Within the final six years, Rapman has gone from making breakout YouTube undertaking Shiro’s Story, to helming his first function, Blue Story, after which creating one in every of Netflix’s most profitable UK collection this yr with superhero sci-fi drama Supacell.
With every milestone, Rapman has continued to flip the leisure business’s script on its head.
“I didn’t go to movie college. I didn’t even go to college, however I lived a number of life earlier than I used to be on this movie world, so I take advantage of that as my storytelling type,” Rapman instructed Deadline.
Rapman appeared on a panel with American rapper LL Cool J, as a part of Paramount’s “Content material For Change” program, operating alongside the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester.
“There are at all times going to be funds restraints, however the business nonetheless needs folks with good concepts and people who find themselves prepared to work, so that you simply have to make use of your background and expertise to make your self distinctive,” stated Rapman, who’s often known as Andrew Onwubolu.
“Now, as somebody who is aware of many commissioners, I do know that they’re at all times in search of one thing contemporary and new. It’s not at all times going to be simple to get in entrance of them, however you need to use the platforms that you’ve entry to. I didn’t know the right way to get into studios, Hollywood or Netflix, however I knew the right way to add on YouTube,” added Rapman.
In 2018, Rapman created and posted a three-part rap motion drama titled Shiro’s Story through Hyperlink Up TV’s YouTube channel. Shiro’s Story has since racked up over 34 million views.
“You’d be shocked how a lot the commissioners are watching, as a result of after I first met Netflix in 2018, they stated that they liked Shiro’s Story,” stated Rapman. “They have been watching the whole lot. Every thing that made noise in narrative, it was their job to control it.”
BBC Movies and Paramount Photos quickly got here knocking after the web success of Shiro’s Story, signing Rapman to write down and direct function movie Blue Story. Paramount Photos acquired the worldwide distribution rights, whereas BBC Movies developed and co-financed the undertaking.
Season Two of Supacell
Rapman’s debut TV collection Supacell turned a success for Netflix this yr, rising to the primary spot on the streamer’s international collection checklist and remaining within the international high 10 checklist for six weeks. The collection has been renewed for a second season.
He can not say a lot concerning the second season of Supacell but, however emphasised that he’s pushing for it to come back out as quickly as potential. “What I can let you know is that season two is loopy,” stated Rapman. “The writers’ room is all performed, this season is simply loopy.”
With Supacell, Rapman wished to rewrite the script for what creators of coloration will be commissioned to do within the UK’s TV business.
“Supacell was the primary time we noticed a black forged of individuals within the UK as superheroes,” stated Rapman. “Within the UK, we might at all times pigeonhole such tales. Folks can be scared to do sci-fi or gained’t fee a sci-fi as a result of it’s not common within the UK. I really feel joyful that I’m a face for change, as a result of I actually suppose that now the doorways are open.”
Set in modern-day South London, Supacell follows a gaggle of 5 Black folks unified by a household historical past of sickle cell illness. They unexpectedly develop superpowers and are pursued by a secret group that intends to regulate them.
“We intention for range and I search for black creators, like Sheila Nortley [also part of another Content For Change panel]. I employed Sheila,” stated Rapman. “I wished as many individuals of coloration to get alternatives, as a result of I understand how laborious it’s for them to get into TV within the UK. The UK TV business is a lot smaller, particularly in comparison with the U.S., that the roles for black persons are a lot fewer.
“I believe, ‘How do they get onto the ladder for me to even discover out who they’re, to get them a job?’ I keep in mind I had somebody from the U.S. on my set, and he or she stated that she had by no means seen so many black folks behind the digital camera earlier than. I at all times attempt to give everybody their credit score, so after my undertaking, they’ll go on and get a job right here and there as a result of they’ve labored on a present with Netflix,” added Rapman.
From YouTube to Supacell
Rapman stated that he harbored the thought for Supacell for a very long time, however solely “vocalized” it in November 2019.
Whereas doing press for Blue Story, he was requested questions on what he wished to do subsequent, and he began sharing a narrative thought about “folks with superpowers in London.”
A number of weeks later, Netflix contacted him for a dinner assembly.
“I didn’t know that it was a pitch assembly, as a result of I had met them a number of occasions and thought it was only a catch up,” stated Rapman.
They requested Rapman if he had any concepts for a TV present, so he shared a number of concepts.
“After sharing a number of concepts, they requested if I had anything. I stated one other one, however they didn’t look bothered. Simply as I used to be considering, ‘You don’t like my concepts, it’s cool, possibly we are able to discover one thing in future,’ I pitched a present about those who look and sound like me, however with superpowers.
“Then I carried on consuming and so they weren’t saying something. However after I regarded up, I noticed that their eyes have been like, flashing, so that they knew that was the one, and so they have been fascinated with that concept,” stated Rapman.
Rapman felt no nerves leaping from directing movies for YouTube, to helming bigger-budget titles for the likes of Paramount, BBC Movies and Netflix.
“I used to be directing so many YouTube shorts — I believe I did 50 by the point I received to do my first function, so it simply felt like I used to be doing YouTube once more. If something, it felt extra intense as a result of we needed to match a lot within the few days,” stated Rapman. “I’ve been doing it for therefore lengthy, simply not with such an enormous funds.”
He identified that VFX and stunts have been the 2 areas that have been newer to him, whereas engaged on Supacell.
Rapman’s function fashions
Rapman named his father as his greatest function mannequin.
“He simply drilled in me that you need to work twice as laborious,” stated Rapman. “I believe my work charge is what received me into this place.”
Accompanying his fast ascent throughout the movie, tv and music industries is Rapman’s steely self-discipline to writing’s craft and graft, placing in lengthy shifts of writing, week in and week out.
“I rise up round 6am, go to the health club and get again about 9.30am after which write from 9.30am to about 9.30pm. That’s my Monday to Friday. I don’t do Sunday and Sundays,” stated Rapman. “I work my physique, then I work my thoughts. With writing, I’ve to be at residence. I’ve to be on my own. I’ve solely received a TV present enjoying within the background, however nothing that I’m being attentive to, simply one thing that I can hear.”
“I’m within the aggravating course of now, the half which you don’t see,” stated Rapman. “Nobody actually is aware of, until you’re within the business, how a lot work goes into making a TV present. There’s a lot that you need to align and so many issues that must get signed off by completely different voices earlier than you possibly can even begin rolling the digital camera.”
Rapman counts Spike Lee and John Singleton amongst his filmmaking heroes.
He additionally significantly admires the work that Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler and Jeymes Samuel are doing within the business.
“I have a look at these filmmakers of coloration who’re actually placing black tales in a unique house, into the cowboy house, into the horror house. I like that as a result of it at all times regarded like we are able to solely do one factor, so this evokes me understanding that for all my subsequent tasks, I received to push the barrier now,” stated Rapman.
“Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan are additionally what I aspire to — I need my title subsequent to their names when that is all stated and performed,” added Rapman. “I need a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. I need folks to come back to some extent, the place they may simply go and watch if it’s a Rapman film, as a result of that’s the facility that you simply get whenever you hear a few Spike Lee movie or John Singleton film, or Coogler and Peele movies now. I simply wish to get to that.”
