James McAvoy has opened up about the overwhelming pressure and difficulties he faced during his first time directing a feature film. His directorial debut stress became apparent while working on California Schemin’, a film premiering this year in Toronto that tells the story of two Scottish aspiring rappers.
Set in Scotland and rooted in a real-life tale, McAvoy’s experience was marked by constant challenges, giving him a crash course in the unpredictable nature of indie filmmaking.
Capturing Chaos on Set Amidst Daily Challenges
During production, McAvoy described juggling numerous problems all at once, from managing difficult cast and crew to dealing with unexpected logistical issues, such as a burger van refusing to relocate due to a local soccer match.
You’ve got problems every day. You’ve got sick people. You’ve got unhappy people. You’ve got people with dietary issues. You’ve got a burger van that’s in the first scene that you need to come back but he won’t move it to the location again because he’s going to be at the [Glasgow] Rangers game! And that’s all happening moment to moment whilst you’re trying to capture this beautiful scene on camera.
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
His frequent early-morning wake-ups prompted him to take antihistamines, and he eventually discovered he had caused himself headaches by biting his jaw tightly. Both McAvoy and his lead actor, Séamus McLeen Ross, suffered gastroenteritis simultaneously, highlighting the physical toll the shoot took.
Seamus actually had to go home it was that bad, but I was OK to keep going,
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
The Story Behind California Schemin’ and Its Real-Life Inspiration
California Schemin’ is based on the memoir of Gavin Bain, depicting the true story of Scottish rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who disguised themselves as hard-partying American MCs called Silibil N’ Brains in an effort to break into the music industry in the early 2000s. Their accents and origins were initially barriers, so they created fake West Coast personas to gain success.
Though their act landed them a Sony Music record deal and MTV appearances, it also caused personal problems and financial troubles, including a large debt to Sony.
Gavin told me they basically owed Sony £1 million,
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
The film captures both the rebellious spirit of the duo and the consequences of their ruse, blending humor and heartbreak.
McAvoy’s Connection to the Film’s Scottish Roots
Initially not a passion project, McAvoy soon identified with the story due to his Scottish heritage and working-class background. He appreciated that the film was a rare production made in Scotland, about Scottish characters, for a Scottish audience—distancing itself from the usual gritty dramas often associated with the region.
I’m a jammy bastard … a lucky bastard actor,
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
McAvoy praised the film’s entertaining, aspirational, and comedic tone, calling the story one of “folk heroes” likened to Robin Hood.
They’re like folk heroes — Robin Hood stuff,
Nobody cares that they got caught. Nobody cares that they never made it. We just love that they fucking went down there and played the system. When the system’s rigged against you, try to undermine it or circumvent it. Game the game!
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
The film’s opening pays homage to iconic Scottish cinema, featuring a mural referencing the famous toilet scene from Trainspotting, accompanied by the line, “It’s shite being Scottish.” Although this mural was later removed by the local council, it underscored McAvoy’s pride in telling a Scottish tale on screen.
This film is so important to me for so many reasons, and on quite a few levels,
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
Financial Setbacks and Last-Minute Solutions
Production suffered a major setback just six weeks before filming began when more than half of the $2 million budget unexpectedly collapsed. While the producer scrambled to secure funds, McAvoy committed to continuing and even offered to do whatever was necessary to keep the project afloat.
I just said, you do what you need to do to, and if you need me to come in and shake someone’s hand or kiss a baby or drop my drawers and let somebody have their go on me, just let me know.
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
Though the humorous exaggeration indicates his willingness to help, no such extreme measures were needed. However, this financial instability meant McAvoy took a bigger on-screen role as a record label boss—a character blending menace and musical savvy.
To meet additional financing needs, the filmmakers sought name recognition by casting a celebrity with strong public appeal.
We needed someone with a face, a name,
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
Though big names like Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman, and Drake were briefly considered, McAvoy enlisted his friend James Corden for a cameo as a skeptical music executive.
James threw a million things at the wall and we were actually like, they’re all really good, but we’ve got to pick — we can’t have them all!
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
Impact of the Experience and What Lies Ahead
Despite all the unexpected hurdles, McAvoy describes his directorial challenge as both rewarding and one of the most stressful experiences of his life.
It’s like acting. I love it. I feel compelled to do it. But I don’t always like it,
This was definitely one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done in my life.
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
He also admits that some members of the team waived their salaries as an act of faith in the film after the funding losses.
I haven’t acted in about a year and a half, and I need to make some money,
When we lost the money, we were like, how about let’s just not get paid? It was either make the movie and don’t get paid, or don’t make the movie and don’t get paid.
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
Looking forward, McAvoy hopes to direct more, including a potential horror project and a Scottish TV script he has recently received. However, he intends to wait for projects he truly feels passionate about, balancing his directing ambitions with his acting career.
What I learned is that I can probably hang out and wait for something I feel passionate about, because hopefully I’ll get another acting job,
But I can’t imagine going through all that for three years the way I just did, with all the stress and commitment, if you don’t feel passionate about it.
— James McAvoy, Actor and Director
For now, McAvoy plans to return in front of the camera, knowing that directing a film brought challenges that tested him both physically and emotionally, but ultimately strengthened his appreciation for the craft.
