Guy Ritchie’s first feature film was Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, released in 1998 (Image: Getty)
Few people know what it was like to work with Guy Ritchie on his very first feature film. While the acclaimed director has since gone on to helm countless iconic movies, every filmmaker has to start somewhere. When Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was released in 1998, it propelled Ritchie into the spotlight and he is now recognised as one of the defining directors of his generation.
Among the cast was Vas Blackwood, who starred alongside Nick Moran, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones in the now-classic crime comedy film. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, Blackwood recalled meeting Ritchie and film producer Matthew Vaughn at Pinewood Studios, when they were both aspiring filmmakers.
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Blackwood was already known to Ritchie, who admitted he had been a big fan of his work ever since seeing him play Winston in The Lenny Henry Show in 1988.
The pair headed outside, while Vaughn stayed inside, and the director filmed the actor reading the lines on his portable camera. Next thing, Blackwood learned through his agent that he had secured the role of Rory Breaker.
Devoted fans of the film would love to know what went on behind the scenes on that film set, and Blackwood revealed just that.
He told us: “People always ask if it was fun working on the set of Lock Stock, but I have to be honest with you. Because I knew some of the actors before we did Lock Stock, I heard through the grapevine that this was good. People were coming in and turning up and doing a bit, so I think word was passed around amongst all of the actors.
Vas Blackwood played Rory Breaker in the classic crime comedy film (Image: Summit Entertainment)
“When you turned up on set for your specific role, we were all sharp and focused. We really delivered for Guy. I was hearing that was going on so I came in and did the same thing.
“We did not mess about. We really did put it in for him. It’s strange because it’s not very often when you’re making a movie that, whilst it’s being shot, people are already getting the impression that it could be really interesting.”
Blackwood couldn’t have spoken higher of Ritchie, praising how focused he was as a director who was working his way up in the industry.
The actor continued: “Guy’s got a real cool personality. He’ll say something and it brings up a conversation and everyone gets involved – and it’s a good conversation.
“That side of his personality, I was locked into that, but when I turned up on the set, as a young professional coming up into the industry, I felt as though he was special because you could see he was really focused on what he was doing.”
Describing Ritchie’s directing style on set, Blackwood explained that he kept his distance, mainly watching from behind the monitor rather than giving detailed feedback or direction.
Out of respect for the director and the craft, Blackwood felt his job was simply to deliver the performance and trust that what he was doing was right.
Blackwood recalled: “He was hidden away with the monitor. When I got on the set, he didn’t really have much to say to me, he just stayed on the monitor as a director.
“If a director is like that, out of respect and your love for the craft, I felt it was only right to focus on what I had to do, give it to him and walk away, knowing I’d done it.
“When he yelled cut, it was all quiet and I’d be like, ‘Was that bit alright?’ Every time he called cut, I’d always be looking to see what he would say because it was his production. ‘It’s fine mate, just keep going!’ That was all he said. And the rest is history.
The ensemble cast also included Nick Moran, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher and Jason Statham (Image: Summit Entertainment)
Blackwood also emphasised how instinctive and confident Ritchie was as a filmmaker, revealing there were no rehearsals prior to filming because he already knew exactly who he wanted for each role and trusted the actors to show up and perform.
He remarked: “There was never a rehearsal. This is how sharp he was. He cast who he wanted for each role and you had to turn up and do it. He just knew who he wanted for the role.
“A lot of films have a rehearsal, and you’d have thought for your first film, but no.”
Blackwood described working with Ritchie on his first ever feature film as a “massive blessing” and he couldn’t be prouder of what he has gone on to achieve.
“We still have a very close relationship and I’m just so proud of him. All he’s done is continue to do what he’s always wanted to do and continue to do it masterfully. I love him like a brother and I can’t fault him,” he said.
Blackwood admitted that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels completely changed his life (Image: Getty)
“He’s so focussed and he’s got a stamp on his production. When he’s behind the camera as the director and it’s a Guy Ritchie film, you’re going to watch it because he’s got some moves.”
Blackwood went on: “People get involved with working for him, but what you find is he’s casted you for a reason. It’s a genuine reason and you’re right for the part. He’s one of those directors that really looks after his actors.”
He said that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels changed his life forever and will be with him until he dies. “I say that proudly,” the star added.
Blackwood has teamed up with Mamedica, the UK’s largest specialist medical cannabis clinic. Mamedica’s new 4/20 campaign is centred on pushing the conversation around medical cannabis into a more visible mainstream space.
Blackwood reprised the role of Rory Breaker for the campaign, which aims to use the character’s humour, presence and cultural recognition to deliver a serious message about following the legal, regulated process for medical cannabis in the UK.
Andrew Tyler, Chief Marketing Officer at Mamedica and Executive Producer of the campaign, said: “Rory Breaker has always been the kind of character people stop and listen to. The idea was to take that same unmistakable authority and give it a new purpose: making sure people understand the legal, regulated route and stick to the letter of the law.
“Vas was the only person who could pull that off. He brings the humour, the cultural weight and the responsibility the subject needs. The idea works because it flips what people expect from Rory — he is a character audiences associate with rule-breaking, but here he is the one telling people to follow the rules.
“That gives the campaign its edge: using culture and humour to cut through stigma, while making clear that medical cannabis is only legal in the UK through the proper clinical route.”
Blackwood reprised the role of Rory Breaker for Mamedica’s new campaign (Image: Mamedica)
When the campaign concept was first presented to him, Blackwood admitted there was one person whose approval he needed before moving forward.
Blackwood recounted: “I said I’d have to get permission from the boss first. I contacted Guy and he gave me his blessing. You have to go to the boss first. Guy is very protective over Lock Stock and quite rightly so, that’s his first baby.”
Opening up about why he collaborated on this new campaign, Blackwood said: “Mamedica is really top of the range, this company has done everything correctly. That endeared me even more to join.
“Cannabis is a medicine. It should be considered a medicine. Everything else for me has never been something that I focus on. Having done my research on Mamedica and understanding exactly where they were coming from and where they were going, as well as the global tide with cannabis and how these things start, because it should be respected.
“The more governmentally controlled, or permission that is behind it, the better it is because ultimately speaking, everyone benefits that way. I’m 100 per cent behind how Mamedica goes about doing their business.”