Writer and producer on ‘The Bear’ and ‘Beef,’ Alex Russell premieres directorial debut 'Lurker’ in B

(21 Feb 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin - 21 February 2025
1. Wide shot Alex Russell arrives on red carpet photographers
2. Various Alex Russell posing on red carpet
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Alex Russell, director - on what Archie Madekwe brings to the role:
"Oh, I mean, he made all these songs. I think it wasn't until he made these songs that we were like, 'oh yeah, he's the artist'. You know, so that's his voice on all those songs. Also he's taller than everyone else and British so you just want to take him seriously. Does that make sense?"
(Reporter: "It added to the charm?")
"Yeah, I'm always trying to get him to like me, so. You know what I mean?"
4. Théodore Pellerin poses for photographs
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Théodore Pellerin, actor - how he prepared for the role:
"I mean, it's all in the writing, Alex is just an amazing writer and it was such an incredibly well-written script that all I had to do was to try and understand that world and those power dynamics. But yeah it was fascinating and very anxiety-including to play him because he's always, of course, on the outside trying to get in. And so I felt that way a little bit and so, it was a great shoot, it very smooth - but I felt very anxious."
6. Archie Madekwe being interviewed on the red carpet
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Archie Madekwe, producer / actor - he ever considered a career in pop music:
(Reporter: "Have you ever considered a career in pop music?"
"In music? I haven't thought about that seriously, no. But I was really happy to kind of moonlight as a popstar for this film. It was like, you know, living another life for a second and getting on stage, recording an EP, doing all those things for the very first time - it was scary but very exciting."
8. Archie Madekwe being interviewed on the red carpet
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Archie Madekwe, producer / actor - what he thinks about fame:
"It's strange for anyone that's a part of it, it's not normal. It's alien and there's amazing things that come from it and also strange things that come from it. But it's something I definitely related to with the film. And the feeling of loneliness that comes with that, you know. To see this and to feel this you'd imagine there is so much, I don't know, this kind of incredible feeling that comes with it but then when it's all over, the person is then on their own again. And I recognised that in Oliver and I understood that and I was interested in like, pulling back into that, yeah."
10. Director Alex Russell and cast ot 'Lurker' pose for photos and go into festival building
STORYLINE:
He might play a popstar in new movie "Lurker" but Archie Madekwe is sticking with acting for the moment.

At the film's Berlin International Film Festival special gala, he was joined on the red carpet by his co-star Théodore Pellerin and writer / director Alex Russell.

While Madekwe plays a famous singer called Oliver, and got to write songs for the role, he hasn't thought seriously about moving into music,

"I was really happy to kind of moonlight as a popstar for this film. It was like, you know, living another life for a second and getting on stage, recording an EP, doing all those things for the very first time - it was scary but very exciting," admits Madekwe.

Oliver becomes the focus of Matthew, who infiltrates the pop star's inner circle — then fights to stay in it.

Pellerin portrays Matthew and says the whole thing made him feel very left out.


Writer/producer Russell is best known for his work on hit shows "The Bear," "Beef," and "Dave" with "Lurker" marking his directorial debut.




Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...