James McAvoy on Taking the Director’s Chair for California Schemin’
James McAvoy has headed into directing with his first film, California Schemin’, which tells the wild true story of Dundee rap duo Silibil ‘N’ Brains. The pair created fake American personas to score a big record deal, only to see their plan fall apart.
The film stars Samuel Bottomley and Seamus McLean Ross as the ambitious rappers Billy Boyd and Gavin Bain. The cast and crew celebrated the premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival outside the Glasgow Film Theatre.
Speaking on the red carpet, McAvoy reflected on what the project meant to him. “I consider myself very lucky to be here,” he said. He praised the duo’s determination, noting, “So much has gone down to get here, to tell this story about two guys from Scotland who had the talent, had the dream, had the work ethic, and just had the wrong accent, or so they were told.”
James McAvoy at the premiere of his directorial debut ‘CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’ during Glasgow Film Festival. 📷 pic.twitter.com/DjmFvTPllK
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The actor-turned-director admitted that guiding his first project came with challenges. “It was really amazing, rewarding, fulfilling, hard, not always enjoyable, but really fulfilling and with it all the way,” McAvoy shared. He added that working closely with the young lead actors had been a privilege.
Bottomley emphasized the emotional heart of the story. “At its heart, it’s a story about love and friendship, not only love for hip-hop but the love these people share for each other,” he explained.
Lucy Halliday, who also stars, noted that the movie offers a fun twist on typical Scottish cinema. “I think it’s a Scottish performance that we’ve not seen. We’ve all seen the likes of the gritty police shows, which are great, but this is a really fun movie,” she said.
Rebekah Murrell, who plays the group’s agent Tessa, described McAvoy’s vision for the set. “He framed the film as a unique blend of 8 Mile and Superbad,” she said, praising the teamwork of the cast and crew.
McAvoy has had a long and varied career in front of the camera, most recently starring in the 2024 horror-thriller Speak No Evil. His work spans the X-Men franchise, Atonement, and the TV adaptation of His Dark Materials. Critics are watching closely to see if this debut will lead to more projects behind the camera.
California Schemin’ is expected to reach wider audiences later this year after its festival run. By highlighting a bizarre and uniquely Scottish story, McAvoy has captured a piece of music history that many outside of Dundee might never have known.
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