Filmmaker's ‘ballsy’ decision before making biopic about Tourette’s campaigner who shouted racial slur at BAFTAs
The BAFTA-winning film based on the life of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson hinged on a wing and a prayer - prompting the director to put his own home on the line to get it made.
I Swear was nominated for several awards at last night's (22 February) ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall, including Outstanding British Film.
But the low-budget British flick's triumphs at the UK awards show has been overshadowed after the 54-year-old man it is based on yelled out a racial slur as two Hollywood actors presented a gong on stage.
Sinners stars Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were announcing the winner of Best Special Visual Effects when Davidson shouted out the N-word.
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Actor Alan Cumming, who was hosting the BAFTA's, apologised to viewers for the 'strong and offensive language' during the broadcast, explaining the Scottish activist's 'tics are involuntary'.
The BBC also issued an apology for 'any offence caused' after Davidson made the racial slur, adding: "This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional."
Prior to the incident, Davidson had been introduced to the audience at the Royal Festival Hall, as a floor manager said: "I’d like to welcome John Davidson MBE from one of our nominated films I Swear.
"John has Tourette’s Syndrome so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony."
He was invited to the awards show after I Swear - which is touted as a 'frank, funny and touching story about the transformative power of friendship and community' - received nominations for six BAFTA's.
Take a look at the trailer for the film here:
Robert Aramayo, who plays Davidson in I Swear, beat out the likes of favourite Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio as he picked up the BAFTA for best actor as well as best newcomer thanks to his role.
The actor, 33, took the lead in the biopic - that also won best casting - which tells the story of Davidson's struggles of navigating life with Tourette syndrome, which he developed at the age of 12.
Set in Galashiels, a town in the Scottish Borders, the film follows Davidson and his journey to advocating for better awareness of the condition, which, according to the NHS, causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, known as tics. There is currently no cure, but treatment can help manage the tics.
Throughout I Swear, Davidson is bullied, beaten up and at one point arrested as a result of people not understanding his outbursts. The cast includes the likes of Peter Mullan, Maxine Peak and Shirley Henderson.
Davidson previously said he hoped that the film raises 'awareness' of Tourette's and reminds 'people to understand and be kind'.
Producer Piers Tempest worked with Kirk Jones - the director and screenwriter behind flicks such as Nanny McPhee, What to Expect When You're Expecting and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 - to make the powerful film.
Speaking to the Big Issue before the BAFTA's, Tempest revealed that Jones had taken a huge risk to get the project completed.
The award-winning producer himself went without a fee for I Swear as he explained that the 'realities of the independent film world and especially financing started to bite' when they started pitching it.
Tempest said it was suggested that they 'take the swearing out to make the film more commercial'.
As both Tempest and Jones wanted to tell an 'authentic and real version of John’s story in a commercial way without dumbing it down', they did not wish to do this.
He reckons the movie might hold the record for having the most swear words in for a flick with a 15 certificate. For example, I Swear includes the C-word 26 times.
"At that point Kirk and I both realised that we were going to have to make the film outside of the traditional industry model and then sell it," the producer said, before revealing the bold move that Jones made.
"We didn’t want to take the edges off the script and felt it was imperative to keep it honest to John’s story. We decided to make the film for the lowest possible budget and take no fees and Kirk rather rashly, and with full support from his wife and executive producer Cindy, decided to get a loan secured against their house sale to fund the film and thereby give him full creative control.
"This was a very ballsy move. All our cast and crew were amazing and understood the budget restraints."
He and Jones were very chuffed to see I Swear receive several BAFTA nominations, especially as the money they had to play with 'was less than the catering budget' for its competitors such as One Battle After Another.
"We firmly believe an authentic British story about kindness and acceptance will resonate internationally, as it has with UK audiences and be a great reminder of humanity at its best in these turbulent times," Tempest added.
According to The Times, I Swear had a budget of just under £5million. So far, it is said to have earned about £6.2million at the box office.
"I said that it ticks all the boxes for something we want to make but it didn’t tick any of the boxes for traditional financing," Tempest also told the publication.
"It obviously put a lot of pressure on us...but we could not have made it for less."
LADbible Group has contacted BAFTA for comment.
I Swear, which was released in cinemas in October last year, will be available to stream on Netflix on 10 March.
Topics: BAFTAs, Film, UK News, Celebrity, Michael B Jordan
Olivia Burke