3 minute read
TERRY STONE
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TELL US ABOUT THE EXTREME EDITION?
To celebrate 16 years since the first Footsoldier, the UK distributor is rereleasing the first film in cinemas. The extended edition is not only longer with previously unseen footage from the 2007 film but they have upgraded the picture, done a Dolby mix on the sound basically bringing the film into 2023. A lot of people have not seen this particular version of the film.
AND WHAT’S IN STORE FOR US WITH THE NEW COMPUTER GAME?
The new Rise of the Footsoldier video game allows fans, old and new, to pick and choose which character to play in this arcade style brawler. The game is downloadable on ios and Android on smartphones and ipads. It’s a retro game – so feels real to the times the original film was shot in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER?
I developed the first ‘Rise of the Footsoldier’ film way back in 2005 and spent 12 months raising the money and trying to get the film made. I met with Carnaby Films, and they bought the rights off me and funded the whole film, which was a great result for me as a producer and as an actor as I had the second lead role in the movie and I’ve appeared in all five films.
WHAT OTHER PROJECTS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN?
Well proud to say the ‘25 Years of UK Garage’ I was recently involved in has topped the list of downloaded documentaries on Amazon and ‘The Last Heist’ released in December was also number one in the crime film section of Amazon. This makes them the only independent British made films to be in the top 100 bestsellers on Amazon too – a little bit of a feat to achieve this! Plus ‘Tate: 2 Days of Blood’ - the 6th installment of the franchise, was shot in November and will be coming out later this year.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE?
We are working on a number of projects at the moment. One is a film on Chelsea headhunters and the other is a gritty, urban rap story called ‘Tales from the Trap’ – I’m describing it as ‘Top Boy’ meets ‘Blue Stories’.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW BUT YOU ALSO CREATED DRUM & BASS BRAND ONE NATION. WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF RUNNING A CLUBBING EMPIRE?
The best thing for me would have been selling out a large scale venue and being able to sit back and see thousands of people having the time of their life and thinking wow I created this, how did that happen?
WHAT WAS THE WORST?
The aggravation, as whenever you attract large crowds in a big city, mix in some dance music, money, drugs and you can’t not attract trouble.
YOU HAVE GOT YOURSELF IN
‘The Rise of the Footsoldiers’ original film is being re-released in cinemas this month with extended scenes for die hard fans of the franchise. The Extreme Edition is backed up by a Leicester Square premiere, Battersea after party with Alex P and Brandon Block and the release of the ‘Rise Of The Footsoldier’ computer game.
‘Rise of the Footsoldier’ is Britain’s first and only true crime franchise, based on real life drug dealers; Pat Tate (Craig Fairbrass), Tony Tucker (Terry Stone) and Craig Rolfe (Roland Manookian) who were brutally murdered in their Range Rover in 1995. There have been five movies to date which span across their decades. The first follows the rise of Carlton Leach from a football hooligan to becoming a member of the notorious gang of criminals who rampaged their way through London and Essex. The Extreme Edition will have lots of the deleted scenes and even more gritty violent portrayals of this real life criminal gang. Surrey Rocks caught up with the film’s enigmatic lead character Terry Stone who plays Tony Tucker to find out more about the film, computer game and life on the club scene.
A FEW ‘STICKY’ SITUATIONS OVER THE YEARS, WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST OR WORST IN YOUR OPINION?
I think the funniest times were always when you went out just for one drink or a quiet one and you ended up being kidnapped by your mates and ended up coming home 4 days later. The worst times for me was having guns pulled on me outside clubs. At the back end of the 90’s the gun crime escalated in London (it was never widely reported as it is today as there was no social media back then - so it could easily be brushed under the carpet by the authorities.) This was when I started thinking I may have a change of career!
WHAT IS YOUR BEST CHARACTER TRAIT?
My best character trait is being tenacious.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Winners never quit and quitters never win! It’s been my mantra since I was 13.
WORST HABIT?
My worst habit is rushing into things when I get excited.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE GROWING UP?
A boxing manager.
WHAT ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU IN THE MOVIE VERSION OF YOUR LIFE?
Jack O’Connell would be a great shout.
MOST EMBARRASSING ITEM IN YOUR WARDROBE?
I’d say a gold shirt, I know I know!
