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Ashley Walters interview
At the age of 22, Ashley Walters has achieved more then a lot of people do in a lifetime. His alter-ego 'Asher D', part of the Brit-award winning, 30-strong garage outfit So Solid Crew, shot to the top of the charts in 2001, but the group were dogged by their association with street violence and gun crime. The effect of the band's notoriety was impossible to shake off and in 2002 things came to a climax when Walters was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institute for carrying an illegal firearm in his car. Before his involvement with So Solid Crew, Walters was a talented child actor, playing roles in Grange Hill and The Bill, he also played Stuart Lawrence in the television docu-drama The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, Bloody Sunday). Bullet Boy is his first feature film, it was chosen as part of the official selection at the London Film Festival, and most recently he won 'promising newcomer' at the British Independent Film Awards, for his role in the film. Bullet Boy is release nationwide on the 8th April. LF: How did you become involved in the project? AW: Well, basically it was the usual process. There was casting for it, but Saul Dibb - the director - saw me in something I did in 1998 a television dramatisation called Star Damage written by writer/actor Lennie James (Snatch, 24 Hour Party People) and starring Adrian Lester (The Day After Tomorrow). He'd seen me in that and he kind of had me in mind for the part when he was creating it. So, on my release from prison I met up with him and had the treatment and everything. I was just happy to be involved. It's a good film LF: It was director Saul Dibb's first feature film, what was it like working with him? AW: It was good, it was different experience. He brought something new to the table, because he comes from a documentary background it was a different filming experience for me. We did lots of improvisation - most of the piece and dialogue was improvised. He's just got a different take on things, and it was very refreshing working with someone like him. LF: What was the main factor that attracted you to Bullet Boy? AW: It was just real. It was raw. Something that I don't think has ever been done before in film, dealing with a subject that's controversial - especially at the moment with the rise in gun crime. For me it was a chance to put across an important message and get back into acting. LF: It's inevitable that people are going to draw comparisons with Ricky, the character you play in the film and your own experiences, do you agree with that? AW: Yeah definitely. I can relate to the character, it was important for me to do, and a challenge… 
LF: What do you hope that people gain from watching the film? AW: The message is there and it's strong. I think it's all about going deeper than the surface. A lot of people assume that those people involved in gun crime are from a gangster background or from a drugs background and that's not always the case. We need to judge people as individuals and this film wants to show a different side to it. I mean, there are people who do the shooting and do the killing, but at the same time there are family members that lose loved-ones. The film just shows how it affects everyone around you. It does show the cycle can be broken - which is very important for everyone. You know at the same time it's an entertaining movie - it's something you can watch and I think everyone's going to like it. LF: What was it like working alongside 12 year-old Luke Frazer who plays your younger brother Curtis in the film? AW: Yeah, it was fun, interesting. It was the first time that I'd worked with someone that young before. It was his first film as well, so we kind of had to help him through it. But you know when you watch the film you can just tell that he was meant to be in it, he's got a brilliant face for film. We took care of him, he didn't have much patience, and the days are long, 13 - 14 hours a day. But he's very talented; he's got a lot of raw of talent. I think there are going be big things from him. LF: Do you think it was important to the film's verisimilitude that it was shot in and around Hackney? AW: It wasn't imperative that it was in Hackney. I think with the location you get a sense that it could kind of be anywhere, I think lots of people around the country could relate to it - we didn't really want to focus on a particular area. I think the reason why Saul picked Hackney, was because you've got the contrast; the high-rise buildings and then you've got the fields and the marshes as well, its different from your usual council estate blocks and concrete jungle - its prettier! 
LF: You've acted before on television, but how did it differ working on your first full-length feature film? AW: It's very different, especially when you're the lead. You've got to spend a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it and a lot of concentration. It was a good discipline for me 'cause it's something that I really, really want to get into. It was great learning the trade, seeing new things and learning how to deal with the acting world. LF: Did you feel a lot of pressure taking the lead role? AW: No, no I don't think so. There was a lot of pressure, but I never thought I don't want to do this or say: "Why did I get into this?" Through out the whole process we had a lot of fun, but at the same time we were serious and taking it very seriously as well. LF: So after everything you've experienced and the troubles with the press, do you think this film reflects a 'new you' or perhaps a different side to you? AW: This is the person that I've always been. I've had a lot of bad press it clouds a lot of peoples opinions you know? When they see a lot of negative images and headlines, they start to believe then without really knowing the person who I am. When I came out of jail I made it my job to express myself - the real me - open my heart and tell the truth about what I've been going through. I think that's helped me a lot, people can relate to real life at the end of the day. LF: You recently went to Jamaica with Christian Aid to look at the ways they tackle gun crime. How did you find the trip? AW: That was different experience. A lot of people over here look to Jamaica and the US for music influence and even street attitude, and it was funny to see how they really operate over there. But the main reason for going was to bring some message back about how to deal with our own gun-crime problems. They're doing a lot of things, like integrating street gangs by getting them to play football as well as things like music, it can bring people together that wouldn't usually be in the same place. And it's a way of seeing people how they are, rather then the clothes they wear and the place they live. I learnt a lot from being there. 
LF: I hear that you are working on Goal! the football film that stars the likes of David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Kieron Dyer, is that true? AW: Yeah, I finished shooting that about a week ago. I didn't get to meet a lot of people but I met a couple of the Newcastle players. My part isn't that huge, but it was fun just to be onboard. Everything I've done beforehand has been low budget, so it was a totally different experience for me. At any one time there was at least 6 cameras filming at once, huge cranes and a rain machine. It was a great start for me to kind of get into, so hopefully in the future I can do things of that magnitude. LF: So, do you fancy heading over to Hollywood then? AW: Yeah, if they call me! But my main thing is really to establish myself here as an artist and an actor, and get the love of the British people behind me, but if the call comes in and it's something that I really want to get involved in then yeah, definitely, I'll take it. Helen Cowley |