ILL MANORS: Director Ben Drew Nominated for Mercury Award

On Thursday morning, the shortlist for the Mercury Prize was released. This prize is award to the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland so it's not just "kind of a big deal", it's a SUPER BIG DEAL IN SHOUTY CAPS. We here at the Vanguard Blog were beyond stoked to see that Ben Drew--who records as Plan B--has made the shortlist with the album that accompanied his Vanguard film, ilL Manors. Past winners of the Mercury Prize include PJ Harvey, Franz Ferdinand, Pulp, and the Arctic Monkeys. And we've got our fingers (and toes) crossed that our very own Vanguard film director will be added to that list. Are you crossing your fingers too? Good.

While speaking with Ben Kaplan in a National Post interview, he said that he recorded the songs to help fill gaps in editorial process. Drew might not have initially set out to create an award nominated album, but it's topped the charts in the UK and can only keep going from here.

You have one last chance to see this brilliant film with its award-nominated soundtrack. We suggest you clear your schedule for Saturday night and grab a ticket.


ILL MANORS Screening Times:
Sat., Sept. 15th, 9:30 PM SCOTIABANK 4

iLL MANORS: Director Ben Drew's Music Career

Ben Drew is the director of the upcoming Vanguard film ill Manors. He is also a chart topping rapper and singer-songwriter, going by his artist name, Plan B. Oh, and acts as well. Some people just have all the talent. Sheesh.

Plan B recorded songs and performed from 2005 to 2008, releasing mixtures and remixes which helped him to gain notoriety in the UK. His debut album, Who Needs Action When You Got Words, was released in 2006 to critical acclaim. In 2009, Drew appeared in the film Harry Brown. He collaborated with the group Chase & Status on a song that appeared on the soundtrack, "End Credits", which became his first Top 10 hit. 

Plan B's second album,The Defamation of Strickland Banks, was released in the spring of 2010. His first album showcased his rapping abilities, and this second album went in a different direction as a concept album about a soul singer. You might be rolling your eyes at the thought of a rapper turned soul singer, but Plan B impressed critics by actually being able to sing (a sometimes rare talent in the music industry these days) and the album got positive reviews. The lead single "Stay Too Long", was also a Top 10 hit, as was the second single, "She Said". 

After successfully taking over the British music scene, Plan B decided to become a world famous tap dancer. Okay, not really. We doubt we'd be able to handle it if Drew added "dancer" to his impressive list of credentials anyway. Instead, after his second album, Drew started focusing on his directing career. But, don't worry, he still managed to create all new music for his first feature film, ill Manors, with the songs acting as narration. The soundtrack alum was released earlier this spring and the single, "ill Manors", is--you guessed it--another chart topping hit. 

You're probably already downloading all of Plan B's music from iTunes, so the only thing left to do is get your ticket to an upcoming screening of ill Manors. How about tonight's? What better way to spend a Sunday evening, right? Bangarang. 

ILL MANORS Screening Times:

Sun., Sept. 9th, 9:00 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

Tue., Sept. 11th, 4:15 PM SCOTIABANK 4

Sat., Sept. 15th, 9:30 PM SCOTIABANK 4

ILL MANORS Premieres Tonight!

Ben Drew's Ill Manors premieres tonight at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 9:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office; 506 Bloor Street West

Further information about Ben Drew's Ill Manors can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Ill Manors Website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Scotiabank 4 4:15 PM
• Sat., Sept. 15, Scotiabank 4 9:30 PM

iLL MANORS Director Profile: Ben Drew

Ben Drew, better known as English rapper and singer-songwriter Plan B, began his career in film as an actor in Noel Clarke's 2008 film Adulthood. In 2009, he joined Michael Caine in Daniel Barber's thriller Harry Brown, which had its World Premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. With iLL Manors, Ben Drew will mark his feature directorial debut.

Production on iLL Manors began in September 2010, but did not always go smoothly. The film is a gritty portrayal of violent crime in the Forest Gate area of London, so it is unsurprising that conflicts arose. After filming was completed, Ben told UK newspaper The Sun that "we’ve had bolts and screws thrown at us from the top of fucking council estate towers. We’ve been to crack houses where there are dirty needles lying around. And a gang were about 30 seconds away from smashing my face in." At the film's London premiere, Ben told MTV News that "crack heads robbed the laptop with the days rushes on it and me and one of the other guys in the crew chased him down and caught the mother-fucker and got the rushes back."

The film, which has received largely positive reviews utilizes six original Plan B songs to guide the film's interwoven narration. The film's lead single, also titled iLL Manors, was written as a reaction to the 2011 England riots and "society's failure to nurture its disadvantaged youth." The soundtrack for the film was the number one album the week of August 4th, 2012 in the UK.



ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9th, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
• Tues., Sept. 11th, 4:15 PM, SCOTIABANK 4
• Sat., Sept. 15th, 9:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 4

ILL MANORS Poster and Trailer

British rapper Ben Drew, also known as Plan B, writes and directs Ill Manors, a London crime drama Hollywood Reporter calls a "powerful and timely debut."

Below are the poster and trailer for Ill Manors, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Ben Drew's Ill Manors can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Ill Manors Website, Twitter account, Facebook page, and IMDB page.

ILL MANORS screening times:

• Sun., Sept. 9, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 9:00 PM
• Tues., Sept. 11, Scotiabank 4 4:15 PM
• Sat., Sept. 15, Scotiabank 4 9:30 PM