Multiple reports confirm that James McAvoy's directorial debut is the film California Schemin'. According to major media, the film is based on the true story of two talented chancers from Dundee who posed as Los Angeles rappers and conned a major label in London into signing them. California Schemin' is due to be released on April 10. The critical reception and box office performance of the film remain unknown, as do the specific identities and current status of the real-life individuals Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, whose story inspired the project. The exact plot or narrative focus beyond the basic premise has not been detailed in available reports.
According to Daily Mail - Home, James McAvoy described making his directorial debut as a nightmare he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. He said he knew he wanted to make films about people from low-income backgrounds, council estates or schemes as they call them in Scotland. According to The Guardian - Main UK, James McAvoy wanted to make a film for people from the kind of council estate he grew up on. He said it was difficult to focus on telling the cast what to do when the production faced issues like an absence of portaloos. The specific challenges beyond this portaloo issue have not been fully disclosed, and it is unclear how McAvoy's directorial style compares to other directors or his own acting work.
I wanted to make a film for people from the kind of council estate I grew up on.
According to Daily Mail - Home, James McAvoy admitted he still gets nervous around famous people, putting on a 'working class voice'. He suggested starting a career was a 'young man's game'. The critical reception and box office performance of the film remain unknown, as do the specific identities and current status of the real-life individuals Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, whose story inspired the project.
Major media reports that James McAvoy welcomed his second son four years ago with his wife Lisa Liberati. According to Daily Mail - Home, James McAvoy found fatherhood in his forties easier compared to when he became a dad for the first time. The specific challenges beyond this portaloo issue have not been fully disclosed, and it is unclear how McAvoy's directorial style compares to other directors or his own acting work.
It's that thing that stops you being regarded as a person and makes you something smaller.
With my accent, I've had that experience where I'm suddenly no longer a person with infinite possibilities and potential – I am 'that Scottish person'. I'm reduced to a noise that comes out of my mouth.
I'm a white northern European male, so I'm aware that me going on about bias and prejudice is potentially quite treacherous territory, because there are people who've suffered much worse. Also, I'm quite successful, so what have I got to complain about?
I knew I wanted to make films about people from low-income backgrounds, council estates or schemes as we call them in Scotland.
I wouldn’t wish directing and acting on my worst enemy… it was a nightmare.
You'd literally be sitting there trying to go 'I need more love' or 'I need more comedy' and somebody is whispering in your ear 'We can't get the Portaloos for tomorrow'.
I was like that with your husband [Tom Hanks] ... I have worked with him twice now when I was much younger. I don't know why but I do this thing sometimes when I get around famous people... and I go into this weird sort of put on working class [voice]... and I don't know why that happens!
Having a kid at 42 is definitely easier in some ways I worry less. I'm a bit more philosophical. But it's also harder, because you're just older and tireder.
I'm getting all that first-timer stress in my 40s. When we were shooting the film, I’d wake up at 2:30am with the film buzzing in my head.
That’s the time that you work your socks off, burn the midnight oil, run the extra mile – and usually when you’re doing that, you’re in your 20s.