Host of Choice FM's breakfast show and well known on the MTV Base platform, comedian Kojo sold out both 'Live & Kicking' shows earlier this year at Hackney Empire. A great moment in history aptly recorded, Kojo is getting ready to release his first ever comedy DVD....
Make sure you keep an eye out for this when it gets released later this year!
Set up at 3 Mills Studios in Bow, with East London and Pure Film Production's very own Danny Donnelly in the director's chair of Payback Season, the team have formed a motion picture with strong East London influence. Current focus depicting the new upper urban market within the finish, quality visuals have been captured as a result of dedication and hard work.
Starring Adam Deacon, David Ajala and legendary Geoff Hurst, all with strong East London roots, the reputation of the manor's diversity has been entwined within the casting. Main female character played by Nichola Burley adds a northern spice to dialogue, brought right back to the East End by cockney football manager Andy played by Leo Gregory.
An area with high volumes of attention due to the upcoming Olympic Games, many other East London locations have added to the flare of the movie including Limehouse Docks, a bar in Hoxton and a Hackney council estate. But although the structure and settings are heavily centred within East London, other locations feature strongly within the film such as a West End club and Millwall Football Stadium & Training Ground.
The storyline of Payback Season has allowed Adam Deacon (who plays main character Jerome Davies) to show his true acting capability. Jerome a reserved and charming personality as opposed to the extrovert characters Adam has found himself type-casted to play previously. David Ajala playing the alpha male street bully Baron, a dark character David captures well within his demeanour.
Although Payback Season is a movie with strong focus on football players and their lifestyle, this production doesn't have an overbearing football presence. Only the required key characters such as manager, agent and phsyio are present with additional players. The storyline focuses on lifestyle and the tribulations a footballer may face if haunted by his past background, bringing real unspoken pressures to the forefront. After climbing all the way to the top, what does one do when given those juxtaposing words "When the payment stops, the football stops"?
Youth and Community Worker Robyn Travis recites his poem 'The Sad Truth' and talks about his soon to be released book 'Freedom From The Womb, Prisoner To The Streets' which is based on his life growing up in two different areas that later turned out to become serious rivals. Torn between loyalties to old friends and new, he beacame heavily involved in the street life in which his friends became his enemies.
'The Sad Truth' is a poem by Robyn Travis written to express his frustrations and the challenges he has faced since turning his life around....
Robyn Travis deserves an accolade for not only being able to step away from the street lifestyle he found himself wrapped within, but also for the ability to articulately reach out to others to say it's not the way forward. 'Freedom from the Womb, Prisoner to the Streets' may be focused on the Hackney & Tottenham street war that erupted in the late 90's and continued for many years, however the poem 'The Sad Truth' shows the depths Robyn Travis has brought to the surface, will speak from the hearts of many of the young men trapped within the street lifestlye and explain exactly why they are trapped by the system, not their peers.
I will be touching back on this book in future and letting you all know when it's released....
Glamma Kid, fellow produce of Hackney, East London, first became a household name when he was tearing up bashment dances circa 1996 with his dub of the Metric Riddim titled Moschino. Going forth to make his stance in April 1999 on the UK charts reaching #10 alongside Shola Ama (also from Hackney) with Taboo. A song that many remember playing to death during their childhood (I know I certainly did..... both original and MJ Cole remix). As time went on, Glamma Kid seem to loose his creative control and released 'Bills' in 2000 reaching #17 in the charts. The song proved to be a subliminal insight into his life.....
For the past 10 years many have questioned where Glamma Kid disappeared to..... Overcoming his personal struggles, Glamma Kid has returned and hopefully will be able to answer all those questions. In the meantime teaming up with Stevie Starr to bring us a preview of what's coming up in 2011, lets hear what he has to say with 'Fly Away'.....
The pain felt from another fallen soldier has hit the atmosphere within Hackney today. Another youth's life taken by the violence within our youngsters on the street. It has been a tragic week for the families within the borough. When will the youngsters see that aggression is NOT the way to make progression within our community.
RIP Jahmal Mason Blair and my sincere condolences to his friends and family. The fallen soldiers may be gone, but they are never forgotten. In this moment I would like to send a moment of rememberance to Darren 'Poops' Ogistie, another fallen Hackney soldier close to my heart.
