Those of you who’ve attended a teenage or college party can attest that such parties share some parallels with Project X. Drugs, alcohol, nudity, loud music, and making out all feature in parties organized by energized and hormone-filled youngsters. Project X, however, takes teenage parties up a notch – to a level that involves property damage, police dogs, journalists, and a police helicopter.
Pasadena teenagers – Costa, Thomas, and J.B. – throw a house party to ostensibly celebrate Thomas’ 18th birthday. The trio hopes that the party will boost their popularity and earn them points with the ladies. Unfortunately, the party spirals out of control, with Thomas’ father’s car ending up in the pool and a drug dealer setting the house on fire.
Project X is loosely based on a party thrown by Corey Worthington in Australia.
Project X is loosely based on a real-life party thrown by Corey Washington in Australia. In 2008, the 16-year-old Corey organized a party for a few friends and posted the invitation on MySpace.
Close to 500 people arrived at Corey’s house looking for a good time. Drugs, music, alcohol, and the sheer size of the crowd combined to create an out-of-control party.
Concerned neighbors called the police, who arrived with their dogs. First responders failed to control the drug-addled crowd as party-goers pelted police with stones. Authorities eventually shut the party down, and by then, Corey was ‘Australia’s most infamous teenager.’
The film’s production team greatly exaggerated the events in Project X, but Corey’s party and Project X share similarities. Screenwriter Michael Bacall stated that the film’s idea came from producer Todd Phillips but didn’t clarify where Todd sourced the idea.
By using the found footage film technique, Todd added a sense of realism to the film. The stunts in the movie feel exaggerated, but the camerawork makes the film feel like something that can or has happened in real life.
Project X uses footage from different cameras, as you would expect footage from a party to appear. “Nowadays everyone’s got some sort of video recording device on them at all times so it’s believable that we would get all these different angles at this party,” actor Thomas Mann said.
Thomas, like Corey Worthington, gains fame for his wild and destructive party. Like Corey, he lands an interview with a news reporter in the morning after the party. Corey’s television interview gained viral fame, with his refusal to apologize impressing teenagers and infuriating parents.
Corey rebuffed Leila McKinnon’s attempts to get him to apologize with short yet hard-hitting answers that demonstrated his nonchalance towards the rowdy party. He refused to take off his sunglasses (because they are famous, he said) and offered the following advice to anyone looking to throw a party: “Get me to do it for you. Best party ever so far.”
Corey Worthington is now a reality television star and still throws parties
Corey’s parents were understandably infuriated when they learned of Corey’s party. “We are absolutely disgusted that he [Corey] could do this, not only to us but to this neighborhood,” Corey’s mother said.
Publicist Marx Markson, on the other hand, saw potential in Corey. Worthington appealed to the younger demographic, and with Marx’s help, he could make a fortune out of hosting legitimate parties.
“He’s thrown a great party in the wrong place and now he’s got the opportunity to throw a great party in the right place and get paid for it too,” Marx said. A decade later, Corey still organizes wild parties.
Corey’s also become a reality television star. He spent 19 days in the Big Brother house in 2008, and more recently, Corey participated in Australian Ninja Warrior. He didn’t reach the finals but appreciated the opportunity to compete. Worthington captioned a July 2018 Instagram post:
“Ninja Warrior was a great experience and the Ninja community are all such great people! Can’t wait for next season and congratulations to everyone who made it to the semifinals.”
The heavily tattooed former teen sensation married Mel Borg in a beautiful ceremony in Bali. He tattooed ‘NOT SORRY’ on his fingers to celebrate the occasion in remembrance of his infamous 2008 party.