Growing up in South London and being amongst other 2nd generation kids is something rather spectacular, though obviously not unique to South London, but it’s what I know.

Multiculturalism is a word which has been branded around to promote diversity, when in reality it sounds like another imaginary box to promote fear. But just living life and having a group of South London natives who all grew up in relatively similar circumstances and origins from a array of countries that United Colours of Benetton would shamed out of, has really given inspiration for a new Hentucky production.

You grow up sharing stories of various experiences of regular/irregular visits to the homeland. Usually about being forced to go home to spend x amount of weeks abroad during the school holidays missing out summers/winters in London. Those years of kicking stones at some uncles house, whilst going through puberty sitting on your hands being bored/getting into trouble has now paid off.

Time moves on and travelling around and seeing somewhere other than your grannies chicken coup takes precedent. But once nostalgia sets in and then going back in the guise of an ‘adult’ you can really appreciate those times now (hindsight is a mother hey?). Now you can navigate through some random town/village and speak the language in a local accent as that’s how you only know how to speak it by your parent(s).

One thing that binds it all together has to be food. The greatest survival tip going to a country where you don’t speak the language is how you approach and respect/disrespect food.

Respect food, as in willing to tuck in and give it a go. Obviously any dietary requirements may hinder that, but if you don’t have that then get involved.

Disrespect food, as in willing to roll up your sleeves, put your expandable waisted trousers on and to ‘yam that shit up.’

Food, amongst having a few drinks really helps to create a sense of respect and utter unity. So, after a random idea conceived by Ivan Madeira who went to Spain to visit a friends ‘country of origin,’ something else grew out of it. Teaming up with long time friend and Hentucky regular Jose Francos-Rodriguez, they went to Galicia (where his family are originally from) and sat down with him to figure out an idea about how we can make a little documentary about food. Both being obsessed with food themselves, it was a fun little idea that has turned into something special. Jose led the documentary interviewing his father a chef who resides in Galicia now, a local fisherman and friends and family on their thoughts.

Realising that food is really important to all of us and our friends, we decided to let this documentary grow a bit further than just focusing on this originally off the cuff idea. This has now turned into an ongoing project, which will explore a few other countries/cultures and their approach to food.

..and unfortunately it’s going to be a little bit longer until you will see anything from us. It’s not to say that we are neglecting you, but we are currently in the midst of pre-pre-production of work. What does that even mean? Finalising the script, finalisation of the story board. Once that’s done then we can work out assigning actors to the project, locations and then work out budget and schedule (i.e. production). Then the filming date can be set, and the painful task of trying to render a one minute segment on a MacBook will ensue.

Part of getting to this stage, is about the documentation of parts of the idea, and how Hentucky would approach making something. There is obvious a conventional theme around this which is fuelled from advice, heavy googling and just giving it a go based on intuition.

However the short film is entitled “Grow Up.”

Further details to be released at some point.