Opening in theatres, on Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video-On-Demand (VOD) on 26 February, Freestyle is an upbeat urban teen love story set in London’s vibrant freestyle basketball scene.

The film follows Ondene (Lucy Konadu), a beautiful and talented student who has spent her life obeying her mother Hyacinth (Suzann Mclean) and is set to read Law at Oxford. However, in the lead up to her final exams, Odene’s attention is swayed - she discovers the new and interesting world of freestyle basketball and meets Leon (Arinze Kene), who offers to coach her to enter a national competition - an extra curricular activity that is sure to meet her mother’s disapproval.

Directed by ex basketball pro Kolton Lee, Freestyle is the third film from Microwave, Film London’s micro-budget film-making scheme, to go on general release - after Mum & Dad and Shifty. It is an urban ‘Romeo and Juliet’ packed with inspiring new talent and infused with a powerful message, where love and dreams are put to the test by the struggle faced in growing up and making the right decisions.

Breaking Moulds

In the search for support to take the story to the screen, the initial script for Freestyle was put in front of the Film London Microwave team in 2007. Following a process of mentoring and development, the project was greenlit and started shooting in April 2009.

The production team had just 18 days of filming and a mere £100,000 budget to shoot an engaging love story with a strong educational message that would challenge pre-conceptions, whilst keeping true to the spirit of urban teen culture. This was a task that director Kolton Lee, a former international basketball player and sports journalist, took in his stride: “We wanted to provide a look and flair, colour and energy but we only had three weeks to shoot the film. That’s hard work and this is not a conventional British film. My biggest challenge was to make this tiny budget look expensive and spread the money much further in an effective way. We fostered the sense that this is a project worth fighting for, that this is a project worth making good.”

Shot entirely on location in South and East London, the result is a fast-paced 90-minute film - close in its spirit and feel to similar genre films produced in the US, such as Step Up or Save the Last Dance, but with a distinctive British flavour. Although presenting a universal story, the film is specifically aimed at a young audience tired of feeling misrepresented by the media. Despite coming from two very different backgrounds, Freestyle’s protagonists need to work hard to overcome obstacles in order to achieve their dreams, be it earning a place in university or gaining respect for who they are.

Whilst acknowledging the path marked by previous urban British films like Noel Clarke’s Adulthood and Kidulthood, Lee was keen to present a more uplifting take on youth culture in London, a viewpoint that attracted key cast to the project: “I think it’s quite an inspirational story. I think the fact we’re looking at class within an inner city culture is quite an interesting take on it and I didn’t see a gun in it which is always a joy” explains Colin Salmon, who plays freestyle competition promoter and judge, Joel Carter. As Lucy, who plays Ondene, puts it: “I think the difference is in the individual’s grounding and also family values – it is not about race or class anymore. I come from a very humble family in East London but then I sit next to Princess Beatrice at my university library. This is what Freestyle is about – the blending of class and race.”

Music is another fundamental ingredient in Freestyle’s mix, becoming the underlying net in which the characters grow up, fall in love, stumble and fight, and providing the film with a swift rhythm and urban credentials. The soundtrack offers a powerful collection of hip-hop, grime and beatbox tracks curated by grime star Bashy, which includes names such as Toddla T, Plan B and Lethal Bizzle. 

Freestylers Needed – Apply Within

Lucy was cast following Search For A Star, a nationwide call for talented basketball players with acting potential. Although the role of Ondene was initially offered to another actress, when the first choice had to pull out of the project due to clashing commitments, Lucy, a proficient basketball player, quickly convinced the producers that she had the skills, enthusiasm and confidence to play Ondene despite not having any acting credits.

However, this lack of acting experience is something Lucy shares with other members of the Freestyle cast. The introduction of non-actors was key in providing the all-important ‘freestyling’ routines with the authenticity and wow-factor required, but it also impregnates the film with a refreshing energy and sense of truthfulness.

Leon, the lead counterpart to Lucy’s Ondene, is played by theatre actor and award-winning freestyler Arinze Kene - in an “extremely lucky” casting gift, as the film’s director puts it. After landing the leading role in the musical Daddy Cool, Arinze became Simba in the long-running smash The Lion King in the West End. Freestyle is his first feature film: "Working on Freestyle was a terrific experience. We had a great team! As a newcomer to the big screen, I felt well supported and was very encouraged by this, as it enabled us to do good work and push ourselves".

Completing the cast of recognisable faces are Danny John-Jules (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Red Dwarf) as Leon’s supportive father and rising star Alfie Allen (Atonement, Freefall), as Gez, the joker of the pack.

A Story Beyond Borders

Freestyle was written by Michael Maynard and produced by Lincia Daniel with funding from Film London Microwave and the UK Film Council’s Development Fund.

The team behind the production always planned to create a film that, whilst retaining its British spirit, would have a lot to say to international audiences too. Freestyle’s universal themes of love, growing up, the value of education and the courage to fight for a dream, have the potential to resonate with audiences across the world. The film-makers’ ambition is for Freestyle to kick-start a new British tradition of upbeat teen films - a market the US has traditionally monopolised.

As the director puts it: “Freestyle celebrates the distinctive creativity and vibrant talent of British youth. London’s diverse, and edgy multicultural society, provides a unique backdrop for the film – showcasing an intriguing aspect of life in one of the world’s most famous cities. The dilemmas of the main characters will resonate with young people around the world who also have to juggle the complexities of growing up, falling in love, and studying, whilst trying to make important life choices.”

Freestyle is being distributed by Revolver Entertainment and it will be available in selected theatres (Empire Leicester Square, Ritzy Brixton, Rich Mix Bethnal Green, Stratford Picturehouse and Genesis Mile End), on iTunes, LoveFilm, FilmFlex and Sky Box Office from 26 February and on DVD from 1 March. The multi-platform opening aims at giving all types of film consumers the chance to enjoy the release of Freestyle whichever way they choose.

Find out more about the film, the cast and crew, and watch the trailer for Freestyle on Film London Microwave’s dedicated site.


In celebration of the film’s DVD release on 1 March, we have 5 copies of Freestyle to give away. Find out more about the competition on the Film London Microwave website.