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Artist News
Wiley biopic gets backing from Pulse Films and BMG
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 14 May 2018
Pulse Films has announced that it will produce a film based on the life of Wiley, with backing from BMG. Directed by Adam Smith, the project has been in development since 2016.
Titled ‘Wiley’, the film will explore the rapper and producer’s early days on pirate radio, before finding himself at the forefront of the rise of the grime scene. As well as the ups and downs of his career, it will also look at other artists he has helped build a name for themselves.
Director Adam Smith is best known for his Chemical Brothers film, ‘Don’t Think’. However, his association with Wiley goes back further. In the early 2000s, he made a short documentary about the grime scene, which was then still to take on that name. He also directed the video for Wiley’s 2004 track, ‘Wot Do You Call It?’
“Meeting Wiley and seeing what he and his friends were creating was a huge inspiration to me”, says Smith. “Making a film about this incredible talent and his story fifteen years later is very exciting”.
Of the new film, Wiley says: “This is my life, my highs and lows, but it’s not really all about me. When I make music, help the scene or even do something like this, it’s like I’m not alone any more. It’s for people who grew up like me. I’m doing it to help people who are lost like me”.
Pulse Films CEO Marisa Clifford chips in: “Wiley is a true icon and telling his story, in this way, is a perfect amalgamation of everything we do at Pulse Films. We’re honoured to be working with him on such an ambitious project and THRILLED to be collaborating with Adam Smith who is an incredible and innovative filmmaker”.
Wiley’s manager John Woolf and BMG’s William Kennedy and Kathy Daum will act as excutive producers on the film. As will the rapper’s sister Janaya Cowie and SBTV founder Jamal Edwards.
BMG publishes Wiley’s catalogue of songs, in part thought a partnership with Black Butter. The company has also been moving more into film production recently. Among other projects in production at the moment is a documentary about David Crosby.
