THE SHEEHAB HAS THE CHATS WITH SIMON LEWIS

So no doubt you have all heard about Robert's latest project "Jet Trash" currently being filmed in Goa,India (the lucky git) but what is "Jet Trash" ? where did the idea come from and who came up with it? Most of you will know the answers to these questions but for those who don't read on...

Simon Lewis

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"Jet Trash" is based on an amazing book called "Go" by author Simon Lewis ( savvy Sheesters among you will know Simon also wrote "Dip" for the "Coming Up" season on Channel 4  also starring Robert Sheehan) it was published in 1998 , Its a story about 3 backpackers Lee ( Robert Sheehan) Sol (Osy Ikhile) and Vix (Sofia Boutella) who's lives interwine as they try to escape from their problems back home and believe me they have problems!! 

Robert,Sofia,Jasper and Osy on the set of Jet Trash

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Their travels take them to far flung exotic places where they  have the time of their lives or find themselves running for their lives.
That said this book will still  make you want to pack a bag and head to the nearest airport!

I read this book in 2 days , I was hooked, every chapter has an "OMG" moment so you can forget just reading a bit before bed or on your lunch! 

Go by Simon Lewis

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As you can probably tell we are just a bit crazy about this book and can not wait to see it on screen so imagine our excitment when the man himself, Simon Lewis agreed to answer a few questions for us about "Go" and the big screen version" Jet Trash" we can't thank him enough and he is a legend to us forever! 

Sheester's, Meet the lovely Mr. Simon Lewis 

March 2nd 2014: Not wanting to push my luck and drive Simon mad with pages of questions and trust me I could have grilled him all day I sent Simon our questions with a smile from ear to ear.


The Sheehab:  Who's idea was it to make "Go" into a movie?

Simon:  The director, Charlie Belleville, read the book, and said he wanted to make it as a film. Robert got behind it early on, before there was a script, and then was very active in trying to get it made. He was a big part of making it happen. 

 
The Sheehab: "Jet Trash" is based on the Indian section of the story but the characters come from and travel to different locations in "Go" does this mean certain parts of the story will be left out and if so was it difficult to decide what parts to write into the script?

Simon : The story is too episodic for a film, so we concentrated on boiling it down, finding the most representative episode and expanding it. I hope that I am not revealing too much in saying that we are doing some of the UK stuff too, as flashbacks. And bringing in characters and storylines from sections that had to be left out. And we are trying hard to stay true to the spirit of the book. 


The Sheehab: Are the characters in "Go" based on people you met on your travels ? Is there real life Lee,Vix and Sol out there? 

Simon : When I left college I went travelling. I spent six months in India, then ran out of money and had to go to Hong Kong to work, then after that decided to come home overland, through China and Russia. All of which took about a year. And yes, I met lots of people who gave me inspiration for my characters - smugglers, refugees, people who couldn't go home because they were on the run or were escaping terrible family situations or the like... they were kind of the edge of the backpacker circuit but with adventurous, sometimes scary lives. 

Lee is based on a couple of dodgy characters I met who were always up to something - smuggling, putting on illegal parties, running from the police; with a bit of my mates in there too. Sol was more like me, I guess, interested in documenting things. And I knew some glamorous but tough girls like Vix, who did things like hostess work in Hong Kong or dated gangsters - girls I think I had a crush on. 
 
The Sheehab:  As fans of Robert Sheehan and after reading "Go" we think he is perfect to play Lee, did you have him in mind to play the character?

Simon: I am so looking forward to seeing him in the role. He was a great fit, and everyone knew it. He has the charm and force of character, and he plays that roguish/hippyish part really well. He even has the body of someone who's been living on a beach, don't you think? Lean and tan. In real life he likes travelling a lot and I think if he wasn't a famous actor he'd be living that kind of free wheeling life.  
But originally I imagined someone much uglier hehe.
 
The Sheehab ; 3 of your books are in production at the minute was this something you always hoped would happen when you were writing them?

Simon; Well it's one book and other two are original scripts I wrote. I write lots and just hope things get picked up. The interest in one project started off interest in the others maybe. I've written things that haven't been picked up; I just got lucky this time.  

The Sheehab:  Robert Sheehan is starring/producing in "Jet Trash" and Ian Somerhalder in "The Anomaly" these actors have pretty big fan bases which will no doubt attract alot of attention, are you ready for how big these movies could possibly be?

Simon;  And there's Kaya Scodelario is in Tiger House, she has a lot of fans, and is an amazing actress. I have been really lucky with the talented people who've been cast in my films and I have to thank some great casting agents. 

being ready? As a writer you kind of choose how involved you want to get in the showbiz side, you don't have to do all that if you don't want to and it's not like anyone ever recognises you anyway. So I don't think anything will be any different for me. I'll stick with what I like, sitting in cafes in Brixton writing on a laptop. 


The Sheehab: What scenes from "Go" are you most looking forward to seeing in "Jet Trash" on the big screen?

Simon; The producers would tick me off if I gave away any spoilers, but I guess you can see from the photos online that there is going to be some lush locations and a really mad party.  




We still can't thank Simon enough for taking time out to answer our questions , this has just made us even more excited to see the movie. Jet Trash isnt all thats coming our way from Simon, fans of Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries) can look forward to seeing him in  "The Anomaly" and also Kaya Scodelario (Skins)  in "Tiger House" both written by Simon.


Now, you obviously want to get your hands on a copy of "Go" before the movie right? well never fear as always we have all the info and links you need to get your copy, *Whispers*  also keep and eye on @TheSheehab for Jet Trash shaped Competitions coming soon! 

For more info on the legend that is Simon Lewis,  pop over to his website where you will see his blog,books and a fantastic archive of his work including "Dip" the movie he wrote for Channel 4's "Coming Up" series starring Robert Sheehan.

 www.simonlewiswriter.com

Follow Simon on Twitter 
@SLewisWriter
For more info on the movie Jet Trash and to basically be green with envy looking at the pictures from the shoot:
Follow Jet Trash on Twitter 
@JetTrashMovie

Tiger House and The anomaly are both on Twitter too so follow!!
@TigerHouseMovie  @TheAnomalyMovie

Kaya Scodelario in Tiger House

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Ian Somerhalder in The Anomaly

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Simons novels "Go" ,"Border Run" and "Bad Traffic"  and his travel books for Rough Guide are also available on :
www.amazon.com
 After you read "Go" you may need to get a few copies of them too, I know Iwill!.

Until next time Sheesters Stay Classy!

Sue xxx

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