Another Role For Red Bank Winner Of 'John Wick' Custom Suit Contest

RED BANK, NJ — A series of unlikely choices has taken Cathi Swett of Red Bank from attorney to actor to winner of a custom suit tied to a "John Wick" franchise promotion.

But somehow, it all seemed fated to happen.

"I felt positive thoughts; I planned on winning," said Swett, who lives in the borough.

What she won was a Hard Rock International contest promotion of the latest Keanu Reeves "John Wick" franchise of movies, "John Wick: Chapter 4," that premiered in March. It also stars the late Lance Reddick.

The Wick character is known for his penchant for custom suits, so in this particular promotion, Swett was chosen at random as the winner of her own suit, to be fitted by Beyond Bespoke, Manhattan tailors for Paco Delgado, the Oscar-nominated designer for the film series, among other movies.

Hard Rock partnered with the movie's Lionsgate production company to come up with other concepts for fans, such as premiere ticket giveaways, red carpet VIP events, and culinary experiences, a spokesperson said.

Swett's career history wouldn't have anticipated either acting or contest-entering.

She went nights to Hunter College in New York. She also got her law degree at night. That led to a career as a civil attorney in New Jersey and New York.

But recently, she got into acting as a "fluke," she said, and now she's building a career.

That a budding "over-60" actor should win a film-based contest was pure coincidence.

Swett's recent career as an actor began humbly, with a metal detector.

She was scrolling through Facebook one day, she said, and came upon a casting call for extras for a beach scene on Coney Island. It intrigued her, so she checked it out. The casting contact told her to bring beach supplies. She told him about her metal detector. She was in.

In another role, she had to handle a disabled gun on set, she said. She had some familiarity with guns from being in a co-ed Girl Scout troop, but felt she should have more current knowledge about them.

That brought her to the APC (Awareness Protective Consultants) program to train at a nearby range with Jose Medina. The school offers firearms training classes, among other programs.

Swett said Medina began calling her "Mrs. Wick."

"He would say 'Mrs. Wick does it again,' " she recalled, but she had no idea what he meant.

Swett said she wasn't familiar then with the name or the franchise so she researched it. She happened upon the contest information - the John Wick: Chapter 4 Suitstakes - and entered and won.

Timed to the premiere of the movie, the contest, with Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, awarded the winner the custom-tailored suit - and a two-night stay in the Rock Star Suite at Hard Rock Hotel New York.

Between the suit and the suite, Swett is clearly excited: The suite "is two floors - it's bigger than my house!"

And the design of the suit got her creative juices flowing.

She requested a dress suit - not a pants suit - for one reason: A kick pleat will come in handy if she has to knee someone. She said she trained with Jayme Woj at Action Hero Academy in New York City in just how to bring up her leg to make the right move - "to kick someone without breaking my foot," she explained.

Swett hasn't had the actual fitting for the suit yet, or a conversation with the designer, so it will be a surprise when it's all finished.

But it will definitely have a cool John Wick vibe, vest and all.

"I know I'll look as hot as Keanu Reeves in it," she said.

Swett said she has to use her hotel-room stay within a year, and she hopes she can wear her new suit there.

"I'd love to go to the bar and have a drink in my John Wick suit," she said.

These experiences will soon be added to an increasingly impressive resume.

Swett, a SAG-AFTRA member, has had a role as Juror #2 in "Miranda's Victim," which was filmed in several places in the Red Bank, Middletown and Monmouth University area. The movie explains the origin of U.S. Miranda rights for suspects under arrest, and stars Abigail Breslin, Andy Garcia, Donald Sutherland, Ryan Phillippe and Luke Wilson.

She also has a supporting role in a movie that stars Sean Penn, "Black Flies." Swett has an International Movie Database credit in that movie. It just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Her resume also shows numerous other appearances, including in live theater and in Kevin Smith's "Clerks III."

"Kevin Smith gave me first credit. I'm forever grateful," she said.

For Swett, it's the creativity that makes her new role in life so exciting.

"I love the creative young people I work with," she said. "I love the can-do attitude. No one is ever negative."

She said that, as an attorney, "you have to live in the world of the worst-case scenario."

But in acting, she said, "You can do anything if you're positive and want to accomplish a goal - that's the movie magic."