Joshua Michael Stern is a relatively new director in the world of feature films, with Swing Vote being his most recent film, he is also known for films such as Neverwas and The Amityville Horror. He comes from a family that comes from directors and creators in entertainment, his grandfather, Jules Green, was the original executive producer of The Tonight Show, his grandmother was a studio executive and discovered British talent and brought it to America ( Stern, Richman) .Swing Vote takes place during election time in a small town of Texico, New Mexico, where we are introduced to the main character, played by Kevin Costner, Bud. He's a recently vented slob with a very proactive daughter, Molly, who runs the house. On Election Day, Molly tries to convince Bud to go vote, but Bud responds by saying that a vote never mattered. Molly illegally votes for her father, but as he prepares to select his candidates, the power is cut and her vote is counted as a blank ballot. Election night comes down to one state, New Mexico, one county, and most importantly, one vote, Bud's. The candidates and media come to Texico and cajole and prod Bud, with each campaign manager deviating from the candidates' beliefs to get Bud's vote (Swing Vote). Swing Vote shows an extreme amount of questionable political behavior and events, so much so that it may never be possible, such as an election actually coming down to one vote, and Republicans and Democrats literally changing beliefs, but the film shows the extremes that candidates go through to get elected. When political campaigns take off, there is no stopping the onslaught of ads, promises, mud-slinging and sometimes outright lies that emerge when these candidates, and beyond… middle of paper…….” INSIDE POLITICS: MOVERS AND SHAKERS." Campaigns and elections (1996) 28.9 (2006): 22. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Network. May 7, 2011.Jost, Kenneth. “Campaign finance reform.” CQ Researcher 9 February 1996: 121-44. Network. March 29, 2011.Jost, Kenneth. "Political scandals". CQ Researcher 27 May 1994: 457-80. Network. March 29, 2011.Stern, Joshua Michael and Jason Richman. "Joshua Michael Stern." Latest news and opinions on The Huffington Post. July 21, 2008. Web. March 29, 2011. .Stern, Joshua Michael, and Jason Richman. “Joshua Michael Stern: Writing the Swing Vote.” Latest news and opinions on The Huffington Post. July 21, 2008. Web. March 29, 2011. Swing vote. Directed by Joshua Michael Stern. Perf. Kevin Costner. Pictures of gravestones. 2008. DVD.