Interview: Adetokumboh M’Cormack shares ‘The German King’ vision

indieactivity : Give a background of your personal experience with the story, writing, and production?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I started writing because I found that even with the push for diversity in Hollywood, people who look and sound like me still don’t have many opportunities to play interesting, complex and robust roles. I watched films featuring African actors and their stereotypical storylines were so far from my own experience growing up in Africa. I did some research and learned about the incredible life of Rudolf Douala Manga Bell; an African prince raised in Germany. He returns to Cameroon to become king after his father’s death. He sees the horrific treatment of his people under German colonial rule and resolves to do something to stop it. It’s an incredible, true story about one brave African man inspiring his nation to stand up against oppression.

Because of our similar backgrounds, I felt very connected to Rudolf’s story. I understood his culture. There’s also so much that is universal – the fact that Rudolf is a man who simply wants to be treated with respect wants to make a better life for himself and his family – these are things we can all relate to.

Related Story : ‘The German King’, Adetokumboh M’Cormack Award-Winning True Story

indieactivity : Did you start writing with a cast in mind?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I had always envisioned Scottie Thompson playing Empress Augusta. She is a good friend and a brilliant actress. We did a play together a couple of years ago and she blew me away. I saw Markus Jorgensen playing a German Soldier in a world war 2 film. He grew up in Austria and was fluent in German, which was is what his character mostly speaks in The German King. And Constance Ejuma is such a powerhouse. I really, really wanted her to play this role. She is from Cameroon so she intrinsically understood her character. She is so regal and has so much gravitas. I met Raphael Corkhill when we were both hired to do voices for a video game sometime back. He was just really good with different accents and physically transformed into each character. It was incredible to watch. I knew he would be a great Kaiser.

indieactivity : How long did you take to complete the script?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I had the idea to make the film in late 2016. I did a ton of research. But it was another 6 months before I started writing anything! (Laughs). The film is based on a true story and at the time I just felt a lot of pressure to get it right. I would get up and write two sentences and then switch off my laptop. I finally sat down sometime in mid-December of 2017 and told myself that I couldn’t let another year go by without writing the script. So I buckled down and wrote the script in 4 days.

indieactivity : Which scene (that made the cut) was the hardest to shoot?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : Toward the end of the film, there is a pivotal scene where my character Rudolf is being interrogated by a German officer brilliantly played by Markus Jorgensen. We did the scene a few times and something was still not working. We talked it over and we realized what we needed to make real was the element of racism. Markus is the nicest guy and so to get into that mindset, was uncomfortable. I needed him to push past that and become that person. Suddenly the stakes in the scene were raised and the scene worked. I remember at the end of it we were both in tears. After such a heavy scene talking about the millions of Africans killed under colonial rule – they ceased to be just words. The people we were talking about became real.

indieactivity : What worked better in this latest production that mightn’t have worked so well in the last one you did?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : What was great about this production was being able to shoot with a full crew! (Laughs).

I think it’s easy to take for granted what each person does onset until you don’t have them. We were all running around doing like ten different jobs. On The German King, I was able to have an incredible crew that made the world I was making come alive.

indieactivity : How did it feel for you for The German King to screen at LA Shorts Hollyshorts?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : It’s been amazing. To be at these top notch film festivals and screen alongside some truly amazing films has been really validating.

indieactivity : How has the audience been reacting?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : People seem to just really love it. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One person mentioned that it felt like she was watching ‘Black Panther – but it was a true story’ (laughs)

I think it’s because I show African kings and queens in traditional attire. Many of the scenes take place in an African palace. We speak in different African languages. And Rudolf is such a heroic character. My Cinematographer Justin Janowitz is phenomenal so the there are some stunning visuals. I think when people think of Africa, they think of poverty and images of starving children. I don’t think they are used to seeing Africans in this manner.

indieactivity : Where do you think your strengths lie as a filmmaker?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : Because I’m an actor, I understand other actors. I understand know how to talk to them. I understand their insecurities and give them a safe space to explore and give their best performance.

indieactivity : Where do you think your strengths lie as an actor?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I make all of my characters specific. I give them backstories. I make clear who they are and what they want. I found when I directed if I saw that a character’s motivation was unclear, the scene falls flat.

indieactivity : Was it difficult for you to be in front of the camera and also behind? How do you manage to take on these two roles?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I had long talks with my director of photography Justin Janowitz before we filmed. I told him what each scene was about and what I wanted to achieve with my performance. So when I was in front of the camera, instead of going to watch playback after every take I had him tell me if something was not working.

indieactivity : How was the film financed?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I self-financed part of it. The bulk of it came from a crowdfunding campaign. There were so many people who believed in the project and wanted to see it get made. The rest of it came from a financer.

indieactivity : What do you hope audiences get from your film?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I hope that people can finally see Africans through the lens with which we see ourselves. A dignified people, with a rich history and culture. I wanted to show that we were not passive during colonial oppression. Many people like King Rudolf Douala Bell rose up and fought back. Many Africans were fighting in the Front lines during World War 1. That’s something you will see more of in the feature-length version.

indieactivity : Describe The German King in one word?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : Hopeful

indieactivity : What else have you got in the works, both directing and acting?
Adetokumboh M’Cormack : I currently voice the character ‘Isaac’ on the Netflix tv series, Castlevania. I just starred in this film called Los Angeles that comes out next year.

I am also developing a superhero project that ties in African folklore. And we plan on shooting the feature-length version of The German King sometime next year.

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