So tell me what you've been up to since you've been away?
Well I took few years out of the limelight, and I've had a great time. I've spent five and a half years writing my first screenplay, which I'm going to direct next year and I've really enjoyed doing that. I've also just finished a new album, my first for seven years, which is the soundtrack to my movie, which I want to get released by next May. It's called 'Sine-tempus' which is Latin for without time, which is also the title of my new movie. So, I've been doing that and I've spent the last year and a half getting my record label back on track, which I felt really good about. Oh and I've been painting again...
What have you been painting?
Well I used to do graffiti for years so I've just been doing it on canvases and doing abstract art, that kind of stuff.
And what's your film about?
Inner city blues I think really. It's just my interpretation of how I think things have changed and accelerated, and how we have to take care of our own generation. I've always had an interest in social climate and social change – I've seen a lot of different ghettos in different places from up north, to New York, Miami and I think life's taught me a lot and I want to try and project that somehow and try and turn it into something positive.
Have you written stuff like that before, or was this your first venture?
My first venture really, but I think it's a bit like my music, which is different to everyone else's isn't it? I try to paint a picture with my music, I always have done. I think I've been able to take challenges on board that most people can't, and because I'm an artist and I paint, I have vision. It's like the music videos I did, I've done three in my past career that I kind of directed and I enjoyed doing that. I think it's like anything else; once you've got a knack for it, you can do it, you know?
So which actors would you like to work on this film with you?
I can't really say at this stage. I'm not even bothered about that at the moment to be honest. Even though the screenplay is pretty much finished I've probably got at least eight more weeks work left to do on the script itself. Once that's done, I've got some names in my head that I know I want in there. A film decides itself though, especially if you've got a good casting director. I think I'll look at a lot of home-grown talent because there are some great actors in this country who aren't really getting a look in, you know?
Are you going to be in it?
No not at all. That would be mistake number one.
Why?
You obviously don't like film! Any director in a film… it just doesn't stand up. It's like, did you ever see 'Everyone Loves Sunshine' which had me and David Bowie in it?
No
OK, well that's a perfect example of how not to make a film. Basically you can't have a director that wants to be a movie star, it just doesn't work.
Do you think a lot of people will be surprised when this film comes out, by what you did?
A lot of people are surprised that I even make music! They go, 'Goldie? That was the guy who was in EastEnders'. People forget that I was painting trains in New York 15 years ago, and getting into music and all that stuff later on. I just think for me, there's nowhere left to go really.
What do you mean?
Well, I painted until I was bored stiff, I've done acting, I've made music to the best of my ability, and I just want to make a movie now. If I can make a beautiful movie, then that's all I want to do.
When are you hoping it's going to be ready for release?
2007
So you'll start filming for that when?
I want to start filming in August, in the summer time. It's a great screenplay, it's an original screenplay which is very different, you know, so I'm quite confident of how I want to go about doing this. I'm sure the morning will come when it's ready.
Have you had a lot of industry interest in it?
Well I know there are people who are interested in it, and the more the merrier. But I will direct it how I want to direct it because I have a vision for this. It's been living with me for many, many years. It's like anything, if you have something inside your head for a long enough time, it has to come out somewhere – it has to have direction. People nowadays, they lack vision I think, so the one thing I'm happy about is that I've had plenty of time for this movie to be, to teach me a lot about maturity and how to grow up.
What about your acting – do you want to continue doing that?
I'll tell you what acting is – having a bit of laugh really. I wanted to know what it was like being in front of a camera, now I want to be the other side of it.
