hart, who squeezed in the filming of "Drive Me Crazy" in Utah while shooting "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" in Los Angeles, impressed the filmmakers with her boundless enthusiasm. "She really wanted to do something different here than what she's done on TV, and she succeeded," says Schultz. Schultz and Robinson agree that Melissa has many qualities audiences will be able to identify with. "She's very real," offers Robinson. "I think a lot of girls who see the movie will say to themselves, 'Nicole is no different from me. She's struggling with things I struggle with.' Melissa brings a real accessibility and humanity to the part." A show business "veteran" compared to her fellow castmates, Melissa drew the group together, creating a central point around which they could create their respective characters. "She really fit in beautifully with everyone," states Schultz. "And I guess that's part of her appeal - she's so regular and normal." Melissa's co-star, Adrian Grenier, brings a similar appeal to his role. Says Amy Robinson, "Adrian gives Chase a kind of gentleness, humor and a devilish attitude. I think it will be easy to understand why, once Nicole cleans him up a bit, Chase makes everybody's head turn." Schultz hopes that audiences will respond to and identify with not only Chase and Nicole, but the other characters as well. "I think they're all real," he states, "and that's what people will relate to. No one is a 100 percent villain, and no one is perfect. That was one of the enjoyable aspects of the script - taking these different types of characters and watching them change and grow." Bringing these roles to life is a talented ensemble of young actors, several of whom have received notice for their work on stage and in independent films. Mark Webber portrays Chase's friend, Dave - Designated Dave - who earns his nickname by being the head of drive safe program. "Dave's into the Internet and video games," says Mark. "He's kind of a nerd, but he's also somewhat cool." Another friend of Chase's is Ray Neeley, played by Kris Park. "Ray is a video geek," explains Kris. "He's a cameraman extraordinaire who enjoys catching his classmates at their worst moments and playing it over the school A/V system." Ali Larter plays Chase's girlfriend, Dulcie. "She's the kind of girl who goes against the grain," says Ali. "Dulcie is very cool; she likes alternative music and is the polar opposite of Nicole's friends with her taste in clothes and make-up. Those things just aren't important to her." Nicole's closest friend, at least at first, is Alicia, played by Susan May Pratt. Possessing an acerbic wit, Alicia is a lot of fun to be around until she shows her true colors to Nicole. "She's a popular, rich girl who looks down on everyone," offers Susan. "She has a snide remark for everything." A more genial character - but with a few surprises of her own - is Dee Vine, played by Keri Lynn Pratt. "Dee tries really hard to be popular," Keri shares. "She's reinvented herself." Also part of Nicole's clique is Chloe, played by Lourdes Benedicto, who describes her character as "rich, prissy in a good way, together and very organized." The sole male in this group is Rupert, who, according to the actor taking on the role, Keram Malicki-Sanchez, is "arrogant, self-assured, vain and who thinks he is hipper-than-thou." Playing Nicole's dream date, Brad, a star basketball player, is Gabriel Carpenter. All the actors make the most of their respective characters, bringing a sense of excitement and reality to the teen world they inhabit. Melissa Joan Hart, for one, never tires of playing a teenager, whether on film or television. "There are so many different levels of being a teen," she says. "In just five years you go from being a child and completely dependent on someone, to being an adult and dependent on yourself. And there are so many different stages you have to go through to get to that point. That is what's really interesting about being a teenager."
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