It’s been a long wait, but the movie California Schemin’ is finally getting its U.S. release in October having premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last September. That the film—which tells the tale of two Scottish rappers, a duo called Silibil N’ Brains, who fool record executives into thinking they’re American in order to score a deal—is based on a true story only makes it all the more mouth-watering.
Billy “Silbil” Boyd and Gavin “Brains” Bain were the rappers, and it was Bain who wrote the book California Schemin’: How Two Lads from Scotland Conned the Music Industry, which the movie is based on.
Samuel Bottomley plays Boyd, Séamus McLean Ross plays Bain, and Lucy Halliday plays Boyd’s partner Mary. James McAvoy directed the film, and he has a small role as record exec Anthony Reid. Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson took the tale from book to screenplay. MC chatted with Bottomly, Halliday, Bain, and Thomson about it all…
Samuel Bottomly
(actor, Billy “Silibil” Boyd)
How did you get involved with the project? What was the casting process like?
The whole casting experience was really fun. Once I’d forwarded my tape I found out I had a recall and a meeting with the director and casting director. So, I packed a bag a shot off to London. I was waiting outside the building as I didn’t want to go in too early. Then McAvoy walked up to me and said, “You alright mate? Do you want to walk in with us?” I sort of just like composed myself and I got stuck into the audition. Then the next time I saw them was at the chemistry readthrough where I was reading opposite a bunch of “Gavins” and that’s where I met Seamus. I was then offered the job and that was the start of Silibil N’ Brains.
Had you heard about the real events prior to reading the script? Or seen the documentary?
In short no. I didn’t have any knowledge of the story until I read the script. However, as soon as I’d read the script, I watched the documentary, and this helped me understand the world I was stepping in to.
What was your reaction when you read the script?
My first thought was how relatable the script was. [It’s] normal having big dream, it’s definitely something I can connect with. It felts like something from a comic book.
Had you had any musical experience prior to this film?
Not of this nature. Music is a massive part of my life, so it made this kind of thing more exciting for me.
How did you prepare? Did you spend much time with Gavin and/or Billy?
I watched the documentary a few times and listened to the music…. on repeat. Worked alongside the accent coach to get both accents right and had the pleasure to be able to pick Billy’s brain, whenever I needed.
Are you pleased with the way the film turned out?
Yes. We had so much fun whilst filming. Everyone worked so hard, and it makes me very proud to watch everyone’s hard work come to life.
Lucy Halliday
(actor, Mary Boyd)
How did you get involved with the project? What was the casting process like?
It was a very standard casting process. I got sent the script and I read it and I immediately loved it and knew I wanted to put my hat in the ring for this project. So I did a self-tape, following which I met with James and Kathleen Crawford—our casting director—and Samuel Bottomley—who plays Billy. We all read together and then I had the job, so I was very lucky that it wasn’t a convoluted or tricky process and I immediately loved all the people involved and knew I wanted to work with them.
Had you heard about the real events prior to reading the script? Or seen the documentary?
I actually hadn’t heard about it, but as soon as I read the script I went and watched the documentary and I was so surprised that this had passed me by because it is such a notorious event in Scottish history and pop culture that I wish I’d grown up hearing about it as a folk tale of sorts because I think it would’ve inspired me greatly as a child.
What was your reaction when you read the script?
In shock. In hysterics. I loved it immediately. I thought it’s such a brilliant and strong Scottish story and we always need more of those, and I thought it showed a lens of Scotland in the media that isn’t always portrayed—authentic Scottish humor prevailed and I loved it.
Did you spend any time with the real Mary?
I did spend time with the real Mary. I was very fortunate that she was so forthcoming with speaking with me before we started filming and so we had various conversations. I really did utilize her insight and her memories of that time in her life and put that into the character that you see on screen because her version of events is obviously going to differ greatly to that of the boys. I fervently desired to highlight this contrast but also highlight her as a human being because she’s such a ferocious force of nature and formidable feature in the story. I really wanted to ensure that I was authentically portraying her.
Are you pleased with the way the film turned out?
Oh, absolutely. I had such a joy of a time working on this film and I’m so proud of everyone who was involved in it both on screen and off. Also getting to be part of anyone’s directorial debut is such a special and privileged moment and I really hope this is the start of many more to come.
Gavin “Brains” Bain
(writer, member of Silibil N’ Brains)
After writing the book and then a documentary getting made, were you surprised that a movie was also going to happen?
No not at all, that was a part of the plan. In 2007, after coming clean on stage, I told friends I was going write a book and take it to the big screen and of course everyone I told laughed and shook their head, just Gavin being crazy again. I actually told my closest friends the truth... that I was going to write the book, make a documentary, adapt the book for the big screen and take the story to the West End and Broadway. By this point, my best friends knew not to doubt me. At every stage of my journey there was gatekeepers and industry types in music, in book, and film, who told me I’m crazy, that I’m not good enough, not marketable, they don’t get it or can’t see the vision. It has never stopped me. I appreciate challenges and difficulty; it makes the wins bigger.
It’s taken 15 years since writing the book. Yes, reaching your dreams can take time and they should be incredibly difficult and take everything in you to reach them or else what would be the point. Nothing easy is ever worthwhile. Next, we take the story to the stage and complete the entire musical journey. The reason I set such a ridiculous unreachable dream was to test the universe and my inner belief. Everything I ever wanted to achieve, I did, so I wanted to set the finish line in the realms of fantasy, the so called “impossible.” So that each day working towards it would bring tests and challenges but also the baseline feeling of joy that I am on a road towards greatness and when it’s done, I will have achieved something that nobody I know or have even heard of has ever achieved. Not bad for a kid from Scotland who was told he would never make it. My life, my journey stands as example for every kid with big dreams who might be stuck in a nowhere town, in the ass end of the planet, with no chance of making it. If you start and don’t stop, you will succeed, as long as you’re humble and dedicated to the art and getting better. If you believe in yourself and your ability and have an honest willingness to learn then the universe will obey.
So, as the great Nate Diaz once said with a face full of blood, “I’m not surprised motherfuckers!”
How much involvement did you have? Did the cast speak with you?
Before signing the film deal I had grown frustrated with receiving really bad pitches and low-quality scripts from great writers, even BAFTA and Oscar-nominated writers, who just couldn’t get the voice of the characters right. And I had grown frustrated at myself for not just having a go at writing the screenplay myself, I had given in for a brief moment to influential people in the film business telling me I can’t write it. When COVID hit, I got COVID and while sick I decided “fuck it, I’m just going to have a crack at it, what is there to lose?” At least I’d be happy that I gave it a shot. And it was actually really good. We sold that script into the deal, and it began to inform everything we did in the project but most of all the voice was right, it was real and authentic. It was a further two years of building the team before we finally got James McAvoy on board. And from that point we were flying within six months we were in production and six weeks after that the film was made.
wasn’t just pleased with the outcome… I fucking loved it. As a lifelong film fan, I felt like it was an impossible job for the film to impress me. I had seen so many bad scripts and had met so many people in the film business over the years who just have very cheesy programmed minds and so I had nightmares of the film being very corny. It wasn’t, James and everyone involved totally understood a lot of the dark context of what I had gone through in my life, they understood the treatment of Scots in England and everyone on board had a story of people trying to hold them back and ruin their dreams just because of their voice, what they looked like or where they were from. And it translated through the screen and in every performance. While it’s almost impossible to capture every part of the story or translate the book beat for beat, what they did was captured a vibe that felt realer than real.
The film is funny but also extremely deep and moving in parts. I saw it five times and every time I saw something different in the film. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and, in many ways, it’s helped me feel better about the whole journey. It’s been a cathartic process. It achieved the impossible by exceeding my expectations and I think it will really hit home with so many people.
How do you look back on the whole Silibil N’ Brains experience now?
My book California Schemin’ takes the reader on a deep journey of self-discover dealing with bullying, addiction, being the outsider and finding your way back from trauma. These themes allowed me to reach a lot of people, and I think the film continues the themes and motifs of identity, imposter syndrome, big dreams, hopes and aspirations, fear and desperation. Universal themes relatable to anyone pulling themselves out of a dark place and trying to achieve and find meaning and purpose in their life. I recently recorded the audiobook and at times during the recording I had to stop (sometimes I would burst out laughing) but sometimes it would be to hold back tears. I’m so glad that I didn’t give up when people told me you can’t, and I feel blessed that I’ve been able to write about my journey, tell my story to so many people with the aim to inspire them to live their best life and never take no for an answer. Fans reach out to me on all the social media platforms and tell me their epic stories and it touches me to learn that at some point reading my story helped them push through or inspired them to go for it. And that allowed me to realize a deeper purpose and meaning to my artistic life. For that I’m humbled and grateful.
I want people to watch this film and get out of their seat and shout “LET’S FUCKING GO!” and then go after what it is they want in their life to bring them a consistent state of joy. Because I took the journey of telling my story, it gave me the confidence to keep pursuing my dreams and become a better musician producer and writer. So, I was able to move on and achieve what I view as success on my terms and because of that I have no regrets and look back on everything fondly. I still do what I love and love what I do and hope anyone who comes across my story does the same.
Some people think California Schemin’ is a cautionary tale, a “be careful what you wish for” story, but actually I believe my story tells young people to not be afraid, to think big and to go for it with everything they’ve got, to become other people, to experiment, see how far you can go, to make mistakes, to fail, fall and get back up until eventually you find out who you really are and what your capable of along your epic journey.
Have you been up to anything musically since?
I’m a little odd I guess but I’m sure there’s a hell of a lot of weirdos out there like me. When I sleep, (if I don’t have night terrors) I have these incredible lucid dreams where I see whole movies, epic novels play out for me, or I see myself performing a killer song I haven’t written yet. Whatever the idea is in the dream, I get up and I work on that. I’ve honed talents and skills over the years to have the ability to interpret and translate and bring the art from my dreams to life so that I can live a fully creative artistic life, this for me is freedom.
What’s next for you?
I just released my album California Schemin’ as Brains McLoud, my 11th, which acts as the soundtrack for the film and book. Albums 12 and 13 are almost finished, and I also have two more books I’m aiming to release this year as I begin the journey of taking California Schemin’ to the West End and Broadway.
Archie Thomson
(screenwriter)
How did you get involved with the project? Were you approached, or did you put yourself forward?
I was put in touch with producer Danny Page by a mutual contact of ours, who said he had the rights to this crazy story. I hopped on a call with the producers and after a great introductory chat they sent me the book. I read it in one sitting! I could immediately see that it had all the ingredients of a great film—an incredible true story that was wildly entertaining, but also had something to say about identity, ambition, and the lengths people will go to in pursuit of a dream. It felt funny, heartbreaking, and uniquely Scottish all at once, so it was an easy project to say yes to.
What did you think of the book and the real-life events? First impressions?
My first reaction was simply disbelief that it had actually happened. It’s one of those stories that sounds too outrageous to be true, yet it is. Beyond the headline, though, what really struck me was Gavin and Billy’s friendship. The humor is obvious, but underneath that there’s a surprisingly emotional story about two young men trying to escape the limitations of where they grew up and chasing a version of success they felt was otherwise out of reach. That emotional core was what made it worth adapting.
How does the process work—two writers turning a true story in book form into a screenplay?
The first step was really about identifying the general shape of the story. Gavin’s autobiography is such a wild ride, full of great little episodes, characters, and anecdotes, so it was really about working out what to include and what to leave out; where to combine and compress, and where to invent certain characters or moments to create a satisfying cinematic structure while remaining true to the spirit of what happened. Elaine came onboard later to bring a fresh perspective to the script and the characters, adding a lot of wickedly funny lines that really helped the dialogue sing. That’s one of the great things about filmmaking—it’s an incredibly collaborative process, and every new creative voice helps make the script stronger.
Did you spend much time with Gavin and/or Billy?
I actually didn’t, no, but I had the pleasure of meeting Gavin at the premiere in Glasgow, which was a little surreal given how much time I had spent thinking about him. Luckily, he had enjoyed the film and was very nice about the script!
What was James like to work with? How much input did he have on the script?
James was fantastic to work with. He was deeply invested in getting the characters right and was always focused on making every moment feel truthful rather than simply entertaining. He asked thoughtful questions, challenged ideas in a really constructive way, and brought a huge amount of energy and intelligence to the process. His instincts as an actor really helped sharpen the characters—what they were thinking and feeling at any given moment—and his transition to the director’s chair seemed pretty seamless!
Are you pleased with the way the film turned out?
Absolutely. Film is such a collaborative medium that every stage adds something new, and it’s been exciting to watch so many talented people build on what started on the page. The cast are brilliant, they all give such terrific performances, and James has directed it with such vim and vigor it practically leaps off the screen. More than anything, I hope audiences enjoy the ride. It’s a wildly entertaining true story that also touches on some deeper themes: friendship, identity, and believing in who you really are. With all the color and music, it’s definitely one for the big screen. Make sure you don’t miss out!
