Blue Story

Blue Story is a 2019 British musical crime drama film written, directed, and narrated

by Rapman (Andrew Onwubolu) through the medium of rap and starring Stephen Odubola
and Micheal Ward, with Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Khali Best, Karla-Simone Spence, Richie
Campbell, Jo Martin and Junior Afolabi Salokun in supporting roles. Serving as Rapman's
feature directorial debut, the film is based on his 2014 YouTube series of the same name,
based on true events. The story follows best friends Marco (Ward) and Timmy (Odubola)
who, from different areas of London (Peckham and Deptford), find themselves becoming
enemies in a violent and insidious postcode war. The film depicts real life gangs
the Peckham Boys and Ghetto Boys.
Following the success of his three-part YouTube series Shiro's Story and signing with Jay-
Z to Roc Nation, Rapman and BBC Films developed and co-financed the film,[4] and in late
2018 Paramount Pictures bought worldwide distribution rights for the film.[5] Principal
photography began in February 2019 and lasted for 23 days.
Blue Story was released in the United Kingdom on 22 November 2019 and was later
released in the United States on 5 May 2020, after its original 20 March release date was
cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received positive reviews from critics and
grossed £4.7 million on a budget of £1.4 million.
At the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, the film earned one nomination, winning
the BAFTA Rising Star for Ward and was short-listed alongside nine other films by British
Academy of Film and Television Arts for the category of the BAFTA Award for Outstanding
Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer but did not make it in the final nominations.

Plot
In London, a boy named Timmy starts secondary school in Peckham, Southwark despite
living in Deptford, Lewisham. His mother wanted him to go to this school because of its good
curriculum and so Timmy cannot be with his old friend Kiron, a trouble maker. On his first
day, he befriends a boy named Marco and later on, two others named Dwayne and Hakeem.
Five years later, the boys are invited by classmate Karina to a party. Timmy, now 15, is
reluctant to go but after he finds out that his longtime crush Leah is going, he reconsiders.
Meanwhile in Deptford, the Ghetto Boys are attacked by the Peckham Boys on the former’s
own grounds forcing them to flee. That night, Marco attempts to watch The Intent with his
older brother Switcher who is the Peckham Boys leader but Switcher is called out to help
fight the Ghetto Boys who have come for revenge. Later, the Peckham Boys are chased by
the Ghetto Boys and the Ghetto second-in-command Galis is shot by Switcher in the back
and is left to die when Ghetto leader Madder leaves due to the nearby police.
At the party, Timmy has a slow dance with Leah but is interrupted after Marco gets into a
fight with another boy causing Karina’s father to shoo everyone out. A few hours later, after
Marco gets home, the police raid the apartment and arrest Switcher. The next day, Switcher
is released after not having enough evidence against him and Timmy invites Leah to his
house for the weekend to watch the final season of Game of Thrones while Marco goes to a
prostitute’s house. Timmy has sex with Leah and the two start a relationship. Meanwhile,
Marco runs into Kiron, who is now a Ghetto Boy nicknamed Killy, and has his arm broken by
him. On Monday, Marco accuses Timmy of being an associate with Killy and ends their
friendship after insulting Leah, who pushes him and is then slapped by Marco, who is then
punched by Timmy.
Three months later, Marco, Dwayne and Hakeem keep away from Timmy and Leah who are
now celebrating their 3-month anniversary. Marco has now become a Peckham Boy
alongside Switcher. That night, Timmy is attacked by a gang and Leah is killed by being
pushed to the ground and hitting her head too hard when she tries to save him. Timmy then
hits one of them who picks up a brick and hits Timmy on the head with it. He accidentally lets
his hold slip and is revealed to be Marco. After that, Marco is arrested for Leah’s murder.
Three years later, Timmy, now 18, is now a Ghetto Boy and replaces Galis as the second-in-
command and is Madder’s younger sidekick Younger Madder. After Marco is released, he
reveals he didn’t mean to kill Leah and he regrets it deeply. A few days later, Killy gets the
drop on Marco, who is now nicknamed Bricker after hitting Timmy with one, and the Ghetto
Boys attack Marco and the Peckham Boys outside a nightclub. Madder is knocked out by
Switcher who is stabbed by Timmy, who attempts to kill Marco but the gun jams, leaving him
to escape. Switcher is now disabled and has to be in a wheelchair. Marco now vows to kill off
Timmy.
A week later, after many gunfights, Switcher is visited by his cousin Tyrone from Tottenham.
He explains that every gang has a weak member and they just have to wait until the Ghetto
Boys’ is revealed. Meanwhile, a Ghetto Boy nicknamed Tiny Madder who is a close friend of
Timmy is encouraged by him to make music for Link Up TV. Madder plans an attack on
Peckham but is stopped by Timmy saying it’s the wrong time of day. Madder argues with
Timmy and insults Leah. The two then storm off.
That night, Timmy and Madder reconcile and Killy gets the drop on Marco again. When they
get there though, Madder finds his gun box empty. Killy is revealed to have betrayed Timmy
and is joined by Tyrone. Killy explains that he was jealous that Timmy became Madder’s
younger sidekick when he felt like he should’ve been. Timmy, who is trapped in the van, is
approached by Marco who starts pouring petrol on the van. Madder knocks Tyrone out and
wrestles with Killy before shooting him in the head. Marco sets the van alight and flees.
Despite Madder’s best attempts, Timmy accepts his fate and goes to join Leah in the afterlife
before dying by being asphyxiated by the fire. Madder finally gets the door open and pulls
Timmy’s body out. The police arrive and arrest Madder.
Later, Madder becomes a youth worker and Switcher commits suicide from a drug overdose
after both Marco and Tyrone are arrested (his real name apparently revealed to be Jordan),
and Timmy is buried with honours.
In a credit scene, Tiny Madder’s music has become famous around the UK and vows to get
revenge for Timmy by killing all the Peckham Boys.

Cast
 Stephen Odubola as Timmy, a schoolboy from Deptford, Marco's best friend turn
rival and Leah's love interest. After Leah's death, Timmy later become gang member as
the second-in-command of Ghetto Boys leader Madder.
o Micaiah Lewis portrays a younger version of Timmy.
 Micheal Ward as Marco, a schoolboy from Peckham, Timmy's best friend turn rival
and the younger brother of Peckham Boys leader Switcher.
o Tyler Andrew portrays a younger version of Marco.
 Khali Best as Killy/Kiron, Timmy's best friend from primary school and a member of
the Ghetto Boys.
 Karla-Simone Spence as Leah, Timmy's classmate turn love interest from Peckham.
She aspires to be a singer.
 Eric Kofi-Abrefa as Switcher, Marco's older brother and the leader of the Peckham
Boys.
 Junior Afolabi Salokun as Madder, the leader of the Ghetto Boys. Afolabi Salokun
reprises his role from the short film series.
 Kadeem Ramsey as Hakeem, one of Timmy and Marco's friends.
 Richie Campbell as Tyrone
 Jo Martin as Marco's Mum
 Rohan Nedd as Dwayne, one of Timmy and Marco's friends
o Max Fincham as Young Dwayne
 Andre Dwayne as Galis, Madder's former second-in-command of the Ghetto Boys.
He was killed by Switcher.

Additionally, Sean Sagar and Joshua Blisset play Skitzer and Daps, respectively,
alongside Tuwaine Barrett as Striker, Duayne Boachie as Sneaks, Curtis Kantsa as Tiny
Madder, Kemi Lofinmakin as Timmy's Mum, Giorgia Angelini Marquez as Karina and
Jordan Peters as Cheddar. Deptford rapper DigDat cameos as the guy who beats up Marco
at Karina's party and White Yardie appears as Karina's Dad. Comedian and
rapper Michael Dapaah, who appeared in Shiro's Story Part 2, filmed a cameo appearance
but it was cut from the final film

Production
Rapman and BBC Films developed and co-financed the film,[4] and in late 2018 Paramount
Pictures bought worldwide distribution rights for the film.[5] Damian Jones (of DJ Films) and
Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor produced the film with Rose Garnett and Eva Yates of BBC Films;
[6]
 Charles Moore and Paul Grindey of Viewfinder, and Rapman were executive producers.
Principal photography began on 28 February 2019. Rapman's previous work includes
the YouTube trilogy Shiro's Story.
The film had a budget of £1.3 million and was primarily shot in the London Borough of
Enfield after Lewisham and other London boroughs refused to allow shooting, due to
instructions from the office of the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, although the director says
no one at the mayor's office had actually read the script