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'Life & Lyrics' set visit

Chris Tilly catches up with Ashley 'Bullet Boy' Walters on the London set of his new film.

Nov 25 2005

An early evening in November saw Time Out journeying to West London to visit Neighbourhood nightclub. Rather than embarking on a night of drunken debauchery however, we were visiting the set of 'Life & Lyrics', a new British drama set against the backdrop of London's burgeoning urban music scene.

Starring Ashley Walters (of 'Bullet Boy' and So Solid Crew fame), it's an aspirational tale of a London DJ's efforts to find love, stay out of trouble and break into the music business with his rap collective The Motion Crew.

The day we visit set sees film's main protagonists battle onstage at an open mic competition, although when we arrive, the club is practically empty, with nary a rapper in sight. A group of technicians fill the dancefloor while a pair of mixing desks, some turntables and an eye-catching pair of gold headphones sit on stage, but aside from that, it hardly seems like the most pumping party in town.

We therefore take the opportunity to interview director Richard Laxton. Fresh from working on TV's 'The Ghost Squad', he's having a ball making his first feature film. 'It's going very well,' he beams. 'It's hard work but it's really exciting and there's this amazing energy around the whole thing.'

So what should we expect from the film then? 'It's a positive look at urban youth culture,' he explains. 'And I hate the words 'urban youth' – it sounds like the name of a bad compilation. But I want to make sure it's about real emotions and is a very positive look at the potential of young people.'

So don't go into the film expecting an American-style rap flick full of killing, cursing and the like, as Laxton says there's much more to 'Life & Lyrics' than that. 'It's about human survival and how you find your sense of self, and those themes are transferable to any people anywhere in the world.

'I want it to be a really good yarn – it's also a love story, so it's not a gangland piece – it's not Guy Ritchie. I don't want style over content, so we are trying to find the emotional heart and truth of the film.'

With that, leading man Ashley Walters interrupts us to ask Laxton for some guidance on the script, so TO takes the opportunity to watch the cast practice their rhymes for the forthcoming battle.

Then all hell breaks loose as a procession of scantily-clad extras descend upon the set, cranking the noise levels up and causing chaos in the club. The excitable teens talk, heckle and even snog their way through take after take, while the actors attempts to spit lyrics at each other on stage.

This rapping business is easier said than done however, and when one unfortunate cast member fluffs his lines, the crowd goes mad, laughing hysterically in his face and taking a good five minutes to calm down before the poor soul can try again. Nevertheless, actor and director fight on, and there's no doubting that the confrontational environment ups the ante and lends considerable tension and atmosphere to the scene.

We then catch a word with the film's star, Ashley Walters, who tells us of his frustration at not being able to join in with the rest of the Motion Crew. 'Danny, my character, is purely a producer' he explains. 'I'm itching to have a microphone and rap on camera, but it's not going to happen, so I've had to chill, take off my rapping hat and put on my acting hat.'

Walters says he's been able to put a lot of himself into the part however 'I'm not a producer or DJ like Danny, so in that sense it's different, but it's the same dream that inspires you so I can totally relate. And for me it's the perfect project – to be able to do acting and hip-hop – the two things I love most.'

With that Walters is whisked away to cue up some records for his crew while the noise levels are raised a few decibels as the extras re-take their places to put the cast through more hell. As for Time Out, having seen enough to know that this will be one of the more interesting Brit flicks to hit screens next year, we head for the nearest exit with a sore head, bleary eyes and the sound of rapping teens ringing in our ears.

'Life & Lyrics' is released on September 29, 2006.

User comments on this story

charliee fenton said...

do you have a link or something to get the soudtrack ? Posted on Dec 30 2008 00:02

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SARISE ASHLEY BIGGEST FAN!!!! said...

I loved every minute of the film. I was glued to the tele. It even made me cry at the end. Ashey did the nation proud yet again!! Cant wait to see what Ashley pulls out the bag next! One Love keep up the good work. x Posted on Oct 10 2007 09:54

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Lauryn said...

a luv the film itz kl and the bois init are sexi special Ashley xx Posted on Sep 06 2007 11:56

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chunk said...

its a sik film i love it Posted on Jun 08 2007 10:20

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michael massey said...

i ave nt seen ur film yet bt it looks n sounds good i am goin to c it at the end of the month n i will pt my comments on the web site tahnk you Posted on Oct 12 2006 09:43

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terrell said...

the film is cold.the best lyrics is the one about little britain ye but no but ye but no Posted on Oct 09 2006 10:54

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joshua said...

i was on the set lol no i wernt but the flim was sick bit the end was a bit rushed but still good Posted on Oct 07 2006 20:43

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Tom said...

I saw the film last night and i was pretty impressed. Im a big fan of 8 mile and even if you dont really like hip hop and rap music, its still an wicked film!! Posted on Oct 04 2006 11:58

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xslimxyx said...

listen u all wana get out there and watch da grimy movie iz guna be selling like hot cakes theres a mixture of everyting in it if u like hip hop then yurs da film 4 u Posted on Sep 28 2006 13:12

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Nikki said...

Now I have seen the film, all I can say is its ashame that people who know nothing about Black, UK Hiphop culture can portray a film they have no UNDERSTANDING with.
Peaches who I have seen on the circuit for years keeps her character in tact because she has vibes and represents for the women in the UK nicely, but did they dress like a yardie. the punchlines for the raps WEAK! film so predictable and should of used characters to their full potential. This has not achieved anything but just shown that here in the UK we have a long way to go. Peaches keep moving forward. Posted on Sep 16 2006 12:05

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serena said...

I was one of the extras on the film set and I have to say Peaches contribution on set was unreal she is ace... and a brilliant actress who knows about the UK MUsic scene. Unfortunatelly they made Peaches look like a yardie, she did mention to the crew that when she host she would usually where a tracksuit... but that fell on deaf ears... Look out for her she is truly talentd and Asher.d keep up the good work.... Posted on Aug 21 2006 19:57

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katie said...

i have just fund out that his name is akemnji he was als in doctors for bbc i think im in love! Posted on Mar 11 2006 00:00

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katie said...

hi i was an sa on the film too and did any 1 ntice how buff the boy who played preach was? I tried to catch his eye wink a few times but he wasn;t having any of it!!
Overall i think it will be a wicked film. Posted on Mar 10 2006 23:50

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sam said...

i was an extra too on the film, big up to peaches and all the crew there. it was great to work with such a talented bunch of people. there was a great vibe on set. it was good to work on something that was real and support british urban films! Asher d was the star though and stole the show for me Posted on Mar 04 2006 22:46

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Mercy Amoo said...

I was one of the extras at the Life and Lyrics film set and I have to say one actress that really drew my attention that features in the film is Peaches. Her role was small but her contribution and vibe was positive and colourful, really natural she was/is an actor that young people are following keeping track of because she identifies with the Urban Culture... and comes through in all she does, whether the Host at Deal Real or Acting on stage at Theatre Royal Stratford east in Da Boyz or featuring in Life and Lyrics look out for her she is the voice that gets heard and respect!!!! Big up Peaches Posted on Feb 03 2006 20:56

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