Variety.com Brent Lang May 5, 2021
Adelaide Clemens, Patrick J. Adams, Douglas Smith and Kathleen Turner will star in “The Swearing Jar.”
The musical romance will be directed by Lindsay MacKay (“Wet Bum”) from a script by Kate Hewlett (“Malory Towers”), who adapts her play of the same name. David Hewlett (“The Shape of Water”) and Jade Ma (“Zero Chill”) round out the cast.
“The Swearing Jar” centers on Carey, a high-school music teacher who throws a birthday concert for her husband, Simon, making them reminisce about their shared past. Through comedy, music and memory, the film will chart Carey and Simon’s relationship and the birth of their child.
Filming will take place this month in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. Distribution rights will be sold worldwide by Metro Films International, and the film will be released in Canada by Level Film. It’s eyeing a festival run next fall.
Producers include Jane Loughman, Kyle Bornais and Tony Wosk, with Morris Ruskin serving as executive producer.
“When I finished reading ‘The Swearing Jar,’ I took a deep breath and immediately picked it up to read again. I was floored by the well-drawn characters and the maze of emotions that Kate Hewlett led me through while I was reading,” said MacKay.
“We are so proud to be bringing this gorgeous, relatable, musical romance to the screen,” said Loughman. “‘The Swearing Jar’ presents the perfect opportunity to produce a prestige independent film, with huge audience appeal, incredible emotional impact and gorgeous visual style. This film is a passion project of mine: a wonderful, meaningful script; a universally relatable story told with sensitivity, heart and humor.”
Clemons appeared in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and “The Great Gatsby,” and starred on TV’s “Rectify.” Smith starred in “Big Love” and appeared in the second season of “Big Little Lies.” Adams is best known for starring in “Suits.” Turner’s many roles include “Romancing the Stone,” “The War of the Roses” and “Serial Mom.”
Cinematography on “The Swearing Jar” will be undertaken by Jordan Kennington (“Goliath”), music will be composed by Tim Williams (“Brightburn”), and production design will be overseen by Diana Magnus (‘The Invisible Man”). In addition, costume design is by Hanna Puley (“Run This Town”) and editing by Lindsay Allikas (“American Woman”).
“The Swearing Jar” is funded by Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, Bell Media/CRAVE, Canadian Federal and Ontario & Manitoba Provincial tax credits and Media Capital Group.
Clemens is represented by United Talent Agency and Mosaic; Smith is represented by Gary Goddard Agency, ICM Partners and More Medavoy; Adams is represented by ICM Partners and Ginsberg Daniels Kallis; and KatTurner by Don Buchwald & Associates.