NME has an exclusive clip from the new music comedy California Schemin’ – check it out in the video above.
The British film, which marks the directorial debut of James McAvoy, stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, aka friends Gavin and Billy. The pair dream of the big time only to be dismissed by London music executives because of their accents. Determined to do anything to make it, they pose as Americans, change their accents and come up with new identities, which sees them unexpectedly get the spotlight they crave.
The incredible story is based on real events, chronicled in the 2010 memoir California Schemin’: How Two Lads From Scotland Conned The Music Industry. The pair would be featured on MTV and tour with Eminem, but the pressure of keeping the deception going tested their resolve and their friendship.
In NME’s exclusive clip, we see the moment the boys decide to pretend they are from America in order to get the attention of an executive. When it works, they realise they have to remix all of their music with their new US accents, which leads to a montage of recording that makes them believe they can pull this off.
McAvoy himself appears in a supporting role in the film, which is in cinemas from today (April 10). James Corden also makes an appearance as a music executive. The film has been warmly received by critics, currently enjoying a 97 per cent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The comedy has been described in reviews as “a euphoric rags-to-riches-to-rags movie”, with McAvoy singled out by many reviewers for his energetic directing style.
In 2024, McAvoy sat down with NME to share the music that meant the most to him, and included rapper Plan B in an eclectic line up alongside U2, Rod Stewart, and Damien Rice.
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