Exclusive: Jahi Di'Allo Winston On His Starring Role In ‘Charm City Kings’
Now playing on HBO is Charm City Kings, directed by Angel Manuel Soto from a script written by Sherman Payne.
Charm City Kings won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival for its cast that includes Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Meek Mill, Will Catlett, Donielle Hansley, Kezii Curtis, Chino, Lakeyria “Wheelie Queen” Doughty and Teyonah Parris.
In the film, Mouse (Di’Allo Winston) desperately wants to join The Midnight Clique, an infamous group of Baltimore dirt bike riders who rule the summertime streets. When Midnight’s leader, Blax (Meek Mill), takes 14-year-old Mouse under his wing, Mouse soon finds himself torn between the straight-and-narrow and a road filled with fast money and violence.
For Winston, the 16-year old has been rising steadily in the last few years with roles in The New Edition Story, The Upside, Proud Mary, and most recently Queen & Slim. With Kings, this represents his first starring role and he shines in it. Winston spoke exclusively with BlackFilmandTV.com about the role and working with Meek Mill.
What led you to say yes to this project?
Jahi Di'Allo Winston: I really love the simplicity of the script. I love how simple it was, while simultaneously being complex and full of depth. I love the fact that mouse was a miniscule being that the story was being told to through his eyes. He was sort of cognizant, dynamic, and enormous in this world. So it was really cool to be part of it. I'm really excited for people to see it
How would you relate to the character? What part of Mouse is you?
Jahi Di'Allo Winston: I think he really wants validation from his friends and the girl he likes, but most importantly, validation from himself. I've definitely been in that space where I've wanted a sense of validation myself, or I feel like I've had to prove something to myself. It drew me to different sides of who I am. Mouse is similar in the same way. He wants validation from yourself, and for lack of a better word, he wants to avenge the loss of his brother. I had a lot of fun crafting and molding who he is, and all of his different layers.
Did you learn how to dirt bike?
Jahi Di'Allo Winston: I did not learn how to dirt bike ride. All of what you see in the movie from mouse’s scenes are stunt doubles.I didn't learn how to, but I did immerse myself in the dirt bike culture. I really went back to our main source of reference, which was the 12 O'clock Boys documentary by Lotfy Nathan, which is the documentary that this film is inspired by. I went back to that a couple of times, and really studied that as much as I could. I studied a bunch of footage of the kids from Baltimore talking about the city and talking about their love of their bikes. So I'm really excited. People didn't get to see the actual riders in the film, because they're athletes. It's crazy what you can do on a bike. I'm excited for everyone to see them and all of what they can do.
How was working along with Meek Mil? Did you teach him something on the acting level and did he teach you something about the music world?
Jahi Di'Allo Winston: It was both. When it came to us being on set, I hit him up on the music and was trying to sneak in my demo. I was saying “Bro, put me on an album?" We had a lot of fun together and just helping each other around. He would ask me questions, I would ask questions about his career and when it came to the process of acting, it was really cool to be share space with him and get to play with him.
As the lead in this film, was it ever daunting knowing you have to carry most of it?
Jahi Di'Allo Winston: No. It wasn't really about the fact that I felt any pressure of that I had to carry the movie, but I think I work a lot. It definitely sharpened and pushed my work ethic. I worked every day. I never been a part of a schedule as rigorous as this. It was as demanding as this. That was the challenging part. Sometimes the work and as much as the amount of time that I put in was catching up to me, but I had to take a breath and recharge. I was glad that we got days off where I can charge and just chill and not have to think about work and then get right back into the mode of working. Of course now I miss working.
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