Harris Dickinson, best known for his acting work, steps into the director’s chair with his feature debut, Urchin, which he wrote and directed. The London-set drama centers on Mike, a drifting figure touched by homelessness, as he navigates life with grit, humor, and a sense of adventure.
In a conversation with Little White Lies, Dickinson traces his early love for filmmaking back to childhood—shooting skate videos, experimenting with sketches, and eventually joining Raw Academy. Acting opened doors, but the itch to direct never quite left him, resurfacing as he balanced auditions with other work before committing fully to filmmaking.
On set culture, Dickinson stresses the need for a respectful, collaborative environment. He produced Urchin and, with Archie Pearch’s Devisio, worked to safeguard every department from strain and pressure while maintaining a clear creative vision.
Influences and shared study
Rather than chasing a single blueprint, he assembled a viewing list for the crew—Vagabond, Manila in the Claws of Light, Punch-Drunk Love, Tarkovsky’s Nostalgia, Leos Carax’s Lovers on the Bridge, and Fellini’s 8 1/2. The aim was to spark dialogue and ambition rather than copy a film.
Research, authenticity, and collaboration
To ground the story in truth, Dickinson connected with homelessness resources. He spent time at a Walthamstow refuge, partnered with Under One Sky, and invited feedback from probation, prison reform and mental health professionals. The film’s script was opened to scrutiny, and prisons were visited to hear from people with lived experience.
Cardboard Citizens contributed performers with lived experience of homelessness and domestic abuse, weaving real voices into the film’s fabric and ensuring the depiction remains respectful and accurate.
Crafting Mike and the casting of Frank Dillane
The creator deliberately keeps Mike’s backstory lean, letting each scene present a fresh facet of the character. Dickinson describes Mike as curious, a touch unconventional, and capable of both mischief and sweetness. His hunger for life is a double-edged force that fuels both ambition and downfall.
Frank Dillane’s arrival brought a distinct energy. The actor prepared for the part over a long pre-shoot window, working with Dickinson and others, and even shedding weight to inhabit the role. The collaboration helped align the cast with the film’s lived-in reality.
Directing oneself and looking ahead
Directing while acting proved to be a unique challenge for Dickinson. He found it tricky to maintain a broad perspective from behind the camera and relied on producers to keep the bigger picture in view. He acknowledges he may not repeat that approach, emphasizing the importance of pacing and distance from the camera.
Urchin embodies Dickinson’s ambition to mix truth with a sense of adventure—a narrative that could travel beyond its immediate setting while staying rooted in honest experiences. He continues to steer Devisio with Archie Pearch, ensuring the project remains intimate, ambitious, and ethically grounded.
Source: Original article
