Star's film role angers estate

A new British film starring Ashley Walters of garage collective So Solid Crew which has premiered in London is already stirring controversy.

Bullet Boy, shot on location in Hackney, tells of a young man fresh out of prison who struggles - and fails - to escape from a cycle of gun crime.

The story reflects the real-life experience of Walters, who last year served time after he was found guilty of pointing a loaded handgun at a traffic warden.

Bullet Boy had its first London screening last night as part of the London Film Festival and has already received rave reviews around the world.

On the Clapton Park estate where Bullet Boy was filmed, however, it has sparked concerns as residents fear it typecasts the area.

"It has caused a lot of bad feeling," said Paul Allen, 33, a porter at Homerton Hospital who has lived on the estate all his life. "The estate is not really that bad. Everyone knows everyone. What the film portrays about the estate is wrong.

"There are gangs but they are only 14 or 15 years old. There's nothing to do here, that's the main thing. It's a minority of people who cause a bit of trouble and everybody knows who they are."

In one scene, a character is walking down a local street when, in Mr Allen's words, " suddenly out comes a gun". "What a load of cobblers," he said. "It does not happen around here."

Wayne Martin-Allen, 20, was an extra in Bullet Boy, playing what he describes as "one of the bad guy's friends".

"It never really represented our area," he said. "They showed mostly bad stuff (but) they never showed the other side of it. Round here there's a lot of talent."

However, he added: "There's nothing going on for kids. They resort to whatever they can do to support themselves.

"There's a lot of crime here. You won't see it in the day but by the time it comes dark, it's chaos. It's tough round here."

Director Saul Dibb, an experienced documentary-maker, insisted his debut feature was far from sensationalist and said he was unaware locals felt this way.

He said: "I think we've made a very responsible film. I would say to anyone with concerns, see the film and you will understand it is not like that at all."

Dibb came up with the story when living in Hackney a few years ago. He said: "Bullet Boy is not about drugs and not about gangs. It is about kids who are growing up with enormous peer pressure and guns are a fact of life in large parts of Britain, not just Hackney.

"The film doesn't glamorise violence, it tells the story of an ordinary family's experience and the residents that I spoke to responded to that. They thought it was an important story."

Walters's performance has been well received by critics, including the Evening Standard's Derek Malcolm (see below). After his release from Feltham young offender institution last year, Walters said: "At a time like that, you are touchy, you are tender, you could cry at any time."

Dibb said of Walters's performance: "I think he's fantastic. He was very brave and I think he was keen to use negative experiences in his life to positive effect."