John Boyega

Sundance Film: Imperial Dreams

Interview by James Patrick Herman  Photographs by Jeff Vespa

Where are you from? 

“London, which is such a multicultural city. I’m a Nigerian as well as a Londoner, and I am able to practice my culture to the fullest. It’s a city that accommodates that.”

  

Big break? 

“Attack the Block. It was an alien invasion movie. I auditioned for the film eight times and finally got the part.”

Describe your character in Imperial Dreams.

“The word that stands out to me is reformed. He’s man who is trying to change despite his circumstances. He wants to escape the hood and that gangster mentality to become everything society does not expect him to be.”

Do you identify with your character? 

“I grew up in southeast London and at the time, it was a violent place. Kids who were running around and doing the wrong things — the hard guys who could make the most money on the streets — were praised. But I made a decision to stay away from all that. I didn’t want to be respected for those types of things. I realized that life is bigger than that.”

What’s the buzz? 

“It offers a different perspective than other films we’ve seen about Watts and South L.A. But essentially, it is about truth and love.”

What have you heard about Sundance? 

“The best thing I have heard is that Robert Redford’s integrity has absolutely influenced the film festival. So there are no CGI extravaganzas; instead, there are human stories and audiences that want to gain something from them. I’ve also heard about the wild after-parties and certain cold individuals who wake up naked on the side of a mountain.”

What about before you became a Sundance sensation? 

“I worked as an assistant to the director of a theater. I was answering the phone and making calls but I had a motive: It was just to get close to the actors. A lot of people said: ‘You don’t want to do this.’ But I knew my legacy would be different. So I moved on to different avenues till I met the right people.”

I take it that you’re a big fan of Robert Redford. 

“He is a pioneer, isn’t he? This idea of not just being an actor but also using your credibility and influence to do something that will benefit others who are coming up. He has created an opportunity to showcase films that do not usually see the light of day, which is bloody inspirational. Plus, he is going to be in the next Captain America film, which is badass at his age. Redford is the original G.”