Strong Black Hero: Jude Carmichael Interviewed

‘Tribal Mark’ may be Skepta’s lauded directorial debut, but it’s also the world’s introduction to the film’s lead actor, Jude Carmichael. The noirish coming-of-age story spans generations, charting the poignant journey of young Mark, played by Carmichael, immigrating from Nigeria to London. The spectre of trauma looms large as Mark navigates life in the UK, and his trials and tribulations birth a lethal hitman. The film traverses themes of youth identity, disillusionment and systemic oppression while “filling the gap of a strong black hero character in cinema”.

21-year old Carmichael was working in one of Regent Street’s high end stores when he got the call that he’d been selected to play Mark, a character loosely-inspired by Skepta’s own experience navigating the industry. In the film, the character has a watchful countenance and steely aura when he’s with his peers, unlike Jude himself who is open and expressive, keen to share and explore all aspects of the film.

CLASH caught up with the young actor over Zoom on the week of ‘Tribal Mark’s’ premiere, to talk about the process of shooting, building a working relationship with Skepta, and the rarity of a film set with a majority black cast and crew.

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You gave a very polished performance in the film. Did you have any prior acting experience?

I feel like that’s the question newer actors kind of dread! You know, “what have I seen you in?” And it’s like, “nothing yet!”. I’ve been auditioning for a little bit over a year but yes, this is my first lead role. I had a bit of theatre experience at Peckham theatre and Southwark Playhouse and things like that. But yeah, on screen I’ve done student films, short films and stuff.

What excited you most about the script when you first read it?

Well the script was changing constantly, which is something I was relatively used to with the little experience I had. I got the shooting scripts maybe the day before we shot. I think what excited me most was the script allowed me to create a 3D character, rather than the two dimensional, “he does this/he thinks this” character. That’s not how people think, that’s not human experience. Like [his character, Mark] is a 17-year old kid from North London. That’s something that we needed to connect with rather than aspire to play this villain or this hero or whatever it is.

How long was the shoot and how was the overall experience of shooting?

We shot for five days. It was a lot of fun. I think you don’t appreciate it until you come out and then you’re like, that was such a great experience of getting to work with such an amazing cast and crew. It’s my first time being on a set with the best catering in the world. I swear to you! It was jerk chicken, it was rice and peas, it was ackee, everything! I mean that with most sets that I’m on the catering can be questionable, so to speak. But yeah, the whole experience is amazing.

I imagine that getting to meet and work alongside Skepta was a bit surreal...

Nah for sure! I remember telling Skep the story the first day on set: I’ve been telling people for like the last two years that I want to play Skepta in a biopic. If I could play anyone, that would be the person I would play. So when the call came out, it was just like wow, they’re looking for a young Skepta? Obviously they were casting it in that way and it’s not a biopic of Skep, but it was inspired by his life and different events. Just having the privilege to work with him was the biggest push for me to do it.

Why do you think the casting team went with you to play Mark?

Well, I’d hope it’s my ability to act [laughs]. I remember Milly, the producer, told me a story about my head shot. They covered my face, just showing my eyes and Skep was like “oh that looks like me”. And it was like, “cool, we’ll watch out for this kid.” I came in did the audition, and then I got the role. Before the audition, I remember it was a lot of prep; it was staying up until two in the morning, watching interviews, trying to pick up mannerisms and different things I could place into the scene.

What was it like filming with a majority black cast and crew?

I mean, I love black people! That’s the only way to put it. So to walk on set and see that? It’s like, there’s a real pride. You know, I’ve been in many spaces, especially in the creative industry, where I’m the only person of colour in the room, which is a difficult space to navigate. Especially in the world of what we do as storytellers because obviously, it requires a level of vulnerability, and sometimes you’re sharing things and expressing things that are quite personal to you.

So to walk on set and know the cast and crew was from your [or a similar] background, which you stem from is really meaningful. It’s not common, but I would say it’s becoming more common. I think a lot of production companies are pushing for representation, not just within the black community, but within other communities, which is really nice to see. For example, I’m part of a theatre company called Tribehouse which is an all-black, all-male company. I remember when I landed the role I went in and told the mandem and it was just such a buzz, and a happiness, and a genuine love in the room which meant the world. That’s something I take forward in my career and on set for sure.

How did you build chemistry with your cast mates?

I met the cast maybe a few days before we shot I think, maybe in and around that week, it wasn’t a very long time. We didn’t have much rehearsal process, you never really do on screen. With theatre you have weeks and weeks of rehearsal. I’d say through conversation, from the second we got to meet, it was nice. So we shot towards the end of the first day, and we had the entire day to of chat and chill and get to know each other which was nice. We shot the car scene on the first day, which for me and even for the crew, the hardest scene to shoot. So just to be thrown into the deep end – you knew that [car scene] was on the schedule which was quite intimidating! I’m more of an actor that prefers a real rehearsal process, but it was quite easy to build chemistry on set.

How involved was Skepta in the shooting?

We’d talk a lot in between takes and stuff like that. Sometimes it wouldn’t even be a talk, he would just shout things out. He’d be like “Jude, eyes!”, because of the conversations we’ve had about Mark’s eyes and what the eyes are doing and the different nuances of the character. So little things like that, that was like a great note. Building a relationship with him was really nice, and working the co-director Hector, who is phenomenal in everything he does. Getting to know Hector and working with him as always was amazing.

It was a real level of trust and collaboration, which was sick. If I had a thought, I would be able to pitch in. For example, I remember in the scene where you first see Mark come out of the car, there’s a written scene for me to have dialogue with a few characters. I was just like, “nah, I really think this is like a moment where he shouldn’t say anything”. I think seeing people exist in a space says so much more for me than the talk. That’s just one example of collaboration where it was real wholesome, and I just got a real feel of “I love being on this set.”

It sounds like there was no hierarchy on set…

No ego, that’s the biggest thing. No ego. It was pure love. And we’re here to tell a story. And here to serve that story. And whether the extra has the idea, or the director has the idea. Whoever has the idea, the best idea wins.

Get your tickets to a showing of ‘Tribal Mark’ here.

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Words: Dwayne Wilks