Based on the life story of a break-dancer called Mouse who grew up in the slums of Manila, photographer Josh Cole (who has known Mouse for 15 years) marks his debut as a promo director with this compelling and brilliantly-shot video for Rudimental’s Not Giving In. It features some amazing breakdancing from its young Philipino star – the 11 year old phenomenon ‘B-Boy’ Allen Añas – and some awe-inspiring aerial photography. It also marks directors rep OB Management’s debut as a production company.

“This was a toughy but it all paid off in the end and we’re all super happy with the video,” says Otis Bell, OB’s MD and executive producer on the video. “There was a bit of convincing the label at first, but once we had Tim Francis on board to produce we knew we had a good team. Josh totally nailed it. We couldn’t find a production company to facilitate it since it was such short notice, shooting in Manila and quite a high risk financially, so we ended up running the production through OB. Our first production AND our first insurance claim….eek!

“It was a grueling shoot and re-shoot for Josh, but he put his heart and soul into it, never compromising on the integrity of the story and involving real characters from that world.”

Josh also explains that the video was based on Mouse’s own life story. “Mouse’s mother left to find a better life in the UK when he was seven years old and aged eight he was kicked out of home by his father,” he reveals. “He was going down the road of many of the street kids there – joining gangs and being involved in drugs. Some of the guys in the gang would dance and compete with other dance crews.

“When he was 16 his Mum returned to Manila to find Mouse and bring him back to the UK where he stayed in Birmingham. He quickly became involved in the UK B-Boy scene and by the age of 18 he was winning competitions and aged 26 he became world champion which he then won again twice once in Singapore and once in San Paulo.

“The video is based on the story of Mouse and shows the two sides of his story, by portraying an older brother who follows a less fortunate path that could have been the fate of Mouse had he not found dance. He has a brother and while he’s not dead, he is lost to the world of drugs and addiction and Mouse hopes that through telling his story he can inspire others to follow the right path.

“Mouse came to Manila and helped us make the video and is also the guy teaching the actor playing him in the video. The young Mouse is played in the video by 11 year old dance phenomenon B-Boy Allen. Allen’s older brother Arthur was a gangster who was trained by Mouse to dance from the age 16. He reformed and became a teacher and inspiration to a new generation of dancers in Manila. His crew “Breakism” featured in the video are all Christian B-Boy crew preaching the reform of a gangster generation in Manila.”

Rudimental ft John Newman & Alex Clare
Not Giving In
Director: Josh Cole
Producer: Tim Francis
Exec Producer: Otis Bell
Production Company: Obmanagement
DP: Luke Jacobs
Artistic Director/ Manila Production: Ereson Catipon AKA B-Boy Mouse
Octocopter: Graham Tolhurst and Ben Keene
Associate Producer: Ben Keene
Manila Fixer: Oshmar Merced
Choreographer: Arthur Añas
Editor: David Stevens @ The Assembly Rooms
Telecine: Matt Turner @ Absolute
Post Production Producer: Dan Bennet @ Absolute
Representation: OB Management
Sound Mix: Nick Davies
Insurance: Alan Chapman & James/Loss Adjuster Adams Media
Travel Agent: Joe.Notebeart@travelcounsellors.com
Manila Production Facilities: Abracadaba
Cast:
Younger brother: Allen Añas
Older Brother: Tugo Cunanan
Dance Teacher: Ereson Catipon
Lead Gangster: Arsell Dela Cruz
Gangster: Arjay Quiambao
Gangster: Oshmar Merced
Gangster: Jualen Carpio
Mother: Janet Tan
Father: Reynold Pecaña
Breakism Crew: Arthur Añas, Raymon Oscuro, Juztyn Michael Anonuevo, Mark Daryl, Charles Smith Vergara.
Rival B-Boys: Haslah, Eric, Nofree, Snap, Marco, Lunar, Bea, Dirty, TC, Luloy, Tristan, Nicque, Ayee, Yani.
Special thanks: Leonard Español and Vangie from Barangay 165, Christina Paragsa Saransaman, Arri Media, Brownian Motion
Commissioner: Dan Curwin