CAST
CAST |
Julian Sandi – AK
|
| Julian is a multi-talented young man originally from Sierra Leone. Julian has developed his talents as an actor, model, and music artist over the past 12 years in the USA and UK. Taking parts in featured films, Theatre plays, TV ads, live performances, and print ads. Julian had professional acting training in Manhattan New York and London, and is currently studying Music and Media Management BA at University of London Metropolitan.Julian feels fortunate to have escaped the civil war in Sierra Leone. Having lost friends and families in the war, Julian seeks to achieve a dream that many of his peers and family back home wish they had the opportunity to pursue. As the eldest of eight children, pressure and responsibility is nothing new for Julian. Julian always has a positive and optimistic attitude about life. Regardless of his struggles in life, Julian aims to be a positive international influential creative talent for youths.Julian started acting at the age of 5, and to be a professional recognisable actor is Julian’s dream, to inspire others to keep believing in their dreams. As the message in his single titled “Its possible” states “In life you will have a vision or goal that seems impossible through the eyes of others to achieve, but one must never give up; because if you can see it, then you can achieve it.”Julian states he is very grateful to director Michael Chandler for giving him the chance to actualize his dream by casting him as main character for the film AK. Julian enjoyed working with Michael and hopes to do more projects together. |
BUS STOPAnna Whatley – drunk woman |
| Anna trained as an actress at The Bridge Theatre Training Company in London where she graduated in 2005, she also has a degree in Drama and Theatre studies from the University of Surrey, Roehampton. Other credits include ‘Pauper’ in short film Ghetto Fairytale and ‘Mary’ in Bombshells at The Leicester Square Theatre. Anna has toured the UK with Educational Theatre Companies such as Firehorse Productions and Golden Egg Productions and has a variety of Children’s Theatre credits. Anna has worked extensively as a specialist workshop manager using forum theatre and role-play as a means of supporting emotional development and as a tool for social exploration and conflict resolution. She was employed as an Educational Outreach Worker by Shelter in 2009, Anna is now employed as a Project Coordinator for Community Links and in 2010 became co-founder of Think Big Theatre where she is now the Artistic Director. Think Big is a social enterprise that offers opportunities for children and young people to develop new skills and to explore their identities through structured drama and arts projects. Anna will be leading her first international community theatre project in Malawi later this year. For more information please go to www.thinkbigtheatre.co.uk |
Lei-An McLeash – drunk woman
|
| Leanne attended Barking College for performing arts where she graduated in 2007. She later went on to join a Theatre in Education Company and toured primary and secondary schools across London. Leanne has made an acting appearance in a number of theatre shows at the Broadway theatre which includes ‘Our Country’s Good’ and ‘Eclipsed ‘ and featured the innovative play ‘The Boys ‘ at Stratford Theatre Royal. Over the years Leanne has become a successful singer and songwriter, having written for UK rapper Funky D.L and up and coming female vocalists. Leanne has also co-written and recorded her own studio album which was later released and sold in Japan and on ITunes. At present Leanne is employed by Community Links where she works as an outreach worker, working with vulnerable youths through drama and creative play. She is also in the midst of writing and producing her first theatre production. |
Marian Fielding – passenger |
 |
| Marian graduated in Drama at Birmingham University. She held lead roles for Tower Theatre and was the star of a one woman play for Unity Theatre. She is a published poet and short story writer. In a past life she was also a probation officer. |
GANGThe Gang scene brought together four very talented young people from Newham, east London. All have been lead members of the youth-led theatre group Think Big, and all brought their own unique characters to the scene. |
Kevin Berger – Kay / Debul |
 |
| Kevin was one of the original members of Think Big and has been a part of the project for 2 years now.Kevin states, “I’m a very dedicated person when it comes to acting and other creative arts. I hope to pursue an acting career similar to Idris Elba as he is an inspiration and a perfect role model doing acting jobs from here to the US.”“AK is my first short film and from the scenes filmed it looks like a profound, moving story, something that I can look back on and be proud of.”Kevin also played the dance role of the ‘Debul’ – see below. |
Kwabena Kyei-Nimako (Junior) – Jay / Debul |
 |
| Junior was introduced to Think Big by a teacher and has been a part of the project for 2 years. Anna from Think Big introduced him to different acting and dance projects in various areas in London, where he has been able to show his gifts and shine within them. ‘AK’ is Junior’s second film following short film ‘The Portrait’ in 2011 where he also played an aggressive teen. He is now studying theatre/ drama studies in Sixth form and with the inspiration of Will Smith, will continue to enjoy his acting and work hard to meet his ambition of becoming as successful within acting as Will Smith – if not more successful.Junior says “My love for acting began in year 7 when my form class was allocated for compulsory drama lessons in secondary school. I chose drama in year 10 as a GCSE subject; the acting within GCSE drama became much more serious but also more passionate and enjoyable for me, which suits my hard working, passionate and outgoing character. My love for acting then became a craving and this allowed me to achieve the status of an A* Gifted and Talented student in secondary school. Summing up my story, my love and dedication for dancing and acting from a young age, combined with the love and support of Think Big has allowed me to play an acting and dancing role in the film AK, which I am more than overwhelmed to be in.”Junior also played the dance role of the ‘Debul’ – see below. |
Voltaire Taiwo-De-Campos – Vee |
| Voltaire first started acting at the age of 6 when he was in a TV program on the BBC. He loved acting all through school especially in year 6 when he had his first drama teacher ever since then my love for acting has developed. Voltaire was a founder youth member of Think Big when it first started in 2010 and have enjoyed developing his acting and also mentoring skills, he now assist with running the Children’s Theatre once a week. He has also been a member of the Theatre Royal Stratford Youth Theatre.Voltaire states, “My favourite acting roles so far have been Danny in Motortown, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Michal in The Pillowman and Tibault also in Romeo and Juliet. This is my third short film that I have been in with Think Big and I have really enjoyed the experience.”Voltaire is currently studying Drama, Media, Film Studies and English A-Levels and hopes to become an actor. Voltaire also recently won the Youth Compassion Award for his work, at the young age of 16, receiving the award from the Dalai Lama. See here for more information. |
Moses Ogunfidodo – Mo |
 |
| Moses is one of the founder youth members of Think Big Threate Group when it first started in 2010 and has continued to support and participate in their projects ever since. He now assists with the running of the Children’s Theatre once a week which allows him to share my knowledge of drama with children who are much younger than him. He was a member of East London Dance for a long period of time and has also been involved in musicals such as Oliver Twist, Footloose, and Aladdin. He currently studies Drama, Philosophy, Theology & Psychology A-Levels and aspires to become an actor. ‘AK’ is his second short film and he has indeed enjoyed the experience. Moses states, “Acting has always been a passion of mine from a very young age. This art has always been a major part of my life, it has contributed into the discovery of myself. It became clearer to me that I could actually make something of myself through drama when I was the first pupil in my secondary school to win a coloured tie for drama in year 7.” |
UNIVERSITY |
Dan McSherry – Dr Stuart (lecturer) |
| Film includes: Plan B’s “Ill Manors”, Blake in “Arkham Sanitarium” and Len in “Intimate Strangers” and the upcoming “Gridiron UK”. Theatre at Cambridge included: RSC Other Prize Winner “August”, Jimmy Porter in “Look Back in Anger” Vladimir in “Waiting For Godot” and Frank in “Educating Rita”, Hamlet in “Hamlet”. A 10 year rowing career which included: rowing for Goldie in the 2000 Boat Race, representing Great Britain and winning a silver medal at the Junior European Championships and winning the gold at The National Championships.http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/view.php |
Georgia Winters – Georgia (student) |
| Georgia was born in Paris and came to London as a child. Theatre work includes ‘Blackbird’ dir. Sam Rumbelow, ‘The Lonesome West’ (Martin McDonagh), ‘The Crucible’ and ‘Trading Faces’. Most recent film work includes short film ‘Meme’ (showing at Rushes Soho Shorts), and feature films ‘Lighter’ and ‘Zombie Resurrection’. |
Ellie Mitra – Ellie (student)
|
| Ever passionate about the naturalism and subtlety of good screen acting, Ellie got accepted to study at Redroofs Film and Television School, where she specialised in that art, and since graduating in May 2010, has had constant work in both short and feature films. She has been cast in many of the classic film genres including Dramas, Thrillers, Comedies and Romances, and has recently acted in the Channel 4 Horror film, Nightvision. She has been killed many times on camera…but tries not to take it personally(!) |
Benjie Dudgeon – Ben (student)
|
| Benjie has a range of experience, from short film to opera and radio. ‘AK’ is his third short film, and he has recently featured in feature films ‘Dream’ (Ruben Morales, 2012), and ‘THE BALLAD OF MARY WHYDDON’ (Francis Whyddon, 2011). Benjie appeared at in his own one man show ‘Drinking In America’ at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival across the UK, and has appeared in various theatre and opera productions and on radio.http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/4417-9056-8915 |
Laura Hanna – Laura (student)
|
| Laura graduated from LAMDA last July 2011, after reading English at Oxford University. Her theatre performances include, Lean (Theatre Royal Stratford East), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Chelsea Theatre), Daddy Took My Debt Away (Theatre 503/Southwark Playhouse), The Occupied Times (The Arcola), Beasts And Beauties (The Hampstead Theatre), Touched (The Tricycle Theatre), Daisy Pulls It Off ( The Lyric, Hammersmith), Be My Baby (Edinburgh Festival) and Into The Woods(The Oxford Playhouse).Film includes A Fistful Of Lipstick (short), Good Little Girl (short). Radio includes Speaking In Tones(The Royal Academy Of Music) www.spotlight.com/4217-7862-7496 |
Joanne Gale – Joanne (student)
|
| Joanne’s theatre credits include Charity Royall in Summer, Brockley Jack and Anya in The Cherry Orchard, The White Bear both for Grey Swan, Puck in The Shakespeare Conspiracy, Chelsea Theatre and various roles and puppeteering in The Velveteen Rabbit and Greek Myths for Kids in Edinburgh. Film credits include the short film The Gathering short listed for 2010′s Virgin Media Shorts competition, Abby in the online soap Heart and Soul, Leanne Baker in Doctors and Abbey in the indie feature Flash Mob and HappySlap which were screened at Channel Four and the BFI. She has recently filmed a small role in the new Red Dwarf series. Radio includes Alex in The Burning Times for Radio 4. |
Charlotte Jones – Charlotte (student)
|
| Charlotte has trained at the BRIT school and has a range of theatre, film and photography work. ‘AK ‘ is her third film, following Born Shorts (2011) and Live Bait (2007). Charlotte has also previously done TV work on MTV, BBC and commercials. Her threate performances include ‘On the Razzle’(Putney Arts Theatre(2011) and Noises Off, and has also been involved in a range of photographic work, including for Aviva, O2 and the NHS Anti-Smoking Campaign. |
SIERRA LEONE |
Josta Hopps – actor |
 |
| Josta Hopps, 29, also known as Clergy Man, was born in Hangha Town in the diamond-mining region of Sierra Leone. When his aunt accused him of stealing, Josta left and lived on the streets for a few years. He started writing songs about issues that concerned him but had no money to record them. Eventually he found an NGO called iEARN where he learnt computer studies and music. In 2007 iEARN partnered WAYout who donated some Macs and taught editing and filmmaking. Josta found his passion and the first film he made was “The Senior” which won ‘best video clip’ in Sierra Leone’s Film Festival. Next, he wrote and directed a drama called ‘My Last Choice’ about AIDS followed by the short drama documentary about his own life called ‘Dark Night’. He won a ‘soap writing’ competition in 2010 and will be developing that in 2011. Josta is determined to learn all the skills of a filmmaker and then support other street youth off the streets. |
THE DEBUL |
| ‘Debul’ (previously known as the ‘Black Hooded Figure’) is Sierra Leonean for devil, and appears throughout the film – before appearing in an arresting and intense scene. In this scene the ‘Debul’ was played (or ‘performed’) by two of the young Think Big team, Kevin and Junior. Largely self-taught, their styles both complimented and contrasted with each other, and brought the ‘Debul’ alive brilliantly in a way the film-makers could’ve only dreamed of! (There was lots of applause during the shooting of these scenes!) |
Kevin Berger |
 |
| Kevin’s dance style is an arresting, aggressive and jittery combination of hip-hop, Krumping and street dance, and was perfect for the anger, rage and fear of the Debul.Kevin states “I really like street dancing especially new style and Krumping. I first got in to hip-hop culture when I was 6 then went on to dancing when I was 13 with no idea that I had the moves – one day my dance teacher saw the potential I had and the chances of me being a great dancer.” |
Kwabena Kyei-Nimako (Junior) |
 |
| Junior’s style for the shoot was a smoother, more fluid style, and includes breaking and popping moves alongside Krumping and street dance. This complimented Kevin perfectly in the first dance scene, but also leant its self perfectly to the second, slower, more melancholic dance scene.Junior states “My love for dancing has been a part of my life from as young as I can remember, teaching myself how to Krump, Street and Break dance. I have won several of the Uk’s young dancers competitions and have danced with major groups such as ‘Boy blue’. Later on in School I formed my own dance group named ‘Dynamics’ and we have also won a lot of competitions.” |
