CLARKE: THAT F*CKING GUY!

3rd December 2009

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WELCOME BLOG AND 4.3.2.1.

So Welcome.

For those of you on facebook. It has been a long time since I’ve blogged and I’m sorry for that. For those of you on Tumblr which I just became aware of myself so actually have no-one probably reading this, welcome. And to the Twitter guys and girls who hear from me regularly, here is something a little longer than 140 characters.

Okay, I know I’m a writer but my spelling, grammar and punctuation is not always 100% so deal with it or piss off, don’t start correcting me.

So lets recap this year. Won BAFTA, boy had first birthday, Filmed CENTURION, SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL and HUGE all out 2010. DOGHOUSE came out and then started on 4321. I’ve been writing loads as well and have finished about 3 other scripts. One of two things will happen with those. They’ll get made or they won’t, you just have to make sure you have options. There is other stuff going but obviously I can’t tell you about that.

Anyway. Lets talk about 4321.

I wrote it in between Kidulthood and Adulthood so is does feel weird it’s getting made now. Obviously I re-wrote and updated it for now but the general idea for it was to make something that holds on to what I done previously but broaden the audience. I’m trying to make films that other people aren’t even thinking of making and that’s not always an easy thing to do.

The casting process was pretty simple. We had open auditions for some parts (sorry if you missed them) then of course there were a lot of actors that I’d used before. I’m loyal like that. Once you’re in the family, you’re in the family. Look at Adam Deacon Kidulthood/Adulthood/West 10/4321 I’ve even hooked him with someone giving him more film roles. I Knew Tamsin already and Femi, Jacob, Shanika, Arnold, Bashy and others have all worked with me before. Ben Drew is a rising talent who got his acting break in Adulthood. Had a massive part in Harry Brown but still came back for 4321. Business aside, I’m loyal to people who are loyal to me. That’s how we roll.

I’ve also definitely met a whole bunch of new people I’ll love to work with again. Ophelia and of course Emma Roberts, who is the coolest fucking girl and talented beyond belief. But as always, things happen at both ends of the scale and unfortunately arseholes have reared their head and there are two actors who didn’t end up in the film. One is just an old c*nt who should be so lucky as to try demand what he did, when others didn’t. The other one got a part, then with two days to shoot, didn’t turn up to rehearsals because their agent put them on another gig without telling us what was going on. We then had one working day to re-cast. Which nearly fucked the whole thing. This person I will never work with ever again. They may not think my opinion matters: they may not care. They should… Because I can assure you that no-one I know will work with them either… Trust me.

We filmed 6 weeks in London and 4 days in New York (On 35ml Ari STs 3perf with Kodak 500 stock, for all you Techno’s out there) and I can honestly say I’m proud of the film. It’s an evolution of what has past and a glimpse of what is to come. Not essentially in story or content. But in terms of making films look a lot slicker (when needed) and providing you, the audience with shit that’s gonna entertain you and make you remember why you took your ass down to the cinema instead of downloading or waiting for the DVD.

New York was also great, I’ve been there a load of times but to be there directing a movie was a different experience. NYPD helping in times square, Tamsin walking around the city with no trousers on, Emma coming to visit, Eve, smashing her scene, my cousins on set and in the scene in Brooklyn. It was all-good.

In short. If you liked KiDULTHOOD and AdULTHOOD (the first two films I wrote) you’ll like this, but more importantly, if you didn’t like the first two you will probably like this one. Best way to find out is to head to the cinema and watch it when it comes out.

Countdown has begun. 4.3.2.1

Oh and if you read all of this.

Thanks.

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NC