‘Violet Tendencies’ shows you don’t have to change who you are, to get what you want

“It’s a film about finding yourself and being true to who you are and about creating a family among like-minded friends,” Andreas continued.

While Violet had been happy with her life as a single lady in Manhattan surrounded by her wonderful gay friends, her 40th birthday stirs a desire to find a man – a straight man – to fall in love with. A co-worker suggests Violet may need to take a break from her well-meaning-but-not-exactly-boyfriend-friendly group of gays.

“The movie is the coming out story of a straight woman who is aided by her gay male friends to realize you don’t have to change who you are to have the love of your life,” said Cohn. “And, when I say coming out, I mean in the debutante way, not sexually … she grows up at 40! She accepts who she is and starts to believe that no matter who you are, there is someone out there who is going to cherish it!”

However, her friends aren’t about to let their well-loved lady friend leave their side without a fight.

“The film is very much inspired by life but it’s very over the top and an exaggeration of normal situations,” said Andreas. “Jesse (Archer) wrote the film as an homage to all the fag hags in his life.”

“My intent was to show that you don’t have to change who you are to get what you want. There is no one way to live, and friendship is family,” Archer said.

The story of one female friend in particular inspired several of the dating mishaps that Violet experiences. Other scenarios in the film are based on the usual decisions that gay men in their 30s begin to question, such as monogamy and the decision to have a child. Throughout the film, a steady stream of hilarity ensues.

“When I was younger, I had so many ‘fruit flies’ but as the years pass, they move on and get families and go mainstream. I wrote this to honor the ladies who are still hanging out with the boys, who were always there and always will be,” Archer said, adding, “Please don’t go!”

“People will have a really good time,” said Andreas. “It’s an hour and forty minutes of pure comedy.”

Cohn, who played Natalie on The Facts of Life, is “fantastic,” according to Andreas. Without even an in-person audition, Andreas offered Cohn the role and she flew to New York for three intense weeks of shooting.

“Originally, I had written Violet for my friend Margret Echeverria (who now plays Audrey in the opening scene),” Archer said. “It was really hard to cast someone else, but we decided to look for ‘name’ actors and Mindy pounced.

“We were very impressed with her courage in taking such a bawdy role,” he continued. “Mindy is very talented and professional and everyone loves her – and when she talks about her anal health in that chirpy, sweet voice, she just brings something to the role that nobody else ever could”

Andreas and Archer, who have previously worked together on Slutty Summer (2004) and A Four Letter Word (2007) – play Violet’s gay friends, Markus and Luke. Not only did the actors appear in the previous movies, but so did Markus and Luke, but Violet Tendencies is not really a sequel.

“The script began as a sequel to A Four Letter Word, then morphed into its own world,” Archer said, “And in the end I went back to work with Casper because I know I can trust him to get the job done, and without making too many commercial concessions.”

Released almost a year ago, Violet Tendencies has traveled across the globe to film festivals and theatres. The film, which Andreas describes as “hilarious, feel-good and raunchy,” premieres in San Diego on April 20, 7 p.m. at the Birch North Park Theatre.

Visit filmoutsandiego.com for more information on tickets, or violettendenciesmovie.com for more information on the film.