January 25, 2007, 7:45 pm : Jack Sway

Posted by: david
Filed Under: HFF News, Movies
Discussion:

I still think of our actors from our first film, BAD HABITS, as “our” actors. I knew we had a great cast, and all through the process, they remained both dedicated and professional. I feel that all of our actors are going places. I’ve thought that through the entire project.

And yet it was still a bit of a surprise to sit down on Tuesday night to watch Veronica Mars (not as good this season, but still a very underrated show), and find one of “our actors” on screen. Jack Sway, who played the role of Brian in Bad Habits, had a little bit part as a guy who starts to hit on Veronica Mars (Kirsten Bell) before becoming distracted.

Jack is a talented actor. The highest compliments I’ve heard about his performance in Bad Habits is that he seemed to really live in the role. It felt natural and not like a performance piece. I think he stands out because by design, two of our other roles are very “showy.” Both Mo B and John have to be played a little theatrically, but Brian’s character needs to feel like an old and faded pair of jeans. He’s the kid lost in the system, eighteen and already broken. But there’s hope…there’s a glimmer of hope. Jack played the role almost exactly as I envisioned it, and he was totally professional about the whole thing.

We almost lost Jack to a music video shoot that week. The day before shooting began, he called me to tell me he landed a role in the Korn video shooting at that time. That was a rough night. In the end, Jack passed on that opportunity, in order to take our role. I believe he lost an agent or manager in the process. I felt guilty about that, but I also greatly admired Jack for sticking with us. Whether it was because he stayed true to his commitment to us or because he just really believe in the material, I don’t know. Maybe it was neither. I’d like to believe it was both. Either way, BAD HABITS wouldn’t have been the same without him, and he deserves every success that’s headed his way.

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