Noel Clarke

Britain's brightest new talent...

Noel, your new flick 4,3,2,1 is coming out 4 June. Are you excited and is it your favourite project thus far?
It’s got a lot in there that really earmarks it as a film you know I've done, but at the same time it's a more commercial prospect. It's much more exciting. It’s probably my favourite of the films I've done and I think people that watch it will see why. It’s not just a British film.

	Fast Girls is gonna be Any Other Sunday meets Rocky meets Chariots Of Fire and it’s really going to feel like you’re there with them.

I saw the trailer and I know what you mean, it looks fast-paced.
We don’t have a huge budget, but 4,3,2,1 definitely has more action than my previous two films, where they were reality-based fighting scenes. This one has that as well, but more movie-type fighting scenes; the story is more elaborate – you know, like Snatch was a "movie" and Layer Cake was a "movie", and they had big fighting scenes that mark it out as a "movie".

Do you draw inspiration from people like Guy Ritchie?
Yeah, I think he is a good director, especially his earlier stuff. He is very good at what he does, definitely.

Word is you’re going to make a film about the Olympics in 2012 called ‘Fast Girls.’ Care to shed any light on this?
It’s definitely not a rumour now! Damien Jones who produced Kidulthood and Adulthood with me, he’s working on this film Fast Girls with me, which is exactly what it says; an inspirational Rocky-style feel-good movie set in 2012 to co-incide with the London games. It is Any Other Sunday meets Rocky meets Chariots Of Fire and it’s really going to feel like you’re there with them.

When the athletes are on the line and they put their hands on the dirt, you can hear it – bang you’re there. Damien came up with the idea and I was like: ‘I definitely want to be involved!' As soon as people heard about it they wanted in.

So have you lined up any actresses for the role or is it too early to be thinking about that?
Well, the story is about the British relay team, so they’d have to be British girls. It will be good to work with four British actresses though, much like we had to with 4,3,2,1.

Let’s talk cheese-based snacks. You are a judge on the forthcoming Doritos King of Ads competition, which gives budding directors the chance to film an ad – what is the competition about and what tips would you give to wannabe ad Kings?
What happens is from now until the 30 April, you can upload your 29-second clip, the length of an ad for Doritos. This ad is going to air during the World Cup and you can win up to £200,000. If I were to give tips, I would say firstly you need to be creative. It doesn’t matter how much money you have to spend or the quality of the camera. You need to be memorable as well. You know like ‘Wasssssssssssssssup,’ the Budweiser advert a good few years back now, is so memorable and innovative. For me, what I like about it is that it is a chance for new people to get into the industry. I’m a big supporter of people who want to get into the industry who don’t always have the ways to get in. It’s very difficult and this is an opportunity and another way of getting in.

Any plans to continue with the 'hood franchise, like with Grandadhood or anything?
I think making another one would kill it off. I think a lot of people think they want another one and they feel there are not enough films representing out there. I will keep doing that, making films that represent people, but at the same time I’m not going to do the same old thing, because people will get very bored very quickly. 4,3,2,1 is an evolution and I’ll keep doing films after that. 4,3,2,1 has got a bigger budget and having a familiar face from Doctor Who should make this film get even more publicity.

Who were your inspirations growing up?
My inspirations were American. I didn’t really feel when I was growing up that there were many British inspirations – I found myself watching Boyz n The Hood, Kids, Pulp Fiction and Clerks and Doug Liman’s Go. I was really big into American indie stuff and those films inspired me. No one was really doing stuff like Kidulthood over here at the time, it’s like the British equivalent of Boyz n The Hood. Now people are doing it. No one was doing Adulthood or Kidulthood kind of stuff. The idea of 4,3,2,1 is again to take it another level.

Are there any young British directors out there at the moment that you are aware of or who we should be looking out for?
Mark Davies, who I have sort of brought into the fold and he is co-directing 4,3,2,1 with me. This is his first project and I’ve known him for ten years, he edited my first job. When I did the test shoot for Adulthood he edited the test shoot for me. We’re good mates and he is finding it hard to break into films. So I was like I can do this one with you, I’m not a greedy man and I want to share the wealth. I’ve brought him in and he has got a big future. I’ve got a quite a few films written up that I want to pass his way.

So what do you prefer - writing, directing or acting?
Writing is probably my least favourite out of the three things. I’d rather act and direct. I probably find writing the easiest part because I have an idea and I’m like, "Oh, I can write that down", but it is the most solitary and it takes the most discipline. Whereas acting, it’s social, you are there. Same with directing, you are there. When you’re writing, you’ve got to have the discipline to say I’m not going out and I’m going to sit at home. You write it, you finish it, and you’re proud, but you have no idea if that is going to see the light of day.

Hollywood has thrown a billion dollars at you to make a massive film. What actor and actress do you pick?
Right now I would go for Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is not really a billion-dollar budget movie kind of guy; he is more of an indie type guy. Actually the first thing I would do is take the billion dollars and make a billion films. Then weirdly I’d take Emma Watson. She is the highest grossing actress last year for what? Being Hermione Granger in Harry Potter. If you or me were playing that part it would be exactly the same – she’s just there by default, she got the part. I would want a performance and I would work her like a full-time job and she would. I think out of the three of those kids, I think she is potentially the one with the most ability.

So you’re taking a much-needed weekend out of your hectic schedule and unwinding. What film would you throw on?
There’s too many man and such little time. If it was to be anything it would be Kevin Smith’s Clerks or Pulp Fiction.

TV show?
Without hesitation Entourage and second would be The Simpsons.

And your favourite way to just switch off?
I’ve got my kid who is 20 months old. I just play cars and football with him. He was born in Chelsea and Westminster hospital and about 50 yards from Stamford Bridge, so I think that says it all really.

Cheers for your time Noel and got luck with the new movie.
Take it easy and all the best.

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