Stormzy says playing a rapper in his first lead role made it hard to separate himself for the part. Big Mike stars as Tenzman in Big Man - the first release from the grime star's production company #MerkyFilm and his first lead role. Speaking at the film's premiere, he tells BBC Newsbeat: "It was really tough if I'm honest. "It felt like I'm playing a rapper but I am a rapper, it's tough to totally separate." #MerkyFilm follows Stormzy's other projects like #MerkyBooks and #MerkyFC which have aimed to elevate black British voices and talent. "In every single area that we've tried to infiltrate we've said, 'if this is the status quo, we want to try and do things a little bit different'," he says. He says moving into film has been a dream of his for a long time - as for why he's waited until now, he says he can't describe it. "I just know why it's important in general," he says. This year marks 10 years since actors started boycotting the biggest event in the film world, The Oscars, over criticism about a lack of diversity. Since then, campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite have seen calls grow louder for improved representation on screen. "What we've tried to do at Merky, whether it's music, sports, whatever, we do we just want to stand in our truth, tell our stories, but also not from the same perspective that it's always been told from," Stormzy says. "Even being black British, it's such a nuanced experience – you've got the black experience, you've got the British experience, and then you've got the black British experience. "We want to tell it from our perspective which is nuanced, it's brilliant, it's different, it's not always the same, it's not a monolith." One of Stormzy's co-stars, 15-year-old Klevis Brahja, tells Newsbeat how he was scouted for the film on the street. "I never knew I wanted to do acting and then out of nowhere I'm in auditions," he says. "It's crazy to be near someone like Stormzy and to have an opportunity like this. A lot of people dream for this and we're the lucky ones, it's amazing." Stormzy also worked with Oscar-winning director Aneil Karia, known for projects including The Long Goodbye and Surge, on Big Man, which was shot entirely on a phone. "It was really tough but it was a challenge I was so honoured to be a part of," Stormzy says. "I like to be challenged, I like to be a bit uncomfortable so I love it." Listen to Newsbeatliveat 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen backhere.
Stormzy: Lead acting role was uncomfortable but I loved it
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"Stormzy Discusses Challenges of First Lead Acting Role in 'Big Man'"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Stormzy, the renowned grime artist, has taken on his first lead acting role in the film 'Big Man,' where he portrays a character named Tenzman. This film marks the inaugural release from his production company, #MerkyFilm. During the film's premiere, Stormzy expressed the challenges he faced in separating his identity as a rapper from the character he was portraying. He candidly described the experience as tough, stating, "It felt like I'm playing a rapper but I am a rapper, it's tough to totally separate." His venture into film is part of a broader mission to elevate black British voices and narratives in various fields, including literature and sports through his previous initiatives like #MerkyBooks and #MerkyFC. Stormzy emphasized that his aim is to challenge the status quo and present stories from perspectives that are often overlooked, especially the nuanced experiences of being black British, which encompasses both the black and British identities.
The film industry has faced significant scrutiny over diversity, particularly following the #OscarsSoWhite movement, which highlighted the lack of representation in major film events. Stormzy's commitment to telling stories from a unique perspective is rooted in his desire to reflect the multifaceted experience of black British individuals. He articulated the importance of sharing these stories authentically, noting that the black British experience is rich and varied, and not a singular narrative. Additionally, the film features young actor Klevis Brahja, who shared his excitement about being cast after being scouted on the street, and described the opportunity to work alongside Stormzy as surreal. Stormzy collaborated with Oscar-winning director Aneil Karia, known for his innovative approach, including filming 'Big Man' entirely on a mobile device. Reflecting on the challenges of his role, Stormzy conveyed his appreciation for the discomfort that came with it, stating, "I like to be challenged, I like to be a bit uncomfortable so I love it." Through this project, Stormzy aims not only to broaden his artistic horizons but also to contribute to a more inclusive film industry.
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