Idris Elba has just started his first film-directing job.
The 44-year-old actor has kickstarted his new project ‘Yardie’ – a forthcoming big screen adaptation of the 1992 novel of the same name – and is determined to use the previous work of his inspirations Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg to create an engaging piece of cinematography with the help of "good actors".
Speaking to Digital Spy, he said: "I’ve just started my first film-directing job. I’m doing an adaptation of a book called ‘Yardie’, the novel by Victor Hedley. It’s actually a smaller capsule story within the story of ‘Yardie’. It’s about a boy who comes from Jamaica and finds himself in London, being a naughty boy. Because it’s called ‘Yardie’ you might expect it to be a violent film, and to some degree it is, but it’s got a human heart and soul. I’m there now, I’ve started directing it now – we’re in pre-production. I’m influenced by beautiful cinematography, the Spielbergs, the Scorseses of the world. The Spike Lees, the Paul Thomas Andersons – what they’re all good at, those directors, is getting actors to be very truthful in the moment. I’m an actor, so I want good acting in my film."
The ‘Luther’ star is convinced his movie will having a last effect on the viewers and may even encourage them to visit Jamaica.
He explained: "You’re going to see a muscular, dynamic film that means something to people. I want people to come out of the film and say ‘Hmm, I feel like going to Jamaica now!’ That’s the idea."
Idris Elba starts directing first film
