“Wild Style”, interview with director Charlie Ahearn

Charlie Ahearn, director of the iconic film “Wild Style”, sat down at the 69th BFI London Film Festival  to discuss its lasting impact and creation. “Wild Style” was not originally conceived as a documentary; Ahearn envisioned it as a “pop movie,” inspired by his love for Bruce Lee films. Reflecting on the early stages of filming, Ahearn shares his unwavering confidence in the cultural wave that “Wild Style” would ignite. “I was completely certain that this film would change everything because I could feel the culture was like a rising wave,” he recalls. He believed he was riding this wave alongside authentic and passionate individuals, and he embraced that spirit throughout his filmmaking process.

Making a Movie for Nothing: The Budget and the Question of Acceptance

Ahearn recounts the challenges of producing “Wild Style” with a shoestring budget—just $50,000 from ZDF and Channel 4. He jokes about feeling “rich” compared to his previous $2,000 martial arts film. Despite the financial limits, his main concern wasn’t whether it was a documentary or a fictional film, but whether audiences would accept it as a film at all. He recalls the anxiety of early test screenings, constantly questioning if the film would connect with viewers. “Will people accept this as a movie? That’s what I kept asking myself.” The pivotal moment, he notes, is when Fred Braithwaite (Fab 5 Freddy) enters the scene, bringing a sense of “street sophistication” that bolstered the film’s appeal.

The Innocence of Wild Style: More Than Just Naiveté

Ahearn reflects on a recent viewing of “Wild Style”, struck by the innocence of the main characters. He emphasizes that this isn’t actors pretending to be innocent; it’s a genuine trait rooted in real-life interactions among the cast. He highlights the “puppy love” dynamic between Pink and Lee, comparing it to a real-life Romeo and Juliet, complete with all the tensions that entails. The scene on the stoop with Rodney and KK particularly moves him, as he recognizes how young they were when voicing their fierce ambition with heartfelt innocence. He clarifies that this isn’t naiveté—foolishness—but a deeper, authentic authenticity rooted in the importance of their emerging star quality.

A Community Effort: Representing the Bronx and Downtown Connection

Ahearn stresses that featuring artists who would become legends wasn’t a calculated act of recognition at the time; it was part of a larger movement—an interconnected community. His aim was to portray the Bronx community and its relationship with downtown Manhattan. He highlights the link between these two worlds through his film, which grew out of his earlier work, Deadly Art Survival. That project involved bringing art into the streets and streets into the art world, blurring cultural boundaries. Ahearn also credits his twin brother, John Ahearn, who created portrait casts of neighborhood residents for the Bronx Hall of Fame exhibit, demonstrating a longstanding dedication to community engagement. He concludes, “At that moment, you could say the downtown and Bronx communities were interacting through this film.”

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