Set in Brixton, London, HONEYTRAP tells the story of fifteen year-old Layla who gets sucked into gang activity and sets up the boy who's in love with her to be killed.
Production Companies- Bright Pictures
- Creativity Capital
- Finite Films
Directors.
Rebecca Johnson, Brixton London
Budget.
Very Low Budget.
Cast - Credits Order
 | Jessica Sula |
Layla
| |
 | Lucien Laviscount |
Troy
| |
| Ntonga Mwanza |
Shaun
| |
 | Naomi Ryan |
Shiree
| |
| Danielle Vitalis |
Tonisha
| |
| Lauren Johns |
Jade
| |
| Tosin Cole |
Andre
| |
| Savannah Gordon-Liburd |
Laetitia
| |
| Modupe Adeyeye |
Ciara
| |
Plot and Storyline.
HONEYTRAP: Layla's Story
Set in Brixton and inspired by true events, HONEYTRAP is an urban drama seen from a girl's point of view.
Yearning for love and status, fifteen-year-old Layla is swept into a whirlwind romance with self-styled gang leader/rapper Troy - and then spat out the other side. Desperate to win Troy back, Layla offers to set up the boy who's in love with her to be killed…
When the forces she sets in motion start to collide, Layla must choose: between two boys, between desire and friendship, between power and connection to another human being.
We have not seen a character like Layla take centre stage before and it is time her story was told.
Initially planning to shoot a factual account of the 2008 ‘honeytrap’ murder, she quickly chose to create her own story to give her more freedom to explore the different characters involved. “I wanted to humanise everybody,” explains Rebecca, “these kids are not psychopaths, they are salvageable. It’s about understanding how someone you can actually relate to very strongly can become involved in an act of horrific violence.”
Honeytrap looks at London gang culture through fresh eyes, attempting to break down assumptions and stereotypes. Rebecca wants to take her audience on a journey into Layla’s world. Why did she choose such a compromised character as her protagonist? “I wanted to make a film where it’s hard to identify with the lead character, someone you might find despicable, but which ultimately succeeded in making you identify with her,” she explains.
The film was made on a very tight budget, with Rebecca and her team using whatever resources they had to get it made. As well as relying on the support of local businesses and cafes during shooting, Honeytrap was partially crowd-funded through the site Indiegogo. “People went out of their way to help us, and for that I’m very grateful,” says Rebecca.
In addition to having Honeytrap selected for the London Film Festival and shown at the Ritzy, Rebecca has been nominated for Best British Newcomer by the BFI. She’s delighted, and tells me proudly that Honeytrap was made for less than half the budget of any film by her fellow nominees. “It’s the only independent film too – we’re the little underdog, punching above our weight!”
Tickets for the Ritzy Film Festival screening sold out in half a day, so readers will have to wait until the film’s release early next year. Stay up to date on Honeytrap’s Facebook page.
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