This London-based drama is set for release on January 19, exclusively on Netflix.
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00:00 I didn't grow up with my dad around and a lot of my friends around me, they didn't have their
00:05 dads around either. So I kind of understand how that feels on the other side, but I didn't know
00:12 how it would feel like just like completely neglecting someone in that way, even if they
00:17 come into your life later on. So that was tough, but that's who this character was. So you got
00:27 lead into who he is, flaws and all. How y'all doing today, gentlemen?
00:35 Yeah, really good, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So Daniel,
00:40 you was asking my first question, man. You co-wrote this film. So tell me what inspired
00:46 the story of The Kitchen? I heard a story in my barber shop about this kid doing a smashing grab,
00:55 doing a million pound heist in a minute, essentially. And I was just like, I want to
00:58 watch that film. And I did some more research. And then I realized these kids were getting paid 200
01:04 pounds to do these million pound heists. And I said, what's that? That says a lot about how
01:10 desperate they are. That says a lot about how the lack of worth that they have for their lives and
01:16 their freedom. And I just, it made me want to explore and dig deeper into what world is that?
01:22 Okay, so Kane, my next question for you, my brother. Tell me, when did you first connect
01:27 with Daniel on this film? And what about the character Izzy was so intriguing to you?
01:32 Tell you what, it was a long way after Daniel was the, you know, the inception of the film.
01:38 You know, Daniel's been working on this for like, almost 10 years, I believe. So I put him in on
01:44 like year nine or something. So yeah, when I when I heard about it, it was like way more fully formed.
01:54 Kidway, who's co-directing with Daniel, showed me all the imagery and he has like an architectural
02:00 background and the world and the, how it was going to look. I was like, yeah, this looks like
02:09 proper interesting. I've never seen anything like this. So that intrigued me straight away. But then
02:15 like reading the script and the character of Izzy and the relationship with Benji and that father,
02:22 son thing and that emotional kind of push and pull was like, really like the most
02:34 interesting thing. You know what I mean? And I feel like this, if done right, could be really
02:40 touching. And I feel like people are really going to gravitate towards that relationship.
02:45 So Daniel, Kane said that the film took like, what, almost 10 years to do, am I correct?
02:52 What was the most challenging part of getting the film developed? Like, why did it take so long?
02:58 It's when you're making something original, it's drilling down to the heart of the story.
03:03 You know what I mean? And also the standards that me and co-director Kipway-Tavares had for this
03:08 was so high. And it was, we weren't able to stick it. You know what I'm saying? We weren't able to
03:14 get it and we weren't willing to move forward until we got to that standard that we wanted for it.
03:19 And so that means we had to grow as artists and live our lives and have experiences to kind of
03:25 really inform and get to the bottom of the story that we're telling and the characters that we,
03:32 and we was exploring in the world that we're building. So it was more that.
03:35 And Daniel, so with that too, how does it feel for you, because you're an amazing actor, man.
03:43 How does it feel for you to step behind the camera as opposed to in front of it? And what was that
03:48 transition like for you? I mean, because I used to write on episodes of Skins,
03:55 like 18, 19 and that, it was something that I'd been exposed to and I enjoyed back in the day.
04:03 And I enjoyed it in this iteration. I just want to tell stories. I wanted to be invested for
04:09 whatever the idea was from me. And then this asked to write and direct it with Kipway and
04:16 co-write with Joe Murtaugh. And yeah, so it was like, I feel it's more that. Like I just really
04:24 enjoy telling stories and and and it made me a strong, it made me open my process when acting.
04:33 I can be very single, very internal with my process. And I had to become more external.
04:39 So Kane, I really appreciate the dynamic between you and Benji in the film, man. Tell me with this
04:46 role, how did you approach the role of Izzy and did you draw from your own experiences with
04:51 fatherhood to help you with this role at all? Yeah, I mean, I drew from my own experience.
04:59 I think we all do in life. Our experiences shape us and who we are kind of always comes out in our
05:07 work. You know, I look, Izzy's this guy on like a solo mission who's not really a part of
05:19 the community, not down for the fight. He kind of he wants out. He thinks it's silly fighting
05:25 for this place because it's like it's not worth fighting for, you know, until Benji comes along.
05:31 And then, you know, maybe he has something else that he has to consider and not be so selfish and
05:38 has to see whether he's got it in him to do the right thing on a human level, like just being
05:45 there for someone, you know. So that was basically the journey that Izzy's on. And
05:54 yeah, it was most exciting for me to get stuck into. You asked, do I use my personal experiences?
06:02 Yeah, of course. You know, I didn't grow up with my dad around and a lot of my friends around me,
06:10 they didn't have their dads around either. So I kind of understand how that feels on the other
06:16 side. But I didn't know how it would feel like just like completely neglecting someone.
06:22 This next question is for both of you gentlemen. I can start with you, Kane, to answer it. How was
06:27 the reception of this film at the London Film Festival and did it, I guess, heighten expectations
06:34 for when it comes out? Yeah, it was scary for me. Daniel probably watched the film a million times
06:43 before that. I kind of, I held up watching the final version with like the music and everything
06:49 to watch it on that day. And I brought my family with me and it was a massive screen,
06:56 massive cinema that it was a couple of thousand people. And it was like, it went down really well,
07:05 like really, really well, like even like beyond my expectations. And a lot of people didn't know
07:12 what they was about to see. It wasn't like it had been heavily promo. But the reception was like,
07:21 was amazing. And it's interesting to see what people are taking to walls. But mostly like it's
07:28 such a unique piece. And if you're from London, I feel like you're gonna appreciate it so much.
07:34 But it's like tackling like worldly themes at the same time. So I think all people can get into this
07:42 one. But yeah, I'm looking forward to the reaction of everyone when it drops on the night. How about
07:49 you, Daniel? How was the reception in your opinion? I mean, like, I've watched it so many times by
07:56 myself. There's some bits were funny, because I didn't find them funny anymore. I was just sitting
08:03 there. And people were laughing. Why? So I think that was a surprise. And it was like a different
08:12 experience. It was a different, different film. And it like allowed me to zoom out. And it felt
08:19 like the audience and the crowd that came to the London Film Festival really, really resonated. And
08:25 you kind of want it. It's like I forgot that it is quite a communal experience.
08:30 And so I was just maybe process that and everyone seemed to,
08:36 I got a lot of messages about this hadn't really seen anything like it before.
08:42 And I felt like I was really proud of that. And then I'm proud of the team and proud of everyone
08:48 involved to kind of everyone just came together to make something fresh and honest.
08:53 And then I kind of want to go back to what was it? How did you connect with Netflix on this
09:00 particular film? And why did you decide that Netflix was the perfect platform to put it on?
09:06 Connected Netflix when we was, we got to a stage where we was confident that we could get it made.
09:13 And then, and then yeah, they came to us. I think the people that were leading the charge
09:20 in Netflix at the time, remember this project from back in the day with Film 4,
09:24 because we originally developed with Film 4. We were still execs on this. And yeah,
09:30 they came to us and they were like, listen, we want to push it. And I feel like it was,
09:34 it aligned with what we wanted for it, getting this very, very London British film to a global
09:41 audience. And they wanted to present it as that. And so yeah, it was just aligned on a lot of
09:46 factors and a lot of the ambition and imagination that we wanted realized could happen whilst
09:54 partnering up with Netflix. Because they have the same ambitions for that too. So yeah.
09:59 So Kane, why do you think it's important? Because these films resonate more with you.
10:06 Why do you think it's important for audience globally to experience this unique story?
10:11 I mean, yeah, hopefully people watch the film and they'll decide whether it's an important piece,
10:17 but I feel like, yeah, as London as it is, it's going to resonate with people from all around
10:25 the world. And then saying there's like a kitchen in every city, you know, but I just feel like that
10:33 sense of community and that feeling of being pushed out of your own environment, you know,
10:41 and being forgotten about by your city basically, and saying no and fighting against the powers
10:48 that be and standing up for yourself and standing up for each other and what's right. I feel like
10:56 that's an important thing to show, you know, that's my opinion.
11:00 Okay, so Daniel, my brother, with you being a co-director, the co-writer and producer of this
11:05 film, when the audience member leaves the film, or you know, they finish the film, should I say,
11:12 what do you want them to take from it?
11:13 I think a lot of big thing is, I think the big thing is like forgiveness. And I feel like
11:23 Izzy had to, I'm not going to spoil it, but Izzy had to forgive himself throughout the course of
11:28 the film in order to do what is needed for him. And I think also joy and compassion and understanding
11:41 each other. And then just like, for me, is humanising people that are readily dehumanised
11:51 and in a certain space because of how their house looks, or how they talk, or how they dress.
11:58 There's all these outward perceptions that are told to dehumanise us. And when you dehumanise
12:03 people, you leave the door for erasure, essentially. And so for me, it's like,
12:10 humanisation is the key and people looking around them and maybe say hello or good morning,
12:18 or maybe reach out or maybe ask for help, or you know what I'm saying, it's just to facilitate
12:23 connection. And you know, I want people to share it and hopefully more people to watch it again.
12:27 Well, Kane, Daniel, thank you, gentlemen. I really appreciate y'all. It's an amazing film.
12:33 I can't wait for the rest of the world to see it, man. Thank you.