[6][7] Following that experience (which he said did not heavily influence his directing style)[8] Salwen began a career in television commercials in New York City, working in various capacities, from production assistant to producer, while simultaneously writing original screenplays on spec.

[12] This is of note as Salwen's first feature film, Denise Calls Up (along with the subject of his first student short) also deals with the results of technological interference on human relationships.

Salwen explained how he came up with the idea: "Denise Calls Up came to me during a time when I was frantically writing screenplays on spec—and anybody who has ever done it knows how tough and how isolating it is to be a freelancer.

I went home and started playing with the idea of what it would be like if all the major events in a particular group of friend's lives happened between people who never met.

In 1997 Salwen was named by Daily Variety as one of its "Top Ten Filmmakers To Watch" [2][3] along with Mary Harron, Wes Anderson and Alfonso Cuaron, among others.