Private Project

Urban Decay

This hard-hitting tale gives a tragic and captivating insight into the lives of a group of Londoners. The challenges they face growing in the streets of violence and racial tension, hustling to survive in today's inner city estates. An event takes place that sets off a chain of events which will change all their lives forever.

  • D.J. Taylor
    Director
  • Michelle Taylor
    Director
  • D.J. Taylor
    Writer
  • Michelle Taylor
    Writer
  • D.J. Taylor
    Producer
  • Michelle Taylor
    Producer
  • D.J. Taylor
    Key Cast
  • Joel Grizzle
    Key Cast
  • Jesselyn Verity
    Key Cast
  • Godfrey Guinan
    Key Cast
  • Alex Arksen
    Key Cast
  • Calum Bowie
    Key Cast
  • Hannah Sinclair Robinson
    Key Cast
  • Harold Addo
    Key Cast
  • Annie Packman
    Key Cast
  • Felix Dunning
    Key Cast
  • Jason Bainbridge
    Key Cast
  • Chris Szuca
    Key Cast
  • Anthony George
    Key Cast
  • Chris Marshall
    Key Cast
  • Toby Osmond
    Key Cast
  • Claudia Archer
    Key Cast
  • Gus Kennedy Jacob
    Key Cast
  • Carol Ellis
    Key Cast
  • Jack Carmicheal
    Key Cast
  • Darren Harris
    Key Cast
  • Nyla Taylor
    Key Cast
  • Godfrey Guinan
    Assistant Director
  • D.J. Taylor
    Editor
  • Michelle Taylor
    Make Up
  • Godfrey Guinan
    Co-Producer
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, crime, thriller
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 43 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 30, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    99,982 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    DNxHD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Canada International Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    April 8, 2016
    Canada
    First Time Filmmaker - Award of Excellence
Director Biography - D.J. Taylor, Michelle Taylor

D.J. Taylor was born December 28th 1983 in Lambeth, London. An only child, raised solely by his mother, Alison Sharp, in a council estate in the Wandsworth Borough of London. His mother is half English and half Irish and his father Danny Taylor is Jamaican. After struggling in the inner city estate life where gang life was rife. D.J. channelled his energy into martial arts, Eventually leading to him becoming a professional mixed martial arts fighter. Wanting a life change he enrolled on a 2 weeks acting workshop in which he fell in love with acting, he then stayed on at that drama school to complete a one year course. When this course was over he went on to audition for the big London drama schools and got accepted into the prestigious East 15 Acting School. While at school he shot his first short film ' Urban Demise' in which he acted and directed, this is where he realised that he loved directing as much as acting. After completion of his course and gaining a Master of the Arts, he has been acting for both film and stage. He then set up his own production company 'Urban Street Productions' with his wife, Michelle Taylor, and fellow East 15 alumni, Godfrey Guinan. After raising money and investing all their savings they shot their first feature film 'Urban Decay', in which he jointly wrote and directed along side his wife and he also played a lead role as the menacing Andre Campbell. D.J. met his wife at school when he was 14 years old (1998) with whom he has two beautiful daughters Aaliyah and Nyla Taylor.

Michelle Taylor born February 19th 1984 in Lambeth, London. Michelle was the youngest of four children to Jean-Claude Dennemont who is Mauritian and Pauline Dennemont who is English. She has always been a lover of the Arts, growing up in a family who are all artistic. She went to study Art and photography in college where her passion grew for graphics and photography and being in the studio getting the perfect shot. After completing college she took a break from studies to have her first child with D.J. Taylor, she continued her photography by always having a camera in her hand and capturing with her creative eye. She returned to study at Kingston University where she completed her degree in Graphic design, she then took some time out from working to have her second child. Michelle set up 'Urban Street Productions' along with D.J. Taylor and Godfrey Guinan in 2015 and she hasn't looked back. She has used the love, passion and skill for art, design and photography and transposed this into film making where she wrote and directed along side her husband 'Urban Decay'.

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Director Statement

Director's statement from Mr & Mrs Taylor -
We are a creative family; we come from very creative blood, from actors, poets, musicians to artists. We love and find healing when we can express our truths and emotions through different creative art forms. We believe nothing is out of our reach and the sky's the limit. If we don't know about it then we learn it, if another human being can do it – then why can’t we. We have grown up watching films and use them still today to be taken on a journey and escape from the struggles of day to day life. Our vision is to portray in our film the essence of reality that the everyday person may not see, to show the struggles and the hustle that inner city native’s lives deal with daily. Growing up in and around these areas we have experienced, seen and heard so much and through our film we want to provoke change thinking and break the mould of the stereotypical way of thinking and show why people are the way they are (products of their environment). As writers and directors it’s a dream come true to see your vision unfold in front of your eyes. Working on a project that’s story is so close to home, you feel energy and excitement to have the opportunity to display truths that hopefully will make society more aware of the struggles of a people that are often ignored or tarred with the same brush. It’s amazing to work with a great team of people and seeing your vision and ideas being realised. Being on set is great fun and feels second nature; we have a great team who all strive for the same goal.