The Big Picture Returning to SXSW 2024, this time as director, is Deadland producer Tara Pirnia with her romantic dramedy, Switch Up. Though the film isn’t quite as heavy as her previous festival feature, this one still bears weight within its family-friendly plot. According to cast member Jeff Fahey , “It was the lightness of the story that had a heaviness to it.”
Shining a Light on a Seemingly Doom and Gloom Industry After a tumultuous year within the filmmaking industry, festivals like Sundance and SXSW look to highlight the artists who strive to remind audiences why we need stories on the big screen. Likewise, the cast of Switch Up embrace their film, and extend their hard work to movie-lovers looking for a story that asks questions and offers something important to say in a lighthearted package.
“It wasn’t so much the character. For me, it was the story. And not in a heavy, social way. It was the lightness of the story that had a heaviness to it. It’s only because I’m at a place in my life and my career where I’ve worked in all the different genres, the big films, smalls films, and in between. I’m at a place now where I’m really enjoying the simplicity of a romance, a comedy that has some weight to it, that there’s multiple layers to it without preaching .
On the other hand, Fahey suggests that fearlessness is a necessity of the job. “I don’t deal in that world of fear,” he said simply. To take a swing at a project like Switch Up doesn’t require its cast and crew to be brave against titans like Marvel and DC, but to know that there’s room for all varieties of expression. He goes on to say:
“With Cassie, I love the fact that she’s brave enough to speak up. She knows what she wants, and even though she’s dealing with loss and she’s going through a rough time, she’s always brave enough to say what she thinks and what she wants. I think that’s huge in a world that needs it from us, especially from women. Working with Tara, a female director, was incredible. Having such a wonderful female team behind it was great, too.