Things I Love: Swingers

I remember vividly the first time I even heard about this film. I was in my first year at university and my dear friend (and then room-mate) Adam had watched it one night after I went to bed. The next day he could not stop raving about it, telling me that I simply have to watch it as I would love it and then end scene was almost a direct reflection of an incident that happened in my life. I didn't really pay this much attention, I didn't really pay attention to much at all back then if I'm honest.

However, Christmas rolled around and I bought a VHS copy with my 10 quid HMV voucher. From the first time I laid eyes on it, I absolutely loved it. Not only was it hilarious, poignant and clever, but it was literally like watching an American manifestation of my life up until that point. It is the one film that single-handedly inspired me to write a book (although it took a bloody long time), and want to become an actor and a film-maker. I watched it last night for the first time since I moved to LA and it was like seeing it all again with a fresh pair of eyes. I have now been to most of the places they frequent in the movie and I finally got subtle inside jokes like - "818?"..."No. 310"..."Ooo nice." I'm cool, I know.

Almost as interesting as the film itself is the story of how it got made, which is absolutely remarkable. Made on a budget of 200 grand. Shot in bars/casinos/parties that were open and full of real people. Rejected by film festivals all over. Until it finally showed at a private screening (funded by the cast & crew) and subsequently got picked up, single-handedly launching the careers of Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Ron Livingston, Heather Graham and Doug Liman in the process.

Just goes to show, if you're money and you're like a big bear with big f**king claws and big f**king fangs, anything is possible.

P.S. - The last scene really did happen to me. Not exactly but pretty damn similar. Extremely embarrassing.