Kanye West and Robert Pattinson are set to star in a new biopic titled Kaleidoscope. The film will cover the dynamic and evolving relationship between the iconic rapper and the English actor, who first became friends and later fell in love while working on The Twilight Saga.
Kaleidoscope is described as a coming-of-age film about a 1960s British teen named Stephen (played by Pattinson) who becomes infatuated with American culture and spends his life travelling across the Atlantic, encountering the sights, sounds and styles of urban America. In an interview with the BBC, Pattinson spoke about his character and what fans can expect from the film:
How The Rumour Spread That You Would Star As George Michael
The rumour spread through Hollywood that I would play George Michael. My name was on a shortlist and someone called my agent and said: “You’ve got to get on this tour, you’re going to play George Michael.” So I went, “Okay,” and met Kanye. We did the movie [2012’s The Great Gatsby] and that was it. We weren’t together on any other projects after that. But it wasn’t until later that I found out he was dating my cousin.
Can You Imagine If Stephen Had Never Met Kanye?
If Stephen had never met Kanye, can you imagine how different things might have worked out? It’s certainly a different story when you think about it. The way he [Kanye] saw it, was that they had a lot in common. They were both a bit of an outsider. They were both searching for something but didn’t really know what. It wasn’t as if he asked for her [Katy Perry’s] phone number or anything. You know, Stephen was looking for a cultural connection, someone to understand him, someone to relate to. And that’s what he found in Kanye.
Does The Film Validate Stephen’s Journey To The USA?
The movie validates Stephen’s journey to the US. I think it’s fair to say that Stephen’s trip was a little bit of a odyssey. He left his family home in London for New York City in the prime of his life, at the height of his fame. He was going to be a famous artist and a wealthy bachelor. And then he found out that his cousin was dating Kanye. And then he wound up in Los Angeles. But he was going all the way to New York City to be a part of the Big Apple’s cultural whirlwind. So, in a way, he was able to complete his journey. He didn’t have to stop off in Hollywood to find fame. He went to the other end of the country, to the place that everyone in the world wanted to be, and he found his place in the city.
How Did You Feel About Making A Biopic About Kanye?
I think it’s an incredible story. I’m a big fan of Kanye’s. I’ve always been a fan of his. I remember being in the park as a little kid, running around, playing football, and just feeling inspired by everything around me. It was really cool to make a film about someone like that. I think it’s an amazing story. I don’t know if it was difficult or awkward or what. But it was something new for both of us. We had never really acted together before. So that was something new for both of us. And then it was fun to explore this character, to find out what makes him tick.
It wasn’t like I was expecting it to be easy or something that was going to come easily. I don’t mind that kind of thing usually happens when you’re starting out. You either get it or you don’t. You either have it or you don’t. And if you do, then it’s something special. But if you don’t, then it’s back to the drawing board. You’re not going to get far if you don’t have what it takes.
I remember watching the first scene that we shot, where he meets Katy Perry at a candlelit dinner. I was like, “Oh, my God.” It was amazing. That was the first dinner that we did. It was really nice. Kanye came up with this idea of having a dinner party, where everyone comes together and has fun. And it was something different for us. It was something new. It was amazing to find that out. But it was good, because it was new. It was like, “All right, we’re going to have to work at this. This isn’t going to be easy.” But it was fun.
What Can We Expect From The Film?
I think that any fan of Kanye’s will enjoy this movie. I think it’s going to be an incredible insight into his life. People will be able to relate to the character. He’s not just this crazy, erratic artist, you know? He’s a human being like anyone else. He has family and friends and he deals with everyday issues. Everything that you see in the movie is something that you can expect to see in your daily life. This is not some big cinematic event that you go to see. This is something that you can relate to.
What Challenges Do You Face As An Actor?
I think that every actor faces a challenge. You know, there’s so much competition out there. It’s always something new and it’s never easy. I definitely consider myself to be one of the most fortunate people in the world, because I get to do what I love every day. So, whether I face a huge challenge or not, it really doesn’t matter. I still have that passion and I still carry with me what it is that I learned on a day-to-day basis. It never really gets old. You just have to find a way to keep yourself motivated.
I remember the first day that I met with Kanye. It was the day after we had finished shooting. So, we had to meet up and talk about the movie, to see if there were any scenes that we could cut out or anything that we needed to change. It was one of the most awkward meetings that I’ve ever had. I had just turned 19 years old and I was extremely nervous. And then, all of a sudden, Kanye is like, “You! I’ve been searching for you! We have so much in common. I’ve been watching your work. You’re a brilliant actor. You’re going to be great in this movie!” It was something new for both of us. We had never really worked on anything together, but he found me when he needed me and I’m just so grateful to have been a part of it. And then, from there, we started working together. It was a very intense, four-month process. It was a lot of learning, but it was also a lot of fun.
What Do You Think Of The Final Cut?
I think that it’s a great version of the movie. I think that it’s exactly what we wanted. There’s a lot less ad-libbing and a lot more continuity, which I think makes it a better overall product. I think that it’s the best, most polished version of the movie.
How Does This Film Compare To Other Works You’ve Made?
This film is very different from anything else that I’ve ever done before. It’s very different in tone and in subject matter. But, you know, it’s not like I’ve never acted before. So, I think that I was able to make the transition very easily, with some helpful coaching from my director of photography, who’s also an amazing DP (Damian Charrett), on set. And then, once we had shot the scene, we would go back and revisit it, to see if there was something else that we could add or change. So, I think that the fact that this is a first-time experience for me as an actor, makes it that little bit more special, because I wouldn’t have been able to do this, if I had never done anything else. It is what it is. This is the way that I am and this is what I was born to do. It’s just a matter of finding my way.