Looking back to the merry month of May and it’s got to be the one that say's to everybody this film is done and happening. From the first day of the month when I actually switch off from a film head work mode and sit down with a select group of the main cast and their agents to watch the full finished film from start to finish. We are each full of big grins upon meeting up again for first time since wrap of the movie back in October. So we are all watching it and let me tell you there was laughter, there was core-fuckin hell moments, there was pure energy throughout but also moments of drama you could here a pin drop when not interspersed with London to Brighton star actress Lorraine Stanley’s cackle laughter. The credits came up with a poignant personal image that was met with a round of applause and then another as the significance of what this movie is really about set in, amazingly a act we were later to witness at every press and public screening to follow. What did I think of my own life being portrayed up there, well I’m gonna save that for the red carpet Leicester Square Premiere on July 28th but I can tell you, one thing and that’s my mind kept going back to 2005, back to the beginning and over and over I keep hearing and seeing the two faces of the film-makers Stefan Haller and Jon S. Baird telling me they are going to make my story a movie, and I look at that big screen in front of me, hear the reactions all around me from some of the finest young acting talent we have on these shores, share a joke with Tamer, a private word with Nonso and a big grin off of Gavin and hug from Nathalie and the boys Jon and Stef are right there beside me and nothing needs to be said, we’ve been this way for 3 years now, the chemistry between us is massive and it’s all focussed on just one objective, to make this damn movie that just had to be made and soon we all gonna know that the content and story in this film could set it apart from any other movie it may get compared with without having first seen it. My name and past means it’s understandable for people to jump to foregone conclusions but if I told you, that even those that thought they knew me yet after seeing early previews came up and said, we didn’t know that part of your life.

Next up I’m invited by Fila to the launch party of it’s new Covent Garden store and it’s like Xmas for anyone who witnessed the real football casual fashion phenomenon of the early 80’s, Tamer Hassan and Danny Dyer turn-up to host and liven people and I’m mixing and mingling with a host of invited guests including my film director Jon Baird and film producer Stefan Haller and it’s all wonderful people and all that but we only had eyes on the Fila retro gear classics, oh my Fila BJ trackies in every 80’s design that was ever worn on the terraces unless you supported Newcastle, wear the jean jacket was seen as a wonderful invention still back then. I’ll tell you what some of that 80’s sports designer wear we all wore back then still stands the test of time even today but back in the 80’s it became the main revolution in seeing some proper dinosaur firms scrub up. Now take Stoke we would play them in every major Cup game nearly every season in the 70’s we had epic after epic encounters with them both on and off the pitch, great football legends like George Eastham, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Clyde Best, you remember mud, penalty saves and reply’s and the bitter taste of losing, but the glam-rock to reggae years of the 70’s back then for the West Ham fans on any away day to Stoke they would remember a northern mob in red and whites scarf’s wearing bottle green flares running full pelt across the graveyard wearing awful ill fitting star jumpers that was never ever gonna catch-on with the London boys, come the 80’s football casual era and even Stoke got dressed such was the impact this had on a one-time full on star jumper mob. When the call went up for the Stoke Naughty Forty to be the football casuals for the movie, amazingly they still had enough classic 80’s sportswear tucked up in the back of the wardrobe to kit out the younger element of their full-on firm that came down from the Potteries to rip-up the set playing would you believe the Leeds Service Crew in a raging battle with the men and boys in green flight jackets and diamond Pringles acting out the ICF. But this was not the eighties but approaching a winter in 2007 and with the movie release just before the start of the new 2008-09 football season what a year for Fila to re-introduce its classic retro fashion line. Quality gear always and well done to those Fila chaps for bring it back in XXL which was an unheard of size back in the day.

May month was the start of the first press reviews and that was nice as it tells the public this film is happening but it’s the first reviews so everyone is apprehensive a bit, but it was all positive as The Metro, Star, Romford Recorder and Shortlist led the way with early film articles. The official movie website got launched this period too and that’s another sign too we happening www.cassmovie.co.uk but by far the most interesting was seeing the film trailer for the first-time which was decided to holdback for maximum impact nearer film release. The film publicity machine moves into gear and I’m lined up with interviews for the likes of Total Film, Maxim, Front, Loaded, Soldier magazine, Big Cheese with a 3-page exclusive from the Times leading them all. Like I said, it's me looking back at my eventful dairy months of May and June where we are maybe now turning the last corner for home.

Been a few developments while I was out of the country after picture lockdown was acknowledged in NYC last month. Start with the big news for this month which is the word and call is that it’s JULY for film release which is good news all round as end of football season and no fun watching the European Championships without England and or the other UK teams so plenty of films to catch-up on this summer, you just make sure CASS is one of them. No date I can be sure of to confirm here but 3rd week is likely and we will know soon as film publicity calls begin start of next month.

I’m giving this update on the back of being blown away seeing the latest screening of the film this week now with its full soundtrack added and all the right sound effects edited in the film it’s self. Got to say something about the music as it’s always been an important call with me, I mean in a film it’s a bit different because you have to reflect the mood and sentiment of the film. I’ve been very lucky to have Jon Baird and Stefan Haller, two film makers who allowed me to give a detailed analysis imput into what and why certain music choices influenced my life, their meaning and memory to me personally back in the time period of the movie. The boys aided by music bizzo Paul Crockford for some months have been short-listing quite an exciting music film backdrop that covers the lot. It’s been real fun putting together but a big sweat at the business end obtaining each and everyone as it involves research, seeking copyrights and permissions to obtain this cool cult music backlist. That often involved sometimes a direct route approach, like when tracking down Harry J. Allstars in Jamaica and agreeing a last minute deal for a Stephanie Mills classic literally on the tarmac of the airport which happen in the past few days as film’s own post-production deadline approached. Anyway the film should certainly have its fans for the soundtrack music which cuts right across the board as a mixture of rock, ski, and funk, soul, and punk, pop and acid house.

Yeah, since when could the music memories you were brought up on back in the day ever be removed from the days of our adolescence youth if music was part of your soul. When I watch this movie I wanna be on a Ride that takes me back and it’s through remembering the music that allows you to do that, just as my collection of Trojan Records did it for me when first writing the best-selling book CASS. For me and all the white kids around me back in those 60’s and 70’s it was the first introduction to ska and reggae sounds. Desmond Dekker was the man back then and ‘it makes no sense at all’ (Fu Manchu) that I escorted this unrecognisable urban music legend of so many hits out the club door down in lowlife city one night. Still what can I say aside the fact this movie will Bring Back The Good Times when we really did have a Love Affair in this Land of Hope and Glory.

Talking of the good times I bet there is not a football fan in the country that ever laced up a pair of Doc Martins who won’t recall the distinctive sound of the Liquidator blaring out across the terraces. Music was an influence on the terraces, as was the fashion scene and another reason why we all loved the band Madness who wore pretty much what was being worn on the terraces at the time. When we wanted anger and aggression mixed with fun and adventure we wanted the music to be just like us except we went One Step Beyond and started Running Riot which in those wild times made a Perfect Day for us. The football casual 80’s and you still had your racist element in town but as a firm together We Leave Them All Behind to become truly a Melting Pot when we switched to wearing designer wear with a swagger of class and style which saw the lads get also into the era of soul music scene, birds and wine bars. The ICF Never Knew Love Like This Before until they later Pumped Up The Volume, for it was more to what we was fully about, raw, moody, wild-free spirits.

 

Once again I am playing catch-up with the news but hey a cracking month proper, so where do I begin? I guess catching up with Gavin Brocker who has a leading role in the movie playing 'Prentice' and he called round me office to do his interview for the toe-to-toe section of this site. 'Prentice' is actually terrace language for the word apprentice and goes right back to my 70's football days with The Woolwich in the days we didn't have firms but crews and mobs, when the younger lads that included myself got liken as apprentices. Every firm had them and you had some huge crews going back then; the Towner's had to be different of course and labelled their younger element Snipers. Gavin is an SE18 lad whom it could be said playing his first major movie role and I must say he convinces so much so that those that remember their footie days will be attempting to put a real name to his screen name cover, so if you come up with four different names you would likely be right on all four as a lot of the film characters are several real characters in one. I move on and away from Gavin as you will read his interview on here pretty soon but it was great catching up with him to see what he has been doing since the wrap last October, it was great to look back and remember all the defining moments and he certainly shares with us another honest upfront Q & A that you get it first on this site, thanks Gav/'Prentice'.

Hey, when I say cracking month get this. They, and I mean Jon and Stef together with their post-production crew, are off to NYC to put the finishing touches to making the films master copies at the Goldcrest Post Production studio in the Big Apple. Now they are taking me with them and those two guys are really men true to their word for what I reckon must be near 3 years ago when they said to me when we make your film we wanna keep you involved all the way Cass. So I've got some serious business ahead in NYC where the team are leaving nothing to chance in the technology stakes, those in the knowledge we've got a week of 35/16mm film formats, each frame pin registered, 6K/4K scanning, 4K72k downsampling, kodak digital ICE dust removal, to sum up it's a week of unrivalled performances in editing effects and colour grading on me movie. In short the boys are going all out to bring a quality film to the silver screen and home DVD. For me I'd thought I'd seen a good enough movie back in London but now out here I was seeing what the movie will look like on a proper cinema screen. The work is all done in a cinema room with the big screen and as opposed to when previously seeing it on monitors and grainy film projections. I have to say the film looks fuckin awesome as was my 4 day stay in NYC. when I left London I was doing the entire films voice-over as a dummy run for Nonso to come in and over-dub on me and one of my lines which I had to repeat over though has since been deleted out of the film, went with me saying ' Three brothers, two sisters and a mother in New York' and now I am going to the Big Apple for the first time in my life knowing I have a mother living there to which I have only ever meet once before as a man. We all know the story to my family background as its in the book and its the core story and thread of the film so this is not any old week, its an important week of the film and now an important part of my life as there is another of life's missions looming large for me and if I throw in the little fact it is my five 0 birthday, Wednesday third of March and you have now got to believe fate plays a funny hand and it did. Silvia's famous soul food restaurant over in Harlem was the location for my special birthday night and what would be a reunion with my mother and as it takes more than two to party so Jon, Stef and Chris Ross made sure I had a night and birthday to remember. hey whatever happens with the film or where we go with it will surely mean a lot of different things to each and all of us who have had some involvement with it ,eh it certainly will with me I am beginning to realise.

Life's a journey you make and New York is New York, we worked hard in darken studio on early starts and late finishes but we making movies so there's people to meet and places to see and memories of meeting a great bunch of New Yorkers in the Speckled Pig pub and bar owned by Bono and Jayz, A film premier after-party held in two penthouse suites top of a central hotel over-looking the city, must add we visited the Little Italy neighbourhood and went to a proper Italian restaurant in the heart of what is a no-smoking ban NYC. Goes in and there's empty tables all bar a large table full of guys that looked like they do in the movies, certainly had names like in the movies, appearing to be holding a Sicilian private meeting of sorts and you can't help notice all the cigar smoke. We took the table offered and had some of the best food and hospitality you can get and being leary Brits who can pick all the right moments to ask questions, 'Hey you guys exempt from New York's smoking policy here? The Soprano looking manager guy answers straight 'Hey we all New Yorkers and we all abide the law but we say this is a cigar shop first before we added the restaurant part and what doe's one do when you purchase a cigar and that's what we sticking too and they can take the owner to court each month, sometimes we win sometimes we lose, and when we lose we appeal, are you happy with that? Half of us don't smoke anyway but we all nodded in total agreement with our host.

So it was work with a jolly and took trip out to the Stature of Liberty and raised a few larfs when I asked who built it, but I was serious because I'm reading only what the magnificent landmark represents and I look at the time period it was built and like the mighty pyramids of Egypt I wonder on whose labour and at what human cost it took to put such a landmark in place, eh. I never found out or saw a answer and maybe someone can enlighten me on that one, one tourist trip I had to make because we all watched it on the news and that's the World Trade Centre. As soon as you go there it hits you and makes you think a film is just that and only life is something real and valued, I was moved and after you go there you then start to notice that every New Yorker has a story about that day, on where they was and what they were doing. It was a tough call what happened September 11th but New York has proved to be a tough city and I think has recovered well on what you see of it today though underneath the people are forever scared and you can sense that. A sobering thought for all as I headed for home and my big five 0 party laid on for me at the Epping Country club was attended by everyone I would want that could make it and hey the month of March was some craic for me, those that made my bash I say a big special thanks as it really meant a lot and you know I speaking to everyone of you.

Back at Goldcrest in Soho some of the main actors like tamer, Leo, Gavin and co get to see parts of the movie for the first time since making it end of last summer as they come in to do final voice-overs and re-writes. just that alone creates another buzz as those that have seen anything up to now may feel they are to close to the film not to be forgiven for being over bias towards it. The actors that came in all loved what bits they saw of it but for me what was just as interesting was when we had a selection of film extras and their mates come in for voice-over work day. These lads are mostly known to me and cover the real time periods of the 70's, 80's, 90's up to today, they have all been about so you know they won't be shy of a comment or two even if it's not want you may like to hear. Well they did their work and impressed the sound crew and all to a man said if the rest of the film is more-or-less like what they have just seen then its the bollox, Cass. Thanks boys for keeping it real and someone who played it real in the role of Cass was big Nonso Anosie, I finally completed his interview for the toe-to-toe section and it's major, remember actors don't chose their roles they play the roles they are given and accept. Here is a talented actor who really wanted to play the lead of being me and he tells why but he also hits home the pressure and enjoyment it is to play a character who is alive today, who is going to be there on set to judge if the actor has got him right in his role because it is himself that he is playing and portraying. Nonso could be huge in his profession as he is in his natural large body frame, they say he is talented, highly thought of and ambitious but I personally feel he is deep and a thinker too, something I recognise in myself sometimes. We hit it off from day one and I am proud to have witnessed his performance in playing me, I've gone on record before to say he pulls me off in the movie and this is backed up by many who really know me well who were around the set, I can only be grateful and I hope his performance as Cass takes him to where he wants to go and I'd be double chuffed if he is always remembered for his role as Cass, as he was awesome and people will see that come this summer, meanwhile the big man opens right up for his interview on this site that's kind of Cass talking to Cass about life and being Cass in the movie.

Next month I feel we are in for some major developments and I will certainly keep April's movie section updated as and when throughout that month. Meanwhile stay with the site as we don't tell false rumours: it’s what we know as we know it.

 

Ok I'm writing up from memory as intentions to keep you guys updated on a regular monthly basis has gone haywire due to workload but the film is in post-production so I got to take into account what is a big deal and exciting to myself may be only passing interest to you guys. I think the call now is when's it coming out and can we get to the premier? Two very big asks but great to know a lot of you are interested in this movie so I give it to you straight and say whatever the rumours are out there, this is the official unofficial site and I am consulted on a daily basis all aspects of making this movie and no date has been set or fixed though a timeline has been agreed as 2008 between June and October for the U.K. World release is possible and is a separate venture as it involves selling rights into single countries and as there is not even a film trailer as yet and we are still in post-production any news on this front is way down the line at the moment. The UK distributors Optimum Releasing are the ones who distributed the Best British Film Bafta winners 'This is England' and seem to be hinting early summer as a good call for 'CASS' to be screen nationwide.

The other most talked about thing is whose going to the premier and will there be one? To which I think there is a lot of confusion about. First will there be a film premier and the answer is we surely all hope so but we are a long way from saying yes there is one when we have no date for the film release and also the only people who will fix that are like a team due to play in a cup final and are beforehand by everyone if they are having a victory parade, to which you know the answer to that, lets get the job done of making this film first. The other thing is some of you are getting private screenings mixed up with the actual film premier if they have one. This may be my fault as I regard the chance to attend a private screening where you get to see sometimes a rough cut and still to be edited as near as finished draft of the film for audience and press re-action before film is actually released. Now some of these private screenings held in various cinema's served as our own premier's where those who were invited had the crack and even arranged own after-party and it's something some of you guy's may have in-mind for 'CASS' for we did it with Football Factory and Green Street. The thing about a film premier is that it is limited as its not held at a night club or football ground but a cinema with limited amount of seats for those closely involved with the film, those considered lead actors and members of the right press and I said its a big moment for the actors and some of them in the past have been limited to attending big film premiers and those that have go alone when the people they would like most e.g. friends and family can't attend with them. So they all get round this with the private screenings where if you fortunate enough to be able to get along to one you will be among the actors and cast crew who often attend too as not everyone wants to dress-up, be in the glare of the camera's and sitting with people you don't know (there just talked myself out of the fuckin premier). So you get the jist and the fact is if we get a few private screenings we will certainly make them as good a craic as the actual premier, with a right few characters, certainly the actors will attend maybe even do a Q & A after and there bound to be a bar or something after. Simply we put our own do on like we did before with the two other films I got involved with. My only regret is when you know the amount of people I do and you are sitting on a movie people genuinely want to see there are going to be disappointments and I will say the first call is to as many as those that took part and gave up generous time to be extras in the movie. Everyone from the crew and cast has been amazed at the performances, commitment, time and effort you extras put into this film, I know most of you and I'm moved but so are people in the movie business and there are people seeing the effect you guys gave in this every day, different people like, sound engineers, film editors, various post-production heads and some of the actors have gone on record to say how they have never experienced an effect on a movie they have made regarding its film extras. So you will have a chance maybe around May time if they go with June/July release to see what makes the final cut from which you played such valued parts. It will be great if I can get several London sittings and make one a bit of a West Ham premier and we then go around the country to places like, Stoke, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Middlesborough, Aberdeen and places like Bristol, Sheffield, Cardiff and Dublin would also be on the screenings wish list. It's a wait and see lads as we not near to considerations this side of movie matters but there's nothing we ain't pulled off yet in putting this film together so I don't mind sharing the thinking behind the film premier moves.

The Goldcrest studios in W1 has been where the editing and that of making my story into a movie since film wrap and which all seems an age now back then in October 2007. Every time I’ve popped in the prestigious Goldcrest studio building you can’t help but notice their list of credits by way of film posters on the walls that have come out of post-production there.

Saving Private Ryan, Bridget Jones Dairy, Gangs of New York, Hotel Rwanda, Batman Begins, The Brother’s Grimm leaves you in awe a bit and you wonder about the blank space on the wall and if it is being reserved for the next worthy movie, now there’s a thought, as is the first time I recall walking into these studio’s was to meet Messer’s Guy Richie and Mathew Vaughn a few years back and it goes without saying you never know what’s waiting for yer and if you give yourself goals in life you should never ever give up on your own hope’s or any ambitions. Anyway all that seems like an age now as I settle into doing film voice-overs which is just a bit of laying down the foundations for when Nonso comes and does it for final film edit.

But that’s a serious game now though innit, this voice-over malarkey, there all having a pop at it today though, so it must be a lucrative line of work if you can get it. Because their all doing it and you could be forgiven for thinking that sounds an easy number until you have a pop yourself and then you think back to why you would never do any speaking out loud opportunity’s or either do your own answer phone message, no best left to those with the voices. One I always rate or the first time I took notice of this art aside the Michael Caine films I would say Alan Ford an absolute master, remember Lock Stock then it sinks in and you realise he’s the voice you’ve been hearing on all sorts of other stuff. Another fav of mine is Sean Bean and one he did for the rugby World Cup was so emotive and inspiring, until that first result came in and I’m thinking the boys are surely coming back home early but the add is stilling rattling on cos it’s all been paid in advance while we’re getting thumped like, and I thought we’re gonna keep hearing old Beanie’s advert while we got mugged off here, but the boys had more fight in them than the football lads and went all the way to a brave final against victors South Africa. Now back to where we was in post production with the voice-overs and how these little experience has open me up to how important a role a good voice-over plays in a film and the voice you will hear all over the film will be Nonso Anozie for obvious reasons but did any of you film buffs know he is another regular voice-over grafter and actually provides the voice of Lorek Byrnison, the armoured bear in The Golden Compass. Staying with my movie Cass and one voice you will recognise, well you see him in the film and that’s Ralph Ineson another voice-over master you often here all the time.

Now if you have made it to this line with stuff none of you want to know about cos all I get asked is when’s it coming out and all I can say is not this month as none of us know at time of writing. We are making a journey, it’s a new game to me and I’m enjoying every involvement and I’m proud to know so many of you are up for it as I am and the full-on screenings I have seen to date are something to be proud of and I just wish I could tell more, but as they say keep watching this space because the whisper will come from here and I am fancying there should be clue next posting.

ON SET - WEEK 5

The final week and, after the action-packed week of week 4, we are on the home turn and nobody wants to take their foot off the pedal to crash and burn, not now. We’ve said goodbyes to much of the cast but Paul Kaye and Bronson Webb stick around as the films mean characters. Paul has got the style of a bad guy in a western movie, he’s got that look and Bronson was so convincing with some of the extras who had paid him no attention up until the point he got the call to fire the gun. That scene over he walked back in to where the extras were holed up and for no reason people moved away from him with female clubber saying "We were eyeing up the actors as to see who we might say hello to but not him he looks the evil sort." I had to laugh, as her comments made me think of Johnny Palmiero, who played the skinhead in the pub during week 2. He’d just done his bit and upset Lorraine Stanley and I wished him well and asked him what’s he was doing next, and his reply was SS Nazi, and he was serious and then went on to tell me before that he was a .............

This week was another big week of Linda Bassett and Peter Wight, who play Doll and Cecil in classic Great Britain years and Verelle Roberts playing young Cass. Verelle, whether he knows it or not, was getting critical acclaim from his more experienced elders all around the set for his acting talent witnessed each time he was on set. He has a smile that lights up a room but he also has a facial expression so deep and moody that captures that inward suffering I felt I was put through so much in my childhood trying to come to terms that I would always be considered the odd one out and therefore be a target to all comers. Those of you that have read my biography will know I refer too much of my childhood time brought up in a place called Slade Green. In reality I consider myself a man of two rivers as I have spent half my life in on the east side of the river and half on the south side though for the film we keep it all in the east. You find in life if a place or time for you holds more bad memories than they do good ones then you can easily blot out and erase that place or period of time out of your head in order to move on with your life. So when they decide to make this film I knew you can’t just shirk the issues like that so in pre-production I dusted myself down and went back and visited my demons, probably the most difficult personally of those assignments was to go back to Lowlife City with Nonzo to relive the shooting all over again so he could know and feel all those other area’s you can’t begin to touch upon from purely just reading the script of that particular scene. By the time we finished our time in the real Lowlife City reliving what was a low point in my life I don’t doubt the fact he was acting and playing someone’s life for real and the fact that person is alive today to pass judgement would ever be a thought far away from his head every time he read his lines and went on set. The other call which I would say has to be the hardest of the two for me, less dramatic but the definitely the toughest because people can see around you that you are still affected even today even though you deny still much to yourself, people can see little give-aways in the pace you walk, the changed voice tones, the mood changes all of which you don’t even see this in yourself but it’s there and comes back to you in a haunting way when we re-visited that little place in Kent where Doll and `Cecil brought me up as their own. They could only give me their love from the day they picked me out and took me away from Dr Barnardos children’s home in Barkingside. I don’t know what Doll and Cecil’s home town gave me, certainly not hate because you can only live life as you face it and I believed I faced all and still come out right way and with a lot of friends made along the way. But it done something to me because when Doll and Cecil passed away I said it freed me from ever having reason to ever go back. To my word I have as good as kept to that statement because I have been back once for the benefit of my book’s co-writer Mike Ridley and more recently for the film pre-production and maybe for the last time because when I went back with actors Linda Bassett, Peter Wight and young Verelle Roberts we could not have picked better timing. It was school closing time when we got out the car to re-trace past steps and it was like a evil echo for me personally and like a town time forgot, for it was like nothing has changed in all those decades in terms of back-drop, the school was still there and the streets and houses all looked the same as it ever was. Bit more of an ethnic mix of course but only a bit and this image of pure innocence amongst the sea of school uniforms besieging their waiting mums was a picture not unlike any other school home time occurring this time up and down the country. For me it was poetry in motion for I had found the journey in the car here difficult to come up with the words to describe a gauntlet of hate, but now for that moment and for the benefit of my hosts I could dreg up the gauntlet of hate. I was back in my past again but this time I could leave knowing I know longer have to suffer in silence like I did back in the day, that I was not alone and could never be alone my demons have been long conquered so let’s unleash this film for there is a childhood in us all, it’s what makes us strong, it explains who, what and why we are like we are, like I’ve said to many that it’s not my past that matters it how you come out of your past that counts.

ON SET - WEEK 4

Oh my, this was a week and half, the longest day and all that springs to mind and there's me stressed to fuck now as one look at the filming schedule told me this was the make or break week where if anything was going to go tits up this would be the week for that to happen. Basically filming wise the prison stuff was yer main drama and that would be first few days and following that was coming full on mob violence action and really and truly the judgement day when some very real firms that were major back in the day, you know proper firms with history and a pedigree going back to the seventies and who knows maybe still active today, so its the real boys and that and they would enter into the film come the end of this week 4 weekend now that's providing we made it to the weekend. So Nonso Anozie in the role of Cass has got to prepare himself to go toe-to-toe with Pirates of the Caribbean actor Winston Ellis playing Zulu and fight it out in a prison cell going for it as real as real can get in this game. Now think about it you got two big powerful black actors with Nonso in real life slightly taller than me and maybe 2-3 stone on me after weeks of working out in the Peacock gym, and he is up against Winston Ellis who is the smaller guy on statistics only. I'd seen Winston rehearse at the Peacock earlier and you know, he's chiselled out of granite and credited as a trained kick boxer come martial arts expect and all that, so he can act but he can also do a bit of that for real. Put them in a cell together and imagine yer at Madison Square Gardens on a big fight night and that's what we got. It was brutal stuff just watching and they did as much damage to the cell as each other, totally exhausting for the two actors and yes the set medic was needed which had pretty much been a recurring theme whilst making this movie.

My other big memory is close sometimes private moments sharing and exchanging thoughts with the Nonso who does such a fine job playing me, just chatting stuff to which some of it he will share with you on the Toe-To- Toe interviews I will put up on this site. Getting a first hand insight into what a real professional actor has to prepare and work towards has been a real fascinating experience I have personally gained from being on set right from the pre-production. I know many of the extras whom are all mostly known to me have said as much themselves that that's what they will take away with them from the experience and maybe view movies they will watch somewhat differently for that experience of how a movie really gets made. Those Cass moments I had with Nonso to forever look back about and remember on, just stuff like simply reading script lines to each other and thinking did I just do that, I'm fucking Cass right and this is the guy playing Cass and he sounds more like Cass than I do right now as I'm desperately trying put on my best actors voice something I don't have, just little things you remember being involved on your own movie that has you thinking is this really happening to yer. In fact there were many Cass moments with me and Nonso leading up to shooting where we walked and talked and went back to many a place for real in my lifetime and relived and shared experiences that were often pretty emotional and full on and I did that with all the main cast in this movie. I was going to give everything I could to see how much this superb cast could use all that to see the real side of things behind this movie. You know if the get the script but get the real feel to this story it can only be an aid to raising their own performances to the max their film role allows them to play. But enough of all the sentiments here as I can leave that for the actor interviews on Toe-to-toe for this was a week of a little scene where some major faces made their appearances as extras in background to Nonso (Cass) enters prison for the first time. Watch the scene closely and don’t be fooled that some appear in uniforms because from east London to Birmingham to Sheffield from where these characters came from they are all living story's that have appeared in or done books themselves and back in the day such is the reputations of these men they must be worth a thousand years bird between them. So to cast the boys in this prison scene you could say was a little bit tongue-in-check.

So our man Nonso makes it through to weekend after a right set to with the powerful Winston Ellis just watching them perform was as close as the real tear-up with Zulu really was when I fought him all them years ago and we wasn't acting then believe me. You use what acting ability you can but end of day you have to let it go a bit, they did just that as the first aider on the set will tell you, “Action!”, “Cut!” then “MEDIC!” But the smart money wasn't down on that prison cell fight scene not after what we saw go on that very first weekend with West Ham and those dogs Wolves, when extras got noses broke and shoulders got dislocated and that was just mates between themselves doing rehearsals. So we have gone from that crazy first weekend where production crew could be forgiven for thinking what have they let themselves in for here, to now a build- up complete with sweepstake on the bodycounts for shooting week 4 that had all the atmosphere around the set that was more in-keeping with the full blood lust of a boxing crowd at Bethnal Green's York Hall on a big fight night. Total u-turn really so you know what I was thinking and you got a full idea what the film crew had now come to expect so imagine the actors nerves, butterflies, spirit and minds of Gavin, Leo and Nonso who have got to act their way through real firms and ensure they keep to their own script and not be worried about what was coming at them knowing its as near full on as it gets to real life situations.

So the scenes are set, the stakes raised, you feel the bloody lot could go and everyone is on the challenge to make a movie and keep control and keep everyone professional. The scene, its West Ham v Leeds but Leeds are in fact Stoke lads and they also the real deal for its the Naughty 40 and they coming down on a 49 seater straight off the back of Friday night club closing time for the 6am call to start rehearsals down here in the Smoke. Reason why is for a full scale north v south war across a council estate that would be turned into the days battlefield. So why Stoke? why not Stoke, football politics ain’t gonna allow a real Leeds firm film on a script based on a fuckin’ Cass Pennant book, simple thing is I never fought with Leeds only against and all the respect in the world (which I do hold, they were a mean lot and still are, just ask Wall). What I am trying to tell you here is the script is never gonna be right for them even if they was ever remotely interested. So my thinking of the films best way to put this altogether for movie makers Jon and Stef who really wanted to show the different styles of period football violence through different eras of time that was forever revolving and adapting to authority methods to stop it all. Now rival firms will always know their own rivals inside out and would capture the style, that attitude, that swagger, that extra bit of an accent put on “Come on then you cockney bastards.” So it had to be a call to Stoke and they didn't disappoint or let anyone down (aside one individual dimlo - and every firm has one don't they). I did before settling for Stoke think of a few firms to play a hateful Leeds mob and the Blades Business Crew boys could have done it but the ones I spoke to didn't want to or couldn’t see the irony of it, while I would have luv'd to have got the Soul Crew in as I know they’re a pretty much together bunch but the unworkable accents and too much recent history with our own lot would have been a big ask, a very big ask and I also thought of Bristol City too but only to make our own numbers up but all our boys were in and up for filming and where there was a shortfall I could trust some of the 657 Crew who would need no excuse. No Stoke was a must and the right call for me as it needs a firm with discipline that could be held and trusted and a real firm that's still in a time warp and up for it. Now I had seen they could answer that call from their book launch a few years back when near 1200 Stokies filled their local Civic Hall, UK Subs with Charlie Parker playing (Timewarp Again) and its full on 100% Stoke firm, all firm with maybe 120 I reckon that were from other clubs, rival clubs like the hated Port Vale (according to Stoke). A conversation I remember I had in the toilets with Vale went.... "Cass there is 12 of our finest here and the Naughty Forty are as good as gold, they are leaving us alone but we won't push it we're be off in a minute, we won't overstay our welcome, fair play to 'em and respect to the ICF, Vale have shown at the Stoke v West Ham games". Fair play to the N40 the Vale lads are basically saying and those of you that have been to my own book launches and I remember we had 700 West Ham bods for the Congratulations book, you know that does take some real organising that to pull off because it requires real trust and a respectful attitude with the lads to keep things proper on the day. So I made that call to the Naughty 40 bookman author saying 'Keep to fifty eh pal' and they obliged once they got their fuckin’ heads around why they had to play Leeds and not Stoke, they turned up to a man and lad in full original 80's casual clothing (told you they timewarp still), they had been on it for weeks hunting down the casual clobber and I still say today that was the best ever fashions to hit the terraces and wouldn’t it be a touch if it all came back into fashion next season over football, you know see a few wedge haircuts among today's youth firms again.

This is the time to mention Dave Lea the fight adviser over from LA but a London boy who originally looked after page 3 icon Sam Fox which took him to Hollywood where he made his reputation global because I would say he started all that personal trainer thing with the stars, I remember the Sun newspaper doing a big feature on him which said, Sam Fox's minder, who he is and why he makes her feel safe, shortly after that appeared it was like every celeb was hiring a personal trainer-come-minder and it’s worth taking a look at Dave's own website which is a link on my site here and you will see then why he was brought over to be the films fight advisor. He had some work on his hands to get the moves, work the boys and make 'em keep within the line rather than cross over it so this would be Dave's big week for sure because the boys involved as we had seen before don't go a lot on rehearsing what they have lived out for real.

The West Ham lads with their Under Fives gave the Stoke come Leeds mob the once over and all the boys mingled ok but the morning scenes worked out in a way to keep the rival fractions separated. The script scene clash would come that late afternoon when the cast and extras would all clash in scenes liken to Braveheart. Sounds exciting stuff but when you got full on mobs in a full-on charge its awesome to some but completely scary to others and the tensions get really heighten when Stoke's firm playing Leeds don't heed the cut call, its a cut call boys, you know action, cut, nope you never heard the AD screaming cut, ok lads. The West Ham lads to their credit held their line with a young towner claiming to have got one of the nor'ven cunts (the right one too - our matey Mr Dimlo) and its toe-to-toe all over the show with Dave Lea's half rehearsed elite pulling off some superb action with the actors Nonso, Gavin Brocker and Leo Gregory. Without revealing the ins and outs it was it was at times too real for comfort in there and there was always one dimlo who wanted to upstage a lead actor doing his job amongst the chaos created for the film's background effect. Fuckin’ liberty we all said, but take it as read the dimlo won't wanna be claiming his five mins of fame - not even with his own lot. The cameras captured all the days action and Stoke's N40 headed back up the M1 after sharing a beer and their days experiences afterwards in the Blind Beggar pub with their rivals West Ham, while the production crew and cast just looked to the heavens when we see the film call sheets for tomorrow scene which is war on the Geordies for next day's filming action. Which means we have a rival Boro’ Frontline splinter firm on their way down from the bleak north-east in hired minibuses to be the day's movie extras. Nonso, Leo, Gavin pick yourselves up boys for we're going in again.

So we almost there and we almost not there and I'll tell you I slept little that night after Stoke for as much as every extra had done me proud and made a magnificent gesture in giving up their own time and any loss of earnings, booking own paid hotels, travelling in from here there and everywhere. But that's the boys (plus the birds) and that's what we do and that's how we are as football people and as the Forest and Wednesday and Hartlepool faces joined the Stoke and West Ham lads in the Blind Beggar one pal reminded me personally, "Fuck the film Cass, we're here for you" which was a word in my shell-like ear that made me speechless. Despite all that its what we are and always have been as West Ham and reason Bill Garner always says why we will always go and will always help each other out like poor old Earnie who passed away this year, we all said what we'd like about him but end of day he was West Ham through and through so showed our support, didn't we all come the call to help out with his funeral. But it ain't exclusive to us as we'd always like to have thought back in the day and I guess now its through the books and that I find you can have a beer and chat with I'd gotta say some bitter rivals, and its only today you realise we might all have been rivals and probably still are but just look closer and you see same deal, you know mirrors, values, loyalty, respect all that, that if could be bottled and shown the right path in life, these lads would succeed at anything they put there hand too and of course many of them have.

So the last big fight and high personal risk scene according to film schedule is war on the Geordies and me head ain't right because Leo Gregory who I really rate as an actor and was an obvious call before any script had been finalised was now rumoured to be out, due to collecting a unscripted clump in the Leeds v ICF scene the day before. But come the day come the man and Leo, while still not a happy bunny, has bounced in, ready to go, true pro. Well Leo is Leo and he ain't short of taking liberty's himself (Tottenham flag I found hung in the pikmobile the one day I had me own caravan trailer on set). But seeing Leo back and bouncing gave everyone big lift on the film set at 6.30am that morning, none more so than me who has a habit of taking too much as personal thing of late.

Boro’ frontline pulled in and hit the breakfast queue straight from coming off their minibus looking like they'd found a soup kitchen during the miners strike of the 80's. Now we have history do West ham and Boro’ and it goes back, I happen to bump into this frontline firm in Portugal during war-torn Albufeira a few years back, this big lumps opening words were to me something on the lines off 'These boys remember you when you walked into their end with an axe' I said boys I remember but I was also 18 years old so it was all in the past, 'Yeah we know come to our party which I did and they put me on the phone to their main man who I don't have to mention by name but I look forward to meeting him at the film preview cos I have stayed in touch, they good bunch of lads and a group of them have travelled down, and sure they appear in the film as Geordies just to piss 'em off, but it's all part of having the craic making movies today as had a couple of car loads of toon army boys in this scene too but I wanna go back to what was the opening conversation I had with the Boro’ boys when I meet them in the hotel during Euro 2004, just because there we be a few comments from certain bods that will surface on website chatrooms no doubt, especially when they see some of the tools that the boys bring out in this movie we be thinking surely that didn't or couldn’t happen anywhere at a football game. I can only say it shouldn't happen and thank fuck it don't happen today at football, very rarely but you have that bit of conversation from Boro’ Frontline to remember certain things went on back in the day when you see some of the tools among the ICF's arsenal picked out in the film scenes. Yeah it’s naughty, but remember it’s a film and thank fuck you were too young to remember how it was back in the day with the Scouse, Mancs and Millwall, when it really did get naughty and it was nothing to do with rhyming with forty.

This is mainly an actors week. You know, no real mob rows till end of week but we're making a proper movie with some real deal talent and we might have to disappoint some of you and reveal now that this is not a football firm film movie, just look at the cast names you can't waste a line-up like that. Sure football is a part of it, well a major say after all it was so much of my live I lived for back in the day, but I remember when my biography which the film is based on first came out in 2000 and so many of you came up to me and said after reading it, how they thought they knew all there is to know about me until they read the book. Well exact same deal here and I will never deny my past and some of the headlines around this film when it comes out will lean that way but take it from me right now, you are gonna be taken back a bit when you go to see it.

Week 3 will go down as the week we all realised we could be sitting on a serious little movie. Nonso and Nathlie went head to head and raised the bar to such an emotional level that you could hear a pin drop and then you went from that to feeling your head go fuzzy; the emotion acted out in front of us is one where a actor finds himself immersed into the role so deeply they then finds something they never knew was there and it all comes out on camera, unscripted. Totally was awesome to watch, it was one of those where nobody on set is even looking at each other, off the set you are just glued to the performance trying to do your jobs without seemingly being effected, but you are. I think everyone who was there and involved in those house scenes became moved by what those actors made us witness. Like I said: you could hear a pin drop and other times you could see peoples eyes welling up. It was heavy and emotional and even for me watching too fucking real to say: “Oh its only a movie.” I hardly watch movies and couldn’t tell you much about actors, but I know what I was seeing that day and I know from the reactions of the film crew around me we were witnessing performances that can only be looked back on as career bests come the day. Listen, I give you two names to go out and watch any films they appear in, that’s Nathlie Press and Nonso Anozie then when you watch Cass tell me then they were not top of their game making that movie.

The week should have ended there as far as writing up this from my film dairy but the weekend had some important movie scenes that involved camera technology. This is the funeral scenes and the boys are back in with some surprise surprise faces playing cameo parts to which you can view the gallery to see who they are. Before I name-check a few people because it’s a big extras scene and they are my people and who I write this site up for in the main, but in case I have some film industry bods browsing here I give you this name: Chris Ross. All the camera shit you’re gonna see in this movie and all those that watch movies for the technical qualities then that's the name and he had his own team that I couldn't see any chinks within this crew but that’s for the industry buffs and can't say no more cos you know that's not my expertise, but I do know one or two things about putting a tidy team together back in the day. I would definitely say Chris Ross was on a mission in what he and his crew gave and put into this movie.

So the week ends with all the bad lads back in town for the big showdown and payback. It’s Tamer, Leo, Gavin, Bronson, Paul Kaye and of course Nonso. Now if these ain’t bad enough look no further than the extras. They wanted pub regulars that could pass as gooners and they got real drinkers from Holywood East, a local boozer in South East that are mostly old skool gooners together with the usual odds and sods. The director always said he was gonna make this movie as real as he could get it but I don't think he himself would know what he was letting himself in for. So, it’s a pub scene and they fill up real drinkers’ glasses with dishwater, you know that ain’t gonna last with this lot and it did'nt take long for someone to put out the SOS and the response came back in carrier bags. Next up Tamer Hassan bursting in branding a gun and everyone just carried on drinking. The AD asks if everyone knows what to do and course they know what to do, for half of them have experienced such scenes for real. So when you watch this particular scene look closer at the extras reactions as they play it real to life, though there will be one face missing from this motley crew as filming ran over time and he decides to reveal he'd better be off because he's on a tag.

The support I've had from the extras for this movie throughout has at times left me overwhelmed. Like I say friends, real friends and family and a right few faces from all over the country (Stilks even flew in from Cypress), plus three generations of West Ham and I think we're just wink at each other when the 'We're being mugged off'threads appear on the odd board. End of day it’s a film and when people see it hopefully think its a damn good one because after all we have all lived our own lives and surely that matters more.

We're making movies and I am stressed to fuck. You know what I'm like: serious head, everything has to be right, have to be organised, have to be worried about something 24/7, on call to all film departments and all the cast plus 250+ extras to sort. So I'm on a mission so I don't look like a happy bunny but believe me I'm having the craic for some good people around me and meeting more all the time and its Tamer time. Yeah Tamer Hassan and we know his team as he know ours, not a problem he good stuff and can deliver, he is flying at the moment, three for a tenner and he's in two out of three betcha. The Business is a good call but Eastern Promises the latest. He's powerful in our movie and plays Ray who is several real life characters in one who are lets say very very special friends end off. Won't spoil the plot of the movie but he didn't do bad for us in the 7 a-sides bleeding claret & blue eh? read the toe-to-toe interview with Tamer coming soon for those who know what we're talking of. Oh the goodlife.

Week two saw close family friends plus over a 100 Hammers across 3 generations appear as background in various scenes as we kept it local filming at some well familiar haunts around the east end. So what were the highlights for me that week I have got to remember yet again Nonso impressing those close family friends of mine in the restaurant scene with Nathlie Press. Also this was a big week for the girls and Nathlie and Lorraine Stanley both bouncing and bubbly actors had me still chuckling now about the pub scenes I won't give nothing away but 'WANKER' followed by clump will always remind me of you don't mess with those two. The pub scenes were of different periods of time so I actually got 3 Cass's playing me and they good but got to tell yer that I'm the real and you hear yer name called and it ain’t for you. yeah everyday. Back to the pub scene and actor Johnny Palmiero has got that look (The Tottenham on train in Green Street) and he back here as some skinhead fuck and he goes Cass they got me playing a real nazi in me next movie. Then big Bob got in on the act (one-eyed West ham Bob) as Jamie Kenna (watched the adverts lately) has got his work cut out from Bob adding his own lines. Big Joe Egan and everybody luvs big Joe somehow got lines that weren’t in script but everybody knows Joe so it was another pint Joe, Joe. King camera shy had to go to crazy Dave who later went onto be a real pornstar (won't go there as don't want to embarrass the security so tell that story when I see yer). I think a few of you know Dave that goes West Ham and there he is, we have shot the scene now remember he is just a extra and we have real actors for the camera and there he is walking back in shot and its cut. He's good lad and West Ham and had a good few scenes anyway but he you kept on hearing cut and there he is popping up in camera shot. The lads were in stitches, the camera crew on the floor and he was last seen leaving the set telling everyone he'd been offered a part in Cass 2 movie. I say nothing for it was me that was hosting the Gentleman's Evening when he popped up as the night’s volunteer pornstar. All I will add is he is West Ham and he has got the front.

The other highlights is kind of weird as you make movies shooting out of script sequence and I'm on set watching scenes where I am burying my mum (filmed at a real church and one of the mourners whose a extra had buried his close loved one in same church couple of weeks earlier said nothing and told no one till it got a bit much for him. Now what do you say to that except I am moved and I think the whole production was for the very real support to this movie given by every extra, truly). so I burying my mum one minute next I'm having my coming out of prison party before I have done the bird, before that I was falling in Love and all this before the dramatic nightclub shooting scenes so in terms watching yourself go through one emotion after another I would say it is kind of weird being on set.

ON SET - WEEK 1

Cass the movie eh, where do I start? First of all I can’t believe my lucky stars and I owe a lot to director Jon Baird and Stefan Haller and the people behind them who always said, “Cass we are making this dammed movie”. Well we certainly are as the big kick off finally arrived here and my promise to keep you guys up-to-date is already a catch-up post as we are way past week one, but what a week to talk about.

Day 1 and pretty bubbles were in the air as ICF elite were formed to travel to Newcastle and the ICF firm were actually extras that were sons of some well known pals of mine, original football casuals and general Hammers fans. The boys had a laugh and brought home memories to me and everyone who can remember those away days in the back of an old transit without seats, feet everywhere, pure hate to the one who farted and the fool who produced a packet of twenty to be left with only one for himself. Just remember when you see the film, they started it they threw the bomb 1980.

Middle of the week we kept it local with a Monty’s special and a violent scene outside the Chicken Run that brought back memories of that famous hooligan documentary featuring the U5’s back in the day outside the Southbank. Nasty, vicious street scene acted out in broad daylight which I half expected to be seen reported next week’s Recorder. Of course there was always going to be revenge and what went on in Monty’s cafe (North London branch) with chairs, tables, bodies smashed against the wall, Little Jela forgetting we are acting and pulled a right-hander so we had real claret on the floor and some unscripted stunts that you lot are just gonna have to watch to see for yourselves, believe me the lot went up in Monty’s that day and in typical east end fashion some fucker in the cafe during the carnage carried on doing his crossword, so I think you have the picture now, we are doing all we can to keep it real and we are using real people as extras so watch the scenes closely. It was good to hear all the comments that the lead actor Nonso Anozie (Atonement) had convinced those that know me very well he was getting me from all the final detail aspects from voice, to mannerism's and general character and this would be interesting to see how Nonso develops as a highly thought of talent when the real me enters this film, as you know the football thing was only part of my life, albeit a major factor in what was fair to say a very violent past. Nonso’s co stars Galvin Brocker and Leo Gregory (Green Street) playing ‘Prentice and Freeman really brought in on and work together well in capturing that bonding, camaraderie thing we all bought into from those football days that keep you loyal to one another. Paul Kaye (Dennis Pennis) and Bronson Webb (Football Factory) are the bad guys and you can tell that they are bang up for their roles and have done plenty homework.

End of week one, saw those dogs of war Wolves come into it for a real 70’s fight scene re-created that it was amazing seeing how convincing that looked on the playback (big thanks to the real boys and extras and fight consultant supremo Dave Lea). Some dodgy period fashions were on show, scarfs on wrists and all that plus some bad stuff went on but that’s Wolves for yer. They been a crazy bunch since the 70’s and in real life the start of my own away day ventures to places like Leicester and Coventry, you remember them old North bank bovver boy days when our only ambitions was to rule London and going far north stopped at Stoke. Southbank crew were the name back then in the era of ‘Want Some Aggro’ and Jamie Kenna was proper in his role as the West Ham mob leader throughout in the young Cass days who was by the way played by Daniel Kaluuha who impressed a few of the real boys around who said “Cass that was you back then, we still remember you back then”.

So all the talk, all the hopes and now it’s happening people keep asking and particular those in production that I am around each day as consultant to all, They ask me what does it feel like to be making this movie about you? Well it’s kind of weird as I have to think about it and to tell the truth it throws me, I’ve been involved with the film makers Jon and Stefan on a day- to-day basis for so long I feel outside my own movie and feel same as the person who is asking, that I am part of production and of course I am so you know I am in that mode all the time. But when I look back I guess it’s the little things that hit home to me from that very first week, I’m talking about remembering myself just staring at the trailers and thinking about what are all these doing parked up here, thinking fucking hell these are all for a movie on me, my life and no acting agency has sent me here today (remember as a struggling author I covered myself by working as a extra for a couple of years). Other little things like the silly personal grins me, Stef and Jon give each other at the end of the day with no words really said cos we all so concentrated on what the next call is. Then there is the thumbs up and support of me own friends and family that I am so lucky to have to keep my feet firmly on the ground and stay true to me as I would for them. I am a person who uses the word real a lot because it’s a word to me with meaning you can’t just buy into but believe me there is some real energy, talent and ambitions being put into making this a real proper movie that will entertain and move yer all when it’s all done. Week 1, and l guess I am feeling f...... proud is my answer to that question.

Well what is of interest to safely update you all. I guess the defining moment for me was the green light for the film’s budget was assured by the film lawyer and accountants and 2 years of prep can be put into a real shoot that is really happening. So pleased for the crew involved in this and particular the director Jon Baird who along with Stefan Haller have done so much behind getting this to about to happen.

The real work has already started as I am as good as introduced to the full production crew out on a location drive by. This can unexpectedly be interesting as when you see a film you always wonder what pub was that they used in this and that film, I remember the cult classic A Clockwork Orange like everyone knew it was part of the Thamesmead estate, south London which was shot for that but can anyone remember the other estate that was used in that cult classic, the journey got me thinking back to my blink if you miss part in the big footie movie of 2005, Green Street when they had that big off outside Manchester Piccadilly station which was really Fenchurch station being filmed as the location. So going out with the production crew short listing set locations was a blinding insight that had me wondering how they gonna turnout when we actually go to shoot come filming day this trip visiting the possible locations also served me another reminder its happening.

It’s very hard for me to keep this diary firing as its all behind the scenes stuff and fucking amazing to those closely involved, but it brings home to me personally how I realise and appreciate how hard it is to get a real movie made and out on the silver screen.

Do take a look at the cast list its fuckin awesome. I know that you guys know my story and that I know some of you are all so much part of my story. But these are fuckin actors that are going to do this, you know the other people (the nice people). So you know I am lookin at them differently as I get introduced to them, I am looking beyond the handshake and thinking is this cos it’s the next job their agent got them to sign up for. This film I cannot begin to tell you what it means to me, so I will have suspicions. So to see whether they got beyond the infamous part of my life that I am never gonna deny I wanna know if they are seeing that there is a story here that’s bigger than the Cass/ICF thing. And I am straight with them, not always straight away as I choose my moments but I will ask them each on their own exactly why they really wanna do this movie and what they see in the script of the story. I not being flash with these amazing actors because its more the case I have to pitch myself that this is happening because of all the story’s out there to pick as a film, why mine. But big respect to these professional actors they get the bigger picture of what the director wants to do and they really do buy into the story that is just asking to be put across on screen. What’s more they are all bang up for it and if you think I am buzzing you should have seen actors Nonso Anozie (Cass), Leo Gregory (Freeman) and young Gavin Brocker (Prentice) buzzing and rocking away at the Mean Fiddler, Tottenham Court road when a firm and half of West Ham rolled into town for the Cockney Rejects live gig, a return of a band who hadn’t played in the west end since their riot torn gigs of the ‘80s. Its research material when you need it for acting that you are never gonna find at a football match today, you want 70’s and 80’s, you want to taste the period mood of those times go join the Rejects live.

There was a right few characters that were lively that night and even more lively back in the day, one such character with me would have been who John Harris (Jimmer) would have played until commitments elsewhere clashed with this films schedule and he has had to give the role of Jimmer up. Tell you what I watched this fucker in the film London to Brighton, fucking good actor or what, so just like the football squad you pick for the big one you can lose a good’un through circumstances but I advice film buffs to keep an eye on whatever movies he pops up in the future, I also wish him well, real Sarf London lad but good stuff, proper.

Also meet Nathalie Press (Elaine) when we went for meal with Mrs P to our fave Chinese, the Lotus floating restaurant in docklands. Now she is something in this actor and there’s that actor stakes. She got some proper big kudos when she co-starred alongside Emily Blunt in the movie A Summer of Love. Now I happen to watch this film and to be honest it’s a bit arty farty; we put any of that in the Cass movie and we will be going straight to West End theatre instead of DVD. We all know when you meet someone you can find out if they’re interesting or not and she is nice, genuine and an obviously talented actress. GQ magazine recently done a top twenty of UK Hollywood actors that featured only 3 named women, her name was one of them so the bonus is she is obviously going to do her talking on the pitch (read her cv) and no you perv’s Mrs P ain't like that, not for you anyway.

Will be interesting to meet Tamer Hassan (Ray) as he is well cast in all I have seen, my kind of movies too. We have meet before briefly in unplanned places e.g. like private film screening of Football Factory and Joe Pyle funeral, so hardly gone past the hello stage but he has got a very interesting role to play loosely based on a very true friend of the family who has a boxing link just like Tamer.

Another interesting call is a real interesting one, in this film game the scripts often will change and adapt differently to the outset as will the cast sometimes. But one name I will be very pleased to talk about come my next dairy blog if this gentleman (and he is a gentleman) signs up. But that’s for my next blog when I will keep you posted bang up to date.

Kick started with me and the film producers Steffan Haller and Jon Baird with Brit pack actor Leo Gregory attending one of the years hot parties held at the Cafe de Royale in Leicester Square where Total Film Magazine held their tenth anniversary bash. As ever I'm up for anything and I was invited along to have a interesting night being introduced to movie industry types and this is not the first time I have been lucky to find myself for I've been around the Green Street and Snatch movie makers and that was a buzz, but this is a different buzz, let me tell you, but lets not forget this project is 2 years in the making and we're not there yet because there is a big agenda going on around this movie which is why producer Steffan Haller flew in from LA. He has some serious film finance meetings throughout the month as this project they like to call it is attracting across- the- seas interest that will see further bits of business in this direction being done at Cannes as we speak.

So its all happening thick and fast as the casting list is building into a premier league of talent you just couldn't dream of putting together. There a real buzz around the news of the movie and we have not even started pre-production yet. The people producers Jon, Steff and third producer Will are putting together all see and get what this film is to be about, you guys reading this will know my story but it is important to me and the film's director Jon Baird, that the people and we mean actors in the main see the story too, its a tough and competitive business where a payday in a actors life has to stretch far and you can understand some actors lose sight of why they made acting their career. So my thinking is rather don't get fooled if I shake your hand out of politeness because I will be looking elsewhere about you to see if you are gonna put in the sacrifice on a level I achieved to make my life story a bestselling book that still is a popular seller some 7 years after first publication.

Glad to report some took the test straight away as me in the west end is their world while the east could be said is ours and I was surprised and chuffed to see who turned up and jibbed into West Ham v Everton for the last home game of the season. Saaf Londoner Johnny Harris with Anozo Anosie who is the man mountain and talented well thought of actor who has the lead role in that he plays me. So we meet for first time at Upton Park station and we hit off with a big breakfast down at Montys cafe (these boys are a long way from the west end now) and Anozie fair play hangs out the full day and by the time he has sunk a diet-coke (you sure fella and they call me the shandyman) in the Stanley and Boleyn he is ready for bubbles time and entering the scared lands that is the Boleyn Ground. A great day and the two actors are always gonna learn something from the characters and pals of mine they bumped into that day as we set ourselves up for Old Trafford and staying-up. It wern't just about meeting the boys and the buzz of following the boys in claret and blue, there's a area there with some sound people that needs a pick-up with what a film can bring it and I am glad the director feels the same. location for the full film shoot is to take place right throughout the east end from Shoreditch to Barking. Some of the key actors have already signed for gym memberships down at the famous Peacock Gym in Canning Town while the location manager continues to scout suitable east end boozers for the film.

Also into the mix some serious female cast in Nathalie Press, Linda Bassett, Lorraine Stanley now I am no film buff but those that are all say these ladies are hot actors. I need to watch some movies but where do you get the time but I've just recently watched the critically acclaimed London to Brighton film and Lorraine Stanley, Johnny Harris and Jamie Kenna all prominently feature in a movie that hits you hard, Dead Man's Shoes hard.

Its all good people, we are staying up, we are making this damn hot movie, just stick with us we are all West Ham and none can stop us, keep the faith and I'll keep you all up-to-date through this site.

Cass

Get ready for this people the film is happening and its been confirmed and registered. Filming will take place this year and they are saying June/July with it hitting the cinemas 2008. So months of rumour, buzz word and groundwork we can all start to believe the real deal and we better believe 'cos some major British talent from production to actors is reading like a real Brit pack casting. Next week I will reveal some of the cast and those of you who have watched Green Street and Football Factory will give it the big "Aaahh, its him!" while others you will need to know your movies. But its happening and you will certainly get it here first and, as always, we will be telling like it is ... and no Sol Campbell will not be playing me for the last time of asking (Harry wants him playing in the Two-bob Cup). Anyway take it as read and that the gag is off as next week and onwards I bring you whose on the action and I will name them too so stay with me, it's a interesting year ahead.

"What's happening with the film then Cass? You are still doing a film, ain't yer?"

What can I say guys? You sign a deal to sell the rights to your life story and then diddly squat! So maybe you think, maybe not, you're in a dream and it's just bits of talk. Then you have these chats with guys in the game and they say "It's all about the script, its all on your script, the script gotta be right Cass." Is the word I'm constantly advised (Henry VIII) and (BillyAlbert) and (007) all said as much into my shell-like ear, but that's no news for you or me. What about the fucking film we say.

So I switch off and write another book ... there you go, 30 Years of Hurt ... which becomes 41 by the time I complete July's film dairy log and still there is nothing to shout home about. Then we are at the end of September and the director says "Cass, we are gonna let you see the script." So this is now at last some news and it's about me, so of course I'm keen to read it and I don't need to reach half-way to know they have nailed it. I say "THEY" cos there's always a mystery person involved and I won't reveal him yet, but they have grasped the story behind my story and it comes out damn well. Now you guys know the story if you have read the book but trying to get someone's life story to fit into film running time is a story in itself! But like I say, they are confident they have nailed the story. I just say it's gonna blow everybody away and this film diary is going to have a real buzz about it in the coming weeks and months, as there are meetings going on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (as I write) though my first thoughts are that my story was made in Britain and is nailed on for an all British cast.

A major film industry big player has been showing interest in the script in recent weeks. The script is at the first draft stage and I have seen enough to excite the bigman, as at last I know which characters from the bestselling biography make the cut. Director Jon Baird dropped a major Brit movie actor sort for one of the main characters. Now, I don't think there is anyone out there who has not read or heard of the book, so you will know there is a real life East End hardman who taught me to survive the doors and prison days. The actor they are all saying is bang on ideal for this role appeared in Mean Machine and Green Street and whenever you watch this actor you think "fucking hell, he's the nuts of a actor!". Well have fun working out who I may be talking about ... and if this is all Double-Dutch then remember the film people wanna keep the cards close to their chest. But I'll tell you what: if you have read the book and can have a bit of fun by suggesting character roles for actors names then I will be watching who you guys wanna see in the film. Just post the name possibles on me guestbook. I'll be taking a look, but I am gagged so don't expect a reply at this stage.

Cass-The Movie latest: Went to best ever FA Cup final with film director Jon Baird and plenty going on film-wise. He's gagged me and my gob is shut but I can muffle the words that I have been in talks with major PR companies  that included Max Clifford . The script is near completion and people are getting excited but I'm cool as I am waiting to see the money man who lands on Friday so then we can get down to some real serious news and ensure those that keep tabs with this site are kept up to date.