Bashy
Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas, who most of you probably better know as just Bashy, has enjoyed a successful music career in recent years but is looking to continue that success onto the big screen.
Having worked on movie soundtracks in the past Bashy makes the leap onto the big screen earlier this year with his debut Shank.
I caught up with the musician turned actor to talk about his movie roles and what the future is going to hold for him.
- Shank has just been released on DVD so for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet can you tell me a little bit about it?
Shank is set in 2015 and it’s set in a post apocalyptic world where the main commodity is food. It’s about how five young gentleman travel around that harsh terrain and survive.
- You take on the role of Rager in the movie how would you describe the character?
Rager I guess is like an old fox he’s very strong he thinks things through and is really a born leader. He leads the gang and helps them to survive by giving them survival tips.
- And what was it about the character and the script that drew you to the project?
For me it was just a chance to sink my teeth into a decent acting role with a good company that was going to give it a push and allow me to learn, which is what I did.
And the character had similar traits to myself; being an older brother and I guess letting off wisdom and teaching other people.
- Shank is your movie debut so how did you find stepping onto the set for the first time and how was the whole filming experience?
For me is was great because it was something that I always wanted to do, I always wanted to act first before my music took off, so for me it was a chance to grab an opportunity with open arms and just learn.
I just wanted to be someone who isn’t going to be difficult and use my music profile to have any demands I was just on set like every other actor just soaking it in and talking with the director and just gaining more experience.
- You say that Shank was a learning curve for you so what did you learn during the filming process?
It’s similar to music videos, but not, and it was just a case of making sure that we had got everything from all different angles and that they got everything that they needed.
A lot of things in films are cheated with the use of camera tricks so while it may feel unnatural to do when you look at the result you realise that it is right. It was just little things that that helped so when I do other movies I have a better understanding.
- How did you find working with director Mo Ali?
Mo is cool, I have done music videos with Mo in the past so there was already a relationship there, he is really cool and he knows what he wants and wants to get it right.
Shank was his first feature as well so it was a case of helping each other to make the journey as easy as possible.
- And what was the feeling on set with the rest of the cast?
Yeah it was cool. I already knew Adam from when he worked on Adulthood, I did the theme song to that, and Kedar was like a little brother so that was cool.
- You were also music supervisor on the film so what was your role in developing the soundtrack?
It was just a case of making sure that, it was my company that put it together more so than me, my biggest contribution was the theme song to the film and that’s what I made sure that I took care of.
- And how does starring in the movie influence the movie that you produced for it.
No as much as people might think. I try to look at like from two totally different disciplines, if I was going to write as the character and Bashy then I would but I just wrote it as Bashy and it doesn’t really have anything to do with the character.
- You also worked on the soundtrack for Adulthood back in 2008 and have gone on to star in 4.3.2.1. So what was it like working with Noel Clarke once again?
No it’s cool because Noel is like a guiding light in this acting world for me so he offers a lot of advice and wants me to do well. So it’s very encouraging to have someone, who is already in the industry, to be a friend like that.
- 4.3.2.1. Was another British movie so how have you found working within the British film industry?
The British film industry is cool I really love it and I hope to do a lot more, I’m filming a movie at the moment with Toby Kebbell.
I really enjoy it and it’s definitely building something this side of the water and I think that we need to do that, the UK is a beautiful place and there are a whole host of untapped places that could be used as filming locations for all different styles and stories.
- You have hinted that you are working on The Veteran so can you tell me about that, it’s a great cast with Toby and of course Brian Cox?
I didn’t even say The Veteran but you obviously knew, I just said Toby Kebbell. It’s cool and it’s a lot of fun as well as being the biggest budget that I have worked on so far.
Everyone is really cool on set the director Matthew Hope and Toby have been looking after me and I’m learning off him and really just soaking in the surroundings.
- I suppose The Veteran is a different acting experience with Toby and Brian being so well established so how have you found working with them?
Well working with Toby is good it’s definitely a different challenge because they are more established than people than I have worked with previously.
But it’s good to work with actors like that because you can learn your craft; I think that’s how people become great by working with other great artists so it’s definitely helping me. Also it’s fun to film because I’m playing a really fun character.
- So are you going to concentrate on a movie career? And where would you like to sees you acting career go?
I don’t think I’d want to concentrate on just acting because I love music and things are going really well so I think I will always continue to make music.
But with the acting I definitely need to keep on developing my skills and I’m happy to play supporting roles at the moment while I learn and get a sense of the craft and just get better and better.
I want to take on more diverse roles and I keep building and I hope to one day write or direct something. But I just want to keep developing as a person and that will hopefully take my acting to the next level.
- What about you music, when can we expect something new from you?
Yeah I have got a new single called Fantasy which will be coming out on the 19th September, it’s got a lot of heat already on it people are feeling it and DJ’s are spinning it, so I’m just excited because everything seems to be in a good place at the moment and everything is going well.
- Finally what’s next for you both music and movie wise?
On the movie front I’m working on The Veteran, I’m still filming I haven’t finished filming that yet, then Fantasy will be out in September and I’m working on a new album as well as a world tour with the Gorillaz.
Shank is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas, who most of you probably better know as just Bashy, has enjoyed a successful music career in recent years but is looking to continue that success onto the big screen.
Having worked on movie soundtracks in the past Bashy makes the leap onto the big screen earlier this year with his debut Shank.
I caught up with the musician turned actor to talk about his movie roles and what the future is going to hold for him.
- Shank has just been released on DVD so for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet can you tell me a little bit about it?
Shank is set in 2015 and it’s set in a post apocalyptic world where the main commodity is food. It’s about how five young gentleman travel around that harsh terrain and survive.
- You take on the role of Rager in the movie how would you describe the character?
Rager I guess is like an old fox he’s very strong he thinks things through and is really a born leader. He leads the gang and helps them to survive by giving them survival tips.
- And what was it about the character and the script that drew you to the project?
For me it was just a chance to sink my teeth into a decent acting role with a good company that was going to give it a push and allow me to learn, which is what I did.
And the character had similar traits to myself; being an older brother and I guess letting off wisdom and teaching other people.
- Shank is your movie debut so how did you find stepping onto the set for the first time and how was the whole filming experience?
For me is was great because it was something that I always wanted to do, I always wanted to act first before my music took off, so for me it was a chance to grab an opportunity with open arms and just learn.
I just wanted to be someone who isn’t going to be difficult and use my music profile to have any demands I was just on set like every other actor just soaking it in and talking with the director and just gaining more experience.
- You say that Shank was a learning curve for you so what did you learn during the filming process?
It’s similar to music videos, but not, and it was just a case of making sure that we had got everything from all different angles and that they got everything that they needed.
A lot of things in films are cheated with the use of camera tricks so while it may feel unnatural to do when you look at the result you realise that it is right. It was just little things that that helped so when I do other movies I have a better understanding.
- How did you find working with director Mo Ali?
Mo is cool, I have done music videos with Mo in the past so there was already a relationship there, he is really cool and he knows what he wants and wants to get it right.
Shank was his first feature as well so it was a case of helping each other to make the journey as easy as possible.
- And what was the feeling on set with the rest of the cast?
Yeah it was cool. I already knew Adam from when he worked on Adulthood, I did the theme song to that, and Kedar was like a little brother so that was cool.
- You were also music supervisor on the film so what was your role in developing the soundtrack?
It was just a case of making sure that, it was my company that put it together more so than me, my biggest contribution was the theme song to the film and that’s what I made sure that I took care of.
- And how does starring in the movie influence the movie that you produced for it.
No as much as people might think. I try to look at like from two totally different disciplines, if I was going to write as the character and Bashy then I would but I just wrote it as Bashy and it doesn’t really have anything to do with the character.