National Lampoon picks up Baton Rouge-made Dirty Politics

Steven Esteb got the kind of Christmas present that makes a big-kid film director scream with glee: Comedy producer and distributor National Lampoon Inc. agreed to distribute his movie, Dirty Politics, in theaters nationwide. And the extra stocking stuffer? His next three pictures are guaranteed distribution in theaters.

“We’re really excited. I just wanted this movie to have a chance,” says Esteb, who wrote, directed and produced the film in Baton Rouge. “I knew if we got it in a theater, we’d have a shot.”

Dirty Politics, starring Beau Bridges and Judd Nelson and several Louisiana actors, will get limited theatrical release in the spring, mostly in college towns, according to Esteb.

“Because of the types of movies Lampoon makes and sells (Vacation, Van Wilder and Animal House), the determining factor was: did their college-age kids like it? They did,” Esteb says. “There is humor for everyone—gross-out humor, subtle political satire. Audiences laughed from beginning to end, even the snooty Los Angeles audience that tries to hate your movie.”

The contract with National Lampoon also means wide theatrical release for Esteb’s next three films, which will be made in South Louisiana. The Los Angeles native finished with one film that he’s tentatively calling The Loners, a funny take on Easy Rider but with younger characters. Another is tentatively called Gravy, which is based on his experience working on the film Baller Blockin’ for Cash Money Records in New Orleans, featuring Lil Wayne and Juvenile.

Esteb attributes the success of Dirty Politics and his other works to executive producer Jay Dykes, producers John Anderson and John McDougall, as well as the local film crews and actors of South Louisiana.