Bermudian screenwriter Alison Swan's first major film, 'Nothing Like the Holidays', opens to audiences across North America – and at the Liberty Theatre today.

Described in this newspaper eight years ago as "the most likely Bermudian director to make it big in L.A.", it seems as though that prediction has come true.

After taking a hiatus to start a family, Ms Swan has a potential Hollywood blockbuster – 'Nothing Like the Holidays' premiered in L.A. last week with a cast of stars including John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodriguez and Debra Messing.

The plot revolves around Christmas in the Rodriguez family household however there is much in the film Bermudians can relate to, Ms Swan said.

"I think that we are very family-oriented people. The film is about family. Everybody can find something in it to relate to – family is the best of things and the worst of things. Family brings the best out in you and the worst."

Co-written by Ms Swan and Rick Najera, 'Nothing Like the Holidays' was produced by George Tillman Jr. and Ms Swan's husband, Robert Teitel.

The movie is billed as a humorous and heart-warming holiday story but what immediately sets this film apart from a typical Christmas 'feel-good' flick is its cultural setting – the Rodriguezes are Puerto Ricans who live in Chicago's Latino enclave of Humboldt Park.

It is no coincidence that Mr. Teitel's mother is Puerto Rican, and that he is originally from this neighbourhood himself.

Indeed, this movie has been a long time coming for the producer – the idea was born whilst working with Mr. Tillman on the 1997 film 'Soul Food', which focused on the African-American experience in Chicago.

"Bob is half-Puerto Rican and he wanted to do a similar story about the Puerto Rican experience," Ms Swan said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles.

Mr. Teitel and Mr. Tillman originally had another writer working on the script. "They didn't feel like the script was going in the direction they wanted it to," she said.

Asked casually by her husband to have a look at it, the screenwriter started penning ideas. "I gave him my notes and he said, 'I think you should write this'."

The rest is history. Although the timing wasn't ideal – coinciding with both the looming writers' strike and the birth of the couple's second son – they worked on the script for about seven months and eventually sold it to Overture Films.

"It was very challenging to do all that but we got it done," she said. "I really enjoyed working with my husband."

Although food plays a central role in the film, Ms Swan freely admits that she is not an expert in the style of cooking involved – her mother-in-law provided that advice. There are, however, at least some similarities between traditional Bermudian fare and Puerto Rican dishes. "We have codfish and potatoes and peas and rice, Puerto Ricans have similar dishes," the screenwriter said.

And while Bermuda's traditional foods might not be internationally recognisable, Ms Swan is playing her part in introducing them to Hollywood. "I always have codfish in my refrigerator," she said. "I invite people over for codfish and potatoes on Sundays. They all love it."

Summing up her experience working on the movie, she said: "It was such a fun film to work on. I was shocked at how easy it was to complete. It was a very positive experience."

So, moving in celebrity circles in Hollywood, has she ever been star-struck? Only once apparently – by Oprah. "To me it never makes sense to just tell people how much you like them. But with Oprah it was different.

"I could not say a word to her. I really wanted to talk to her but I couldn't. I just find her really inspiring.

"She has really done a lot of good in the world and used her platform to promote a social agenda. She's really incredible. That's the only time I have been like that."

The family already spends about three months in Bermuda every year, but hopes to increase that time in the future.

"Bob and I see ourselves having more of a presence there over the years," she said, adding that her husband is "going to teach seminars at Bermuda College in February".

"It's this weird thing that keeps drawing you back. I don't consider myself American at all. I am very much Bermudian. That's where I feel at home."

She had this advice for Bermudians interested in working in the film industry:

"There are resources out there. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something just because you live on a small island."

Excitement about the movie is also running high amongst residents.

Said Aideen Ratteray Pryse, director of the Bermuda International Film Festival: "It's a great thing for us to see these things happening for her. She has a knack for dialogue and script. You have to have the right stuff and you really can't fake it with scriptwriting."

And she encouraged Bermudians to go out and support one of their own: "Bermuda counts as a US box office. Ticket sales count towards US box office gross receipts.

"Over the years opening weekend performance has become more and more critical. Get out there, enjoy the film, and boost those opening weekend box office grosses."

'Nothing Like The Holidays' screens at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre. Tickets are available at the box office or online, www.boxoffice.bm.

Facts about Alison Swan

? Born June 29, 1966

l Daughter of former Premier Sir John and Lady Swan

? Went to Bermuda High School for Girls for primary and part of secondary school

? Left for boarding school in Connecticut when she was 14

? Did a degree in art history and history at Bates College in Maine

? Spent a year abroad in Paris during college where she did a film course: "I had no idea that film had the potential to be so exciting until I went to Paris."

? Worked at Channel 13 in New York after college, which she says taught her what she did not want to do: "I did not want to be in public television!"

? Attended graduate school at the Tisch School of Film at New York University where she received the Spike Lee Fellowship for a series of shorts

? Filmed her half-hour thesis film, 'Still Water' on location in Paget

? Had her big break in 1998 with 'Mixing Nia', an independent feature film which she directed and wrote. It received Entertainment Weekly's Audience Choice Award at the Bermuda International Film Festival and Best of Festival at the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1998

? Married Hollywood producer Robert Teitel ('Men of Honor', 'Soul Food' and the 'Barbershop' series) at Christ Church, Warwick on August 26, 2000. Robert DeNiro reportedly told her father at the time that the reception party rivalled the best he'd been to in Tinseltown

? Lives in L.A. with her husband and two young sons but tries to spend at least three months each year in Bermuda: "I am very much Bermudian. That's where I feel at home."

? Together with Rick Najera, wrote the screenplay for 'Nothing Like The Holidays', which premiered in Hollywood on December 3 and opens today in cinemas across North America and at Bermuda's Liberty Theatre.