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SOVEREIGN (2025) is a filmmakers’ thriller and the story behind its director, my guest, Christian Swegal, is one of the best in independent film this year. The reason that so many investors are reluctant to back a new director for their first feature is one of skepticism — they think the director won’t be able to handle the responsibility. And when you add in powerhouse actors like Nick Offerman and Dennis Quaid, it’s fair to expect a watered-down mush of a film which critics and audiences would chalk up to, well, it was a first time feature director.

That’s not the fate for Christian. Critics are talking about how it is perhaps Nick Offerman’s best career performance, a sublime take on a man lost in the Sovereign citizen movement, and we are here today talking about how the hell did he pull it off…and with such swagger. 

In this episode, Christian and I discuss:

• Should you Google the story behind SOVEREIGN?
• What should people expect to see when they watch the film? “It’s a character study of this man and his relationship with his son”;
• How he was able to make such an accomplished film for his debut feature?
• What he owes the real-life characters and the viewers when writing an “inspired by true events” story?
• How the film is a filmmaker’s thriller with the little motifs in the film, and he’ll explain the baby motif in the film;
• The brilliant casting of Nick Offerman in this film;
• Not getting hung up on casting -- a fantastic script will attract talented people to your film;
• The process of funding the film, including the use of Slated ad tax rebates;
• How it went from Tribeca to distribution within a few months;
• Advice he’d give somebody directing their first feature?
• “When in charge, be in charge” and how he implemented his vision no matter what;
• What he’s working on next — “I’m drawn to true stories”

Christian's Indie Film Highlight: SUNDOWN (2021) dir. by Michel Franco; MEMORY (2023) dir. by Michel Franco

Memorable Quotes:

• “ If people engage with the movie to the degree that they're interested to go and Google the real events I think that's a good sign.”
• “ The movie will be for some people and not for other people. And that's fine. It's better to be polarizing in that way. I think for a movie our size than it is to try to please every audience and to a degree.”
• “Or how you relate to a baby. It shows how you relate to something that's innocent and pure and really it's a stand in for empathy.”
• “ My advice to filmmakers that I wish I had earlier was just don't wait. Focus on your material and on the story and then just go.”
• “ Every single person we talk to along the way, in pre-production through production, through the end of it, had their spin on how they would fix the thing and make it different. And that's what's great. And when they direct their movie, then they can do their version of it.”

Links:

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