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John Boyega has his older sister to thank for his first pair of Converse. “There was a nice moment when we were both a size seven,” shares the Star Wars actor of the high-tops he inherited as a teen. “From then on, I’ve always been rocking them and following the culture.” His latest dalliance with the all-star brand does not involve lace-ups, but instead sees the Peckham-born creative helping to nurture and mentor fellow film enthusiasts who, like him, found it difficult to break into a competitive industry.
“I wish I’d had this whole process to be honest,” he says of the Converse-backed Create Next Film Project, which this year fosters the work of five Black filmmakers from London. “When I first came into this industry, I tried to get funding from the Prince’s Trust, to go through extra-curricular activities, the National Theatre… I wish there had been a brand that everybody knows that was willing to use their influence, their platform and their finances to fund creativity.”
As part of the community-focused project, budding cinephiles Ade Femzo, Kaylen Francis, Kemi Anna Adeeko, Lorraine Khamali and Ibrahim Muhammad are receiving funding to make a five-minute short film, as well as guidance throughout the six-month process. The end result is not just a jazzy premiere; Boyega has high hopes for these bright young things. “I want to be able to go into the industry and [work with] individuals who I helped.” He likens any film shoot to a small town, with cinematographers, costumiers, caterers and a long line of other specialists who all pull together to make something greater than the sum of their parts. “The long-term goal is to see these young individual filmmakers find their place in that,” adds Boyega.
The Small Axe actor has found the creative journey to be a two-way street. “For me, [this project] is like a battery, it absolutely charges my enthusiasm for filmmaking,” he says of the humbling experience that has reminded him of why he got the movie bug in the first place. “The mere excitement in these young people’s eyes is something I can relate to, but it’s in its rawest form; it’s creative, it’s strong, it’s passionate.” Boyega’s best advice? “Nobody can really advise you how your path is going to come out, especially in this kind of industry,” he says, adding that openness and “a great work ethic” are key.
While John says he “wouldn’t ever separate the kids” by naming a favourite, he notes that picking a “creative lane” or having a “creative niche” is crucial to standing out for him. The rest is pure passion and having the grit to go the distance. “You can tell that they’re serious about it,” confirms the mentor. “They want to get better – and that, for me, is good enough.”
On whether he believes fashion should play a part in shaping the careers of Black talents, he is diplomatic: “Fashion in itself is an influence, right? Fashion is a relation to culture. Fashion is a big platform that we all interact with…” Boyega hopes this Converse collaboration serves not as a moment, but a movement; that it creates a ricochet effect, prompting other brands to follow suit by pouring time and resources into something with impact far beyond a marketing campaign. A teenage John in his beloved high tops would certainly be proud.
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