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17 Mar 2012

Dexter Fletcher’s lessons to child stars

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One of Britain’s most famous child actors makes his debut directing the new generation. Can Dexter Fletcher guide his protégés through the perils of film-making? Katie Razzall reports.

He was one of the most famous child actors in Britain.

Dexter Fletcher appeared in films like Bugsy Malone, The Long Good Friday and The Elephant Man and the long-running TV series Press Gang. After a period in the wilderness he returned in films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Layer Cake.

He’s now turned his hand to directing with his debut film coming out this week. So what impact did working as a youngster with some of the world’s best directors have on the way he directed the younger members of his own cast?

I went to meet Dexter Fletcher and some of his protégés.

Fletcher, now director was reunited with his two young leads, Sammy Williams and Will Poulter in the east London market where they shot Wild Bill. At just 14, Sammy Williams is now a movie star.

Wild Bill is the story of a father who comes out of prison to find his young sons abandoned and fending for themselves. A host of famous faces agreed to appear as gangsters, drug lords and a probation officer – but it’s the young actors who are at the heart of the drama – conflicted as they are by their father’s reappearance.

“No, Dexter’s just Dexter. Smelly old Dexter.” – Sammy Williams

Dexter Fletcher was just six when he started acting – directed by the likes of Alan Parker, David Lynch, Hugh Hudson. An experience he drew on for his directorial debut here in the east end – especially when it came to getting the best from his young actors.

His young stars names aren’t yet on everybody’s lips – unlike the babyfaced Fletcher was in early films like Bugsy Malone.

Like the young Dexter Fletcher, 19-year-old Will Poulter is building quite a CV – his biggest film so far one of the Narnia series. Sammy Williams began as a child model. Both quickly overcame the awe they felt for their director:

“No, Dexter’s just Dexter,” said Sammy Williams. “Smelly old Dexter.”

Dexter provided other tips for Will Poulter who is trying to navigate the difficult transition to adult actor.

Dexter’s advice was gleaned as a youngster observing the greats of the acting and directing world up close. But like many a young star Dexter Fletcher’s career faltered – he ended up bankrupt – even lived in his car for a while. So does he think things have changed for the youngsters following in his footsteps?

“There’s been a lot of experience of seeing kids crash and burn. So obviously someone along the line has gone hmm, there’s a problem here. How do we look after these kids?”

Dexter Fletcher made a comeback – as an actor and now director – but his rise and fall perhaps make him ideal to guide his young stars on.

For now he can only watch as the film he’s made brings these youngsters to wider public attention – with all that might entail.

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