Metro - Make A Date For... Shank

A short I did with interview with Mo - director of Shank - that's in today's Metro. Watch the film and support UK. You won't be disappointed, well you might be if you're over 25.

MAKE A DATE FOR SHANK

‘I’ve tried to give the audience new ingredients, different from standard urban films. Hopefully Shank’s fun and a drama too - people have described it as satire, futuristic drama, even comic book,’ explains Mo Ali, the director of Shank.

Shank, starring Bashy, Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood), Kaya Scodelario (Effie from Skins) and 15 year old newcomer and show stealer Kedar Williams Stirling, is all of the above, and more: It’s a fast paced ‘ultra fantasy’ set in London 2015. The Olympics have gone, the economy has flat-lined and security and food are in short supply in the divided capital. The streets are ruled by barbaric gangs of kids who will do anything for ‘munchies’ (food), apart from the PaperchaserZ crew who use stealth and smarts to fill their bellies and stash enough paper (money) to escape the big bad city.

Mo, the go-to director for urban music videos (Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Plan B, Skepta, Natty, Bizzle, amongst many others), uses this parable to explore the moral dilemmas, faced by some young people in inner city Britain, today, in what is his debut feature film.

The use of news reportage, animation and video game graphics stands out. ‘I’ve watched news reports from third world countries, Afghanistan, Iraq and East Africa, and wanted to flip it present London in that way. We did workshops with young people and the feedback was we want to see animation and video games, that’s what we’re into,’ he explains.

The use of music is startling with dubstep, grime and rap contributing to atmosphere and pace: ‘I’m a music video director so music is really important to me and I know this music really well. Every artist gave their tracks with no hassle, and I’m grateful for their support of the film,’ explains the in-demand director.

‘British urban film is a new genre, and everyone’s excited by what’s been happening in urban music, it’s been a great year and there’s that same sense of excitement in film – it’s our time’ concludes Mo.

Shank is out March 26