They didnt want us to meet.
Youd lose the danger and the impact that the film needs when theyre together.
Now, the two of them are practically inseparable.
Jason Patel and Ben HardyBaz Bamigboye/Deadline
Theres a genuine warmth when theyre together.
The friendship thats grown between them has not come as a surprise to the filmmakers.
El Hosaini and Floyd told me that the chemistry read between them had been off the scales.
Jason Patel and Ben Hardy having a laugh at lunch (Baz Bamigboye/Deadline)
Floyd added, They have a natural chemistry as people.
The production included a spot of male nudity.
So youve seen my penis?
Hardy inquired of me with a straight face before bursting into laughter.
Not to give away too many spoilers, but there are intimate moments between the two thespians inUnicorns.
Blushing, I note that my wife saw the play with me.
Hardy responded: Is she all right?
Hope it wasnt winter.
Im not going to even pretend that I know what he was referring to.
Both actors are here inTorontofor Fridays noon gala at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Hes kind of like, Well, no one can say Im doing anything wrong.
Im being offered this money.
Hardy observed that Lukes slowly breaking down those barriers within himself, perhaps subconsciously or consciously.
Patel told me that these two people from different worlds just get on and whats wrong with that?
And, hes right.Unicornsis a beautiful love story thats told in the age we live in now.
As a low-budget film, you dont have time to mess around all the time.
You want to confirm this thing is running as efficiently as possible.
It was my screen education, I suppose, he said.
It becomes muscle memory, like, Where have I got to be?
What lens are we on?
All that kind of stuff.
So things do feel a little bit rushed.
Hardy stressed that that situation is not the same for every actor in there.
I was starting to give up, and I was like, I cant do that.'
He insisted that he cant carry a tune.
Let me put it this way, he said, chuckling.
He said the humiliation still stings.
Patel totally disagreed and said that Hardy has a terrific voice.
We used to sing on set.
He can sing, he said.
Hes very, very good.
And Patel knows of what he speaks.
He studied at the Rose Bruford Drama College and has a confident singing voice that can soar.
His music videos are super fun.
Britney Spears was his guiding angel.
Im going to be that bitch.
He told me that he would look at the mirror and practice.
And then I would go and kill it at the end.
But it was watching Bollywood films with his mother and grandmother that truly sparked his love for music.
I was like, What?!
He added: Theres people out there actually kind of paving the way for me.
… How can I make the most impact on the world?
Maybe its not to be a prime minister or a politician or a scientist.
Actually, Im amazing at being really creative.
I can make impacts that way.
And Ive never actually stopped.
I think I always knew who I was and what I wanted to do.
From what age, I wondered?
Oh my God since I came out of the womb, Patel exclaimed.
It was the most enjoyable directing experience Ive had in my career thus far, she said.
She remarked that she and Floyd wanted to set the tone for the shoot.
As did the actors.
And theyre in every scene, those two boys.
So that is the foundation of the whole film.
I asked Floyd if any aspects of the film were autobiographical.
One character is white.
I have family who are working class from East London and Essex, just like Luke and his family.
Two people love each other.
Floyd admits that societys more ready forUnicornsnow than it might have been a decade ago.
I think the world has changed a lot, he said.
… Its a very modern love story.
As Hardy said,Unicornsis about love transcending barriers.
