SXSW Interview: Talking to the Team of Narrative Spotlight Selection ‘Swan Song’ Via Virtual Conference Press Junket


The Movie Buff, represented by Staff Writer Daniel Prinn, was able to join in on a virtual press junket for the film “Swan Song,” which premiered as part of the ‘Narrative Spotlight’ section at this year’s SXSW. Below, you’ll find a version of his interview that has been edited for clarity. 

On the scene between Linda Evans and Udo Kier

Udo Kier’s Pat Pitsenbarger is led on a journey in Todd Stephens’ “Swan Song” as he leaves his retirement home to do the hairstyling and make-up for an old client who has just died. The client, Rita, is played by Linda Evans and her character helps guide the story. Udo Kier, Linda Evans, and Todd Stephens reminisced about the creation of this scene.  

“I was so pleased when I saw it in the film,” says Kier. “We rehearsed a lot, just Linda and myself in a little room.” 

Writer/Director Todd Stephens added he originally had a different idea for their scene. Through collaboration, Kier and Evans convinced Stephens to have them look at each other during the scene. 

“When I see [the scene] now, it’s so much better than the way I originally planned to shoot it,” said Stephens. “That’s the joy of directing—collaborating and being open to where it wants to go in the moment. I love that scene.” 

“I love that you’re so open to suggestion and I love that you’re so spontaneous,” added Evans. “You letting Udo and I have these moments and express them in all these different ways was such a gift.” 

Evans also mentions, that since she had a small on-screen role, she was able to enjoy the experience of watching the final film and being taken with each moment. 

“I watched it from beginning to end again, which was a delight,” said Evans. “I was barely in it so I just love your movie. I loved all your actors and every person that was in it. Every person was a joy for me to experience.” 

No small parts

Though Evans may have brief screen time, we’ve seen throughout cinema history that actors and actresses alike can make their mark with limited screen time; take Dame Judi Dench in her Oscar-winning, 6-minute turn as Queen Elizabeth in “Shakespeare in Love,” for instance. 

Evans’ Rita drives Pat’s journey throughout the film as the film’s dead MacGuffin, as doing her hair and make-up is ultimately what Pat is driving towards. Director Todd Stephens and Linda Evans reflected on her time on-set.

“I have a tiny part but I’m very honoured to be in it,” said Evans. “I think people will be drawn to it because [Stephens] says so very much in it.” 

“It’s a small part with a big presence but we did three completely different looks in one day,” said Stephens, referring to her three distinct looks in the film—in her talking scene, in the coffin sans make-up, and her final look.

“Here’s this big Hollywood star coming to a small town doing this little indie film in a room that’s 100 degrees and has zero attitude whatsoever and is just a complete trooper,” he added. “She allows herself to be dead in a coffin and that takes a lot of guts. I’m so thankful there was no ego involved in that whatsoever.” 

Evans made it a note of complimenting Todd’s unique attention to detail for the film, comparing that attention to detail to Steve McQueen on the set of the 1980 film “Tom Horn,” saying McQueen was there at the dentist when her gold tooth was put in, and that McQueen was there for all the wardrobe decisions.

“You did the same thing for me,” said Evans. “You cared about every single detail of it and it was exciting to watch you be creative like that. The only thing that horrified me was [when]you did the coffin scene at the end because I would look so dreadful.”

“Then you had your cast party and I had to show up after you made me look so bad,” Evans said with a laugh. “We had no time to fix it and I put my baseball cap on and showed up with the coffin face. I loved you all so much…I thought, ‘Oh, what the heck, I’m going, I’m doing it.’”

Regular collaborator Jonah Blechman

Also joining in the conversation was one of Todd Stephens’ regular collaborators, actor Jonah Blechman, who has played Nico in “Another Gay Movie” and “Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!” In “Swan Song,” he plays a hairdresser called Tristan. 

He commented on witnessing a pivotal scene shared between Udo Kier and Actress Jennifer Coolidge, who plays Dee Dee in the film, an old frenemy of Kier’s Pat. 

“Who knew what was gonna happen?” Jonah said with a laugh. “I feel like this was a different kind-of energy for Jennifer than we’ve seen [from]her. Just to be a part of that and support the scene in the way Tristan got to, mixing all these really interesting styles of actors…I was really grateful to get some time on screen with both of these legends.” 

On filming in Stephens’ hometown of Sandusky, Ohio

“Swan Song” is the third film in Stephens’ Sandusky trilogy—also including “Edge of Seventeen” (which Stephens wrote but did not direct) and “Gypsy ‘83” (which Stephens wrote and directed)—all films featuring LGBTQ+ stories set in Sandusky, Ohio. Stephens elaborated on the changes in the town over the last 20 years. 

“When my producer Eric [Eisenbrey] and I got there to start pre-production [on “Swan Song”], it was in the middle of the third annual Gay Pride festival which literally blew my mind,” said Stephens. “When I was there 20 years before to shoot my first film “Edge of Seventeen,” we literally created a fake script and cut the gay elements out of it because we were afraid if people in town learned what the movie was really about, they wouldn’t want to help us.” 

“Contrasted to now when everyone completely celebrated the film… My hometown welcomed us with open arms.”

Stephens continued that there were free locations because everyone wanted to help out on the project. “The funeral home let us borrow the most expensive casket they had for Linda’s coffin,” said Stephens. “I always like to say that one dollar in my hometown equals $10 of production value on-screen, because everyone was so excited.” 

He mentions that Udo Kier and Linda Evans got in the spirit of Sandusky, too. 

“Making movies is fun and glamourous and people like to be involved,” Stephens said. “Udo and Linda were out [on the]town having dinners, walking around, getting to know everybody. The town fell in love with them. I could not have made this movie without the support of my hometown.” 

On the wardrobe and Udo performing in the film

When asked about the film’s unique wardrobe, as “Swan Song” is set in the 1980s, Todd Stephens started out by saying how he wanted the colours of the film to reflect the story. 

“The whole thing to me was about somebody that had disengaged and given up on life,” said Stephens. “I wrote in the script, ‘Pat blends into the faded room like a chameleon.’ I wanted him to blend into the walls like he’d just totally lost himself. It was all about someone rediscovering the joy of life… We wanted the colour palette to start off faded and dead, and as Pat filled with life, so did the wardrobe.” 

About Udo in the role, “You wonder, is an actor able to pull off wearing a pink Sunday church hat?” said Stephens. “I don’t know how many people could have pulled it off, other than Udo.”

“A lot,” chimed in Udo Kier. 

Kier expanded, saying the look of the wardrobe in this film had an impact on him.

“I like the costume design; and of course the David Bowie suit because that was my generation,” Kier started. “Putting that suit on in the scene when the lady [Sue, played by Stephanie McVay] comes and says, ‘I have something for you.’ I put it on and opening the curtain was like opening the curtain to my past. I grew up with David Bowie, I went to the first concert of The Beatles, I was there when David Bowie started. He was very important for us young people.”

For me it was very much a trip to the past and the costumes were just wonderful,” said Kier. “Especially the hat. I danced down the street.” ‘swan song’ actor udo kier

“For me it was very much a trip to the past and the costumes were just wonderful,” said Kier. “Especially the hat. I danced down the street.” 

About Kier putting on the suit, Stephens added: “When he looked himself in the mirror, [it’s just] the beauty of a young person discovering themselves and their identity. That moment is a real moment for me. That’s one of my favourite scenes.” 

Udo also commented how he enjoyed Stephens’ script could make audience members laugh or cry. 

“Then of course there’s my performance: ‘I’m in the corner seeing you kiss her, oh nah, nah, nah,” Kier talk-sang the lyrics to Robyn’s song “Dancing on My Own.” “There was always a mixture of being serious and fulfilling the acting and story and having funny moments. That’s what I liked about the film when I read the script… it was just being there and having a good time.” 

*”Swan Song” premiered as part of the ‘Narrative Spotlight’ section at SXSW 2021. You can read our review of the film here.