20/03/2019 - Worldwide rights to the adaptation of the YouTube phenomenon of the same name have been acquired by Paramount

Paramount Pictures and BBC Films have announced that principal photography has started on Blue Story, a DJ Films and Joi Productions feature-length adaptation of Rapman’s short video trilogy of the same name. Created, written, directed and narrated by award-winning British music artist Andrew Onwubolu, aka Rapman, the film will shoot at locations in South London.

Rapman rose to prominence thanks to his ground-breaking music and short-film trilogies, culminating in 2018’s YouTube sensation Shiro’s Story. Set to his original music and lyrics, it told a captivating tale of love and loss in South London.

Blue Story is the tragic tale of a friendship between Timmy and Marco, two young boys from opposing postcodes. Timmy, a shy, smart, naive and timid youngster from Deptford, goes to school in Peckham, where he strikes up a friendship with Marco, a charismatic, streetwise kid from the local area. Although from warring postcodes, the two quickly form a firm friendship until it is tested and they wind up on rival sides of a street war.

Damian Jones, of DJ Films, and Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, of Joi Productions, are producers on Blue Story. Charles Moore and Paul Grindey, of Viewfinder, Rose Garnett and Eva Yates, of BBC Films, and Rapman himself will serve as executive producers. BBC Films developed and is co-financing the picture. Paramount has acquired worldwide distribution rights.

Blue Story depicts elements of Rapman’s own personal experiences and some aspects of his childhood. The messages he aims to send through his works are positive ones, aimed at inspiring kids from difficult backgrounds to turn away from local gangs.

Writer-director-narrator-executive producer Rapman said: “It’s a dream come true to be making my first feature film with Paramount and BBC Films.”

Rose Garnett, director of BBC Films, said: “Shiro’s Story showcased Rapman’s talent for telling compelling stories and marked him out as one of the UK’s most exciting new filmmakers, so we couldn’t be prouder to be supporting his debut feature film. I have no doubt that Blue Story is the start of what will be a stellar career, both for Rapman and also for the extraordinary cast of actors he has assembled for this film.”

John Fletcher, managing director of Paramount Pictures UK, said: “We feel that within Blue Story, Rapman has truly created something original and ground-breaking.”