Wednesday, April 29, 1998
Selling British movies to U.S. like shooting fish in a
barrel
FILM: England’s quirky style creates vernacular, captures cash
at American box office
By Lonnie Harris
Daily Bruin Contributor
By now, just about everyone knows what it means to do "the full
monty."
America was introduced to this quirky catch-phrase, which means
"to do anything in an extreme manner," by the British film of the
same name, which created quite a splash during its American release
last year. The film went on to garner several Academy Award
nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Well, another quirky British comedy is preparing for its
American debut – and once again, its name pays tribute to a
colloquial British phrase likely to be heard on the streets of
Liverpool or London. "Shooting Fish" is writer and director Stefan
Schwartz’s tribute to the con man, and its title refers to a slang
definition for a ripoff or fraud (think "shooting fish in
barrel.")
The film centers around a smooth-talking American, Dylan (Dan
Futterman), and his associate, a socially inept but brilliant Brit
named Jez (Stuart Townsend). The two unite to pull off several
elaborate confidence schemes in an attempt to make enough money to
buy the house of their dreams. Coming to their aid is secretary
Georgie (Kate Beckinsale) who, despite her naive looks and medical
school aptitude, is quite clever and able to help out with some of
the duo’s more complex entanglements.
As the pair get deeper and deeper into their illegal activities,
several plot twists (which could only come from the dry wit of the
British) occur. The trio needs all of their wits (as well as the
help of some inflatable women and several laxatives) to get
out.
Though the film does have a fanciful feel and most of the
bizarre scenarios Dylan and Jez become involved in are wholly
unrealistic, "Shooting Fish" is somewhat grounded in reality. In
order to write about con men convincingly, Schwartz did do some
research.
"I chatted to a few con men, and I also talked to some private
detectives," Schwartz says. "I got to hear about some of the people
they had captured and some of the scams they had pulled off, and it
was actually very interesting."
The film did hit somewhat close to home for writer and director
Schwartz, and his producing partner Richard Holmes. Much like the
two characters in the movie, Schwartz is a quiet British technical
wizard, and his partner is a loud, assertive American.
"I actually am normally kind of a shy … and as much as I hate
to admit it, I did graduate with a degree in electrical
engineering," Schwartz says. "I think British people have two ways
of seeing Americans. We’re deeply jealous of Americans and full of
admiration. But in the same breath, we want to think that Americans
are below us and we’re somehow more intellectual."
To add one final sense of realism to the film, Futterman and
Townsend were forced to pull off a scheme of their own on Oxford
Street in England.
"Although it’s not a true, real-life film in any way – it’s
actually more of a fairy tale – I wanted (the actors) to see what
it was like setting up a scam and doing a scam, to feel what it was
like," Schwartz says.
The scam found Dan Futterman selling fake perfume to people on
the street. At one point, Stuart Townsend approaches him and wants
to buy some perfume, but he only has a 50-pound note. Under the
guise of getting him change, Futterman proceeds to steal the 50
pounds and take off running down the street. Out of pity,
passers-by would commonly hand over 10 or 20 pounds to Townsend.
This would be an example of how easily two people could take
others’ money, and the victims would never know they had been
fooled.
"I was reluctant at first," Futterman says. "There was something
uneasy about doing that. What if someone is actually upset about
having their money taken? I mean, we had Stefan, who is kind of a
small British guy, to protect us. But the whole thing worked out
perfectly, which is kind of amazing."
This statement could be said, in fact, about the entire
production of "Shooting Fish." The film, made on a shoestring
budget pieced together through investors (as well as finances
culled through the British Lottery), went on to become the third
highest-grossing film in Britain in 1997.
"As it turns out, the British people actually paid my salary
(through the National Lottery)," Futterman says. "But once the
movie was a success, they actually gave all the money back."
Should "Shooting Fish" prove popular among American audiences,
it would be one more film to add to the ever-increasing number of
British creations currently finding success in the United States,
including "The Full Monty," "Bean," "Absolutely Fabulous" and "Mrs.
Brown." So, watch out American filmmakers – the British are
coming!
FILM: "Shooting Fish" opens Friday.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
(Left to right) Stuart Townsend, Dan Futterman and Kate
Beckinsale play con artists in "Shooting Fish."