In Conversation With: Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters, and Reda Elazouar
So yesterday I gave you guys the conversation with Reggie Yates about his new movie Pirates - if you haven’t read it yet, click the link at the bottom of this page to get reading! But that’s not it, because I also sat down with the cast of the film to talk working together, working with Reggie, doing comedy for the first time, nostalgia, and what being Black, or men of colour, means to them. They were a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy!
Boys
Hey Brianna, how's it going, you alright?
Brianna (TBP)
Hey, yeah, I'm good. How you guys doing?
Boys
Fine, good thank you!
Brianna (TBP)
Has it been a long day?
Elliot
Yeah, it's been fun. It's been a fun day. We had the premiere on Monday. So we're really excited about the film.
Brianna (TBP)
Yeah, the film is sick. I saw it last night. And everyone in that room was like laughing pretty much from start to finish. So you's did a really great job. So do you want to just individually introduce yourselves? And let people know who you play in the film?
Elliot
Yeah, sure. I'm Elliot Edusah, and I'm playing Cappo in the film.
Jordan
I'm Jordan Peters and I played Two Tonne.
Reda
And I'm Reda Elazouar, and I play Kidda.
Brianna (TBP)
Thank you. So what drew you all to the film? And how early on in the process did you get involved?
Elliot
For me, I heard Reggie Yates and Garage music. And for me that - I was sold. I've always grown up watching Reggie. And I've always wanted to meet him. And when I found out he was the director, and he was writing, I was like, "Oh, I have to work with Reggie. That's one person, I have to work with." Bucket list stuff. So when I got the script, and I was like, "You know what, this is the most, this is one of the most funny scripts I've read in so long, and I need to be a part of this project." So I think we just all went above and beyond to make sure we really got our foot in the door.
Jordan
100%. To me, for me, it was the was the writing man, Reggie is an amazing writer, and an amazing director at that. And to be honest with me, it was that, it was the comedy. And it was really the auditions that sold it for me, because he let us play, let us improv. But yeah, no, me and all the guys, we auditioned for it in December 2019. So yeah, we auditioned for it nearly two years ago. So it's been a big part of our lives for the past two years.
Reda
Yeah. Yeah. To me, it's the relationship between the three boys that really stuck out for me and how funny the script was, as well. I was sitting in my room, cackling to myself because the script was so funny. But also, like when we got the job, and hearing about Reggie's friend that has passed away and he was doing it for his friend, and what it was like when him and his friends, back in the day with them. When we heard about that it was like, put 110% into this to honour his friend.
Brianna (TBP)
It was a really beautiful relationship between the men - or boys rather. Like you don't see that much in film, such a tactile bond, like there's no concern about, like physical intimacy in any way. You don't see that with black men in film very much. It was nice. It was really lovely to see - do you think people will resonate with people, do you think that's important to have in film?
Elliot
Because I think boys are like that. I went to an all boys school and you're never afraid to touch each other, hug each other, kiss each other, put each other in headlocks. We're actually very physical people. And I think it's important to show that on camera as well, because when you are comfortable, your friends, you do break certain boundaries that might not be seen as normal.
Jordan
100% man. It's the the kind of thing that like I think a lot of friendship groups have, and I hope they have anyways that feeling of vulnerability. And I think especially between men, it's actually quite nice to see a different side of them, especially at this age where you know, at the age of 18, where you know, you kind of feel like they have to be cool or something like that. But to be able to have boys and friends that don't have to be cool around each other and can be themselves and vulnerable and communicate is amazing to see, especially with boys that look like us, to be really honest with you, it's an amazing thing to see committed to screen.
Reda
100% just for like young men to be confident in themselves and not be afraid of being? Not nerdy but just being yourself, not having to be cool, and act a certain way. Just to be yourself and to celebrate that. So hopefully that reaches out to the audience.
Brianna (TBP)
I think it definitely will. It came across. That's what really resonated with me personally watching it was. These are a group of people where there's no front, there's no need for a front, who you are is fine. I think that's such an important message in today's society that you don't need to, you don't need to front and pretend you're something you're not, who you are is good.
Reda
100% I completely agree with that, like you are enough and being supported by your friends is, it's an amazing thing. Being open with your peoples and just communicating is key.
Brianna (TBP)
For sure. So I think is this the first comedy that you guys have done on screen?
Boys
Yeah.
Brianna (TBP)
So people say that it's much easier to make people cry than it is to make people laugh. How did you guys find doing a comedy for the first time?
Reda
I want to speak about the guys because Elliot and Jordan, you've seen the movie, they're fucking hilarious. I don't know if I'm allowed to swear.
Brianna (TBP)
You can it's fine.
Reda
Hilarious. Like seriously quite honestly, these guys are just funny just being themselves. Like, we're really close friends right now and, and have been for a while. So yeah, it's their personas, I think, you know, I say I'm a caricature. That Kidda is a caricature of myself. So I think it all come quite naturally. Because I see bits of Cappo in Elliot and bits of Two Tonne in Jordan.
Elliot
I think we loved and respected the script. But Reggie also built an environment where we could, we could have that banter of - sometimes you do projects, and there's no space for banter. When it's only action or cut, there's no banter, do your job. And then once you've done your job, then you leave. But with Reggie, we were always laughing, we were always bussin up, we were always telling each other jokes. So I was coming in with gags and being like, "Oh, Reda say this, I thought of it last night. I think it will work in the scene but my characters not funny, So I'm not gonna say it."
All
(Laugh)
Elliot
But I just I think we all just wanted to better each other's performances, and we all wanted to uplift each other. And that's something that Reggie kind of created an environment for. It was a team thing. And it was always a team thing, it was always ICC, it was never Cappo by himself, or Two Tonne by himself, or Kidda by himself, it was the ICC? I think that's what makes this film so special.
Brianna (TBP)
Do you know what it is, I was watching it last night, and I was literally sitting there thinking there's something about films out of the UK, that just hit in a different way. Like they're just, it's the heart of it. And I think what you've just said, is what I was kind of getting, whilst I was watching that it's authentic, it feels feels like you could literally pick yourself up from the cinema, drop yourself into the film, and you wouldn't feel like out of place. It's real, it resonates. So that environment come across.
Jordan
I think also as well, in becoming more specific, you get more relatable, as well, we get really specific about an experience because a lot of people had this specific experience that Two Tonne, Cappo and Kidda go through. So in that specificity is a very, very relatable experience, especially you know, Reggie, who lived in that era was able to impart that wisdom to us on exactly how it felt. And hopefully it comes through and is able to be relatable to people that watch it.
Brianna (TBP)
Yeah, for sure. So what sort of similarities between the characters lives in your lives? Did you see or Is there none? Was there none at all?
Elliot
Personally, I feel like I can relate to Cappo a lot. I went to drama school in West London. So I left East London. And like, my voice changed, the way I dress changed. My perspective on life changed. And when I came back to East London, a lot of my boys were like, why you talking like that, why you wearing Dr Martins, who do you think you are, this actor?
All
(Laugh)
Elliot
But they just wanted a bit of the old me. and I think when I read Cappo's part, I could relate to that so much, because it's that thing of, you know, bettering yourself and wanting to better yourself, but knowing that you're going through a transitional period, but also loving the people that you grew up with, and not judging them. But letting them know that you're not willing to sacrifice anything for what you want. Because at the end of the day, we're friends, you do grow up, you grow apart sometimes and sometimes your interests are what brings you together. And I think for us, we're going through that transitional period of becoming men where we're already stepping into our light. Like for example, Cappo is as ambitious about university in the same way as Two Tonne and Kidda are passionate about the ICC. Like those guys, just because they're not at uni doesn't mean they're not passionate or driven. They want to do that music thing way more than I. But I want to do this education thing way more than they do. And I think that's what adds a beautiful dynamic to the script, because all of our characters have different goals. But we all love each other and we were all brought together by the music.
Jordan
I think for me a similar experience I had to Two Tonne. There was a moment in my life that I was in a club and accidentally set someones jacket on fire in real life.
All
(Laugh)
Jordan
It was actually in Peckham as well.
All
(Laugh)
Jordan
Yeah I put his jacket on a candle by accident.
Brianna (TBP)
No!
Jordan
Rahh. Yeah, so when I set Mega Man's jacket on fire, I could really draw experience from that.
All
(Laughs)
Reda
In terms of me, I feel like Kidda is quite an exaggerated version of myself. Like I like to joke I think, I think the guys can see a little bit of Kidda in me, or maybe a lot of Kidda in me. But I like to have bants and stuff. And luckily, my friends don't tell me to shut up though, which is good. I got some good friends.
Both
(Laughs)
Brianna (TBP)
And so the one thing as well I really took from this film is like pure nostalgia, like I'm 24. So I grew up in that sort of sweet spot where I still remember dial up internet and like, the Millennium Dome being the Millennium Dome. And like snake being peak entertainment, like couldn't beat snake. What about this film made you nostalgic? If anything? How old are you guys? And did it bring back nostalgia for you?
Elliot
Yeah, I'm the same age as you, I'm 24. So for me, it's exactly the same thing it's like, I had older siblings. So I was seeing it but not - I wasn't inside it, I was seeing it from an outside perspective. So I can experience it. And the music was nostalgic for me, the flip phones was crazy for me, because I remember growing up having a flip phone.
Jordan
I think for me what was nostalgic was the clothes. Because my brother, he's 10 years older than me. So around that time period, I was seeing him going out, coming back, dressing up to go to the club. With his phone as well and the stuff that he had and his accessories.
Reda
I mean, so for me, I didn't grow up listening to garage and I didn't know really much about it. Because none of the people I knew when I was younger, were doing it. But for me now like, upon like listening to garage more and like living this '99 experience through my character and you know, through the other characters - I feel a sense of nostalgia to 99 now. I mean, I was only five months old at the turn of the new year, turn of the new millennium. I was born in 99. So, for me, I don't really have much of a sense of nostalgia. But I definitely have a sense of nostalgia to filming Pirates. And in turn, I feel like I've lived like two lifetimes. I feel like I've lived in 99.
Brianna (TBP)
That must have made Reggie feel so old when you're like, "Yeah, I was five months old."
Reda
He did tell us he feels old. He looks so young. I think we all look older.
Brianna (TBP)
Right? Reggie found the fountain of youth. I don't know what he is drinking, but whatever it is in that man's water. I want it.
Boys
Holy Water. Amen. (Laughs)
Brianna (TBP)
So yeah, the last question I do is, with the black project, I'm really focused around Black joy, and investigating what blackness means to the community. So what does being black mean to each of you? And what does Black joy mean to
Elliot
Black joy, for me is about showing the happiness in our community, showing the plusses, the brightness, the culture, you know, black people have a lot about our culture. There's not - we're not just Africans, we're not just Caribbeans, we're Europeans as well, we're all over the world. So I think we are good people. We're happy people, we're fun people. Like people get to experience Notting Hill carnival, and they get to really see what we're about and that energy and I think that's never really been transported on camera or TV, especially in a London Film. We get a lot of the American experience on a lot of TV and I think Black joy is all about showing that our community is about love, it's about respect, it's about culture. And black to me, it's just about, you know, for me, it's about having strong connections with Africa and the roots and, and being resilient people and strong and creative.
Jordan
I think for me is like, there's a connection that I can't really describe it. I can't, it's hard. I can feel it right now, but I don't know what words to describe it really. Love and joy. Culture. Yeah. Communication and barbershops and discussions about the world or what's going on? Yeah, man, it's very, very beautiful.
Reda
I would say as someone of color though like, for me personally growing up I didn't really see many people that looked like me, I didn't see many people like Jordan, that looked like Elliot on screen you know. For me, one of the few people that actually looked similar at all was actually Reggie on screen. Yeah, so seeing, seeing people that look like us in a creative industry, seeing like three people in a pirate radio film that are all of color. Having fun, being joyous. It's amazing to see because that's the kind of film I've been waiting to see, since I was a kid. Like, I wish I had seen this when I was younger. Because it's so nice to see happiness, regardless of skin color, regardless of race. And I think it's gonna show people that like, we don't have to see certain narratives again, and again, you know, those other stories are also important. But this one is equally as important. I think it's going to resonate a lot with people, especially after the long lockdown. And all of these breaks that we've been having from social life. And I think it's really important and so, I think everyone from everywhere is going to enjoy this. see themselves in it.
Brianna (TBP)
Totally agree. And it's coming out like you say perfect time coming up to Christmas and the end of all these lockdowns people are looking for joy, and this film has it in buckets.
Jordan
Thank you very much.
Brianna (TBP)
Thank you for your time and good luck with the rest of your day.
Elliot
And you've been great.
Brianna (TBP)
Thank you!
Pirates is in cinemas across the UK from Friday November 26th. Click here to book your tickets. You can click their names to find Elliot, Jordan, and Reda on instagram.