Underground Slate

“You can think you are a leader all you want. But if no one is following you, you are simply taking a walk.” - Coach Balezi “Kibomango” Bagunda, a real-life Congolese boxing legend and former child soldier who trained an all-female boxing team The line was said in relation to team leadership. I’ve been reflecting on what it means in terms of self-leadership too. One of the hardest things about self-leadership is realising that sometimes the person not following through on your dreams… is YOU. Over the last few months I’ve been taking part in Fight Forward which is an elite 10-week trauma-informed boxing programme run by the incredible Lesley Sackey. A space designed to support women in building confidence and reclaiming their physical, mental and emotional strength through boxing. And honestly? It’s been stretching me in ways I didn’t fully expect. This time last week, a bunch of us from the FIGHT FORWARD C.I.C programme went to watch the premiere of Fight Like A Girl. There were so many powerful moments throughout the film and conversation afterwards, but that particular quote above stayed with me. Because it's easy to say we're going to do something for ourselves: Lead a healthier life. Find more peace. Embrace a career shift. Rest. Do joyful things. Build confidence. Heal. Explore a new beginning. But are we actually following through on what we say we want for ourselves? If I’m being honest, there have been seasons where I wasn’t. Where I knew what I needed to do, but kept hesitating. Overthinking. Waiting. Doubting - oh the doubt! Delaying. But recently? I can genuinely say I’m leading myself more. I’m not doing it perfectly or fearlessly. But I am doing it consistently. And I think that's the part that matters. So much self-trust is built through follow-through. Through keeping small promises to yourself. Through actually participating in your own growth instead of just thinking about it and collecting that evidence along the way. Always have your receipts! Anyway, if you'd like to witness some truly brilliant women stepping into their power, come along to the Fight Forward Showcase tomorrow evening! I won’t be boxing (you’re welcome 😂), but I will be hosting and cheering the ladies on loudly. And trust me… you’ll leave inspired. Come join us - I'll pop the link in the comments! 🥊

Once we met in Soho, our journey of collaboration began, bringing creative ideas to life and making things happen. Now we are exactly where we should be. This June, we will release The Toymaker’s Key, an independent British production from AT Creates Studio and distributed by Underground Slate, focused on hand-crafted visuals, music culture, and original storytelling. This distribution project was created to prove that independent British cinema can still be fearless, original, and emotionally powerful. The Toymaker’s Key is more than a film, it’s a fully immersive motion comic experience built from passion, imagination, and collaboration. The Toymaker’s Key is a new independent British motion comic film premiering this June. The film will launch with a special premiere screening and live Q&A at Regent Street Cinema on 21 June 2026. The Toymaker’s Key is a visually immersive fantasy experience that blends graphic novel storytelling, animation, original music, and cinematic world-building. Created over 10 years by an independent team of artists and filmmakers, the project was produced entirely without AI. The story follows Tommy Hargreaves as he enters a dangerous world of living memories and forgotten creations in search of his missing father. Guided by a mysterious key that can turn dreams into reality, Tommy must face dark forces threatening to destroy all hope. The film is directed by Andy Turner and Drew Casson, with original music by Desmond Lambert. The project also features: Script adaptation by Andy Lanning (Guardians of the Galaxy) Artwork by Ant Williams (Spider-Man, Batman, Deadpool) Artwork by Conor Boyd (Judge Dredd) Cast Harry Shotta as Tommy Hargreaves Kele Le Roc as iO Kimberly Wyatt as MaNa Following the screening, audiences will be invited to a live Q&A with Andy Turner, Drew Casson, Harry Shotta, and Desmond Lambert. Underground Slate and AT Creates Studio created the project to celebrate fearless independent British storytelling and original creative worlds. Gabriel Wetz Read full press release here:https://lnkd.in/ed4gYN7C #TheToymakersKey #UndergroundSlate #ATCreatesStudio #IndependentFilm #BritishCinema #MotionComic #FantasyFilm #IndieFilm #LondonPremiere #RegentStreetCinema #Animation #GraphicNovel #OriginalStorytelling #UKFilm #FilmPremiere #CreativeCollaboration #HandCrafted #NoAI #CinematicWorld #FilmCommunity

On Friday I had the opportunity to help open the night for the UK Film Premiere of Fight Like a Girl at the Genesis Cinema . Set in 2023, but still happening now. In Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, a young woman escapes forced labour in an illegal mine and finds her way into a women's boxing club built for survivors of war and gender-based violence. It's the kind of story that rarely finds its way onto a mainstream screen. What I keep coming back to is the gap between the stories we consume and the lives people are currently living, and the work it takes to close that gap. The panel was hosted by former GB boxer Lesley Sackey , whose charity FIGHT FORWARD C.I.C is doing the work to close that gap by working to help 100,000 survivors of abuse rebuild their lives through boxing and community. Their next event is this Tuesday the 30th, so please do follow her for more details! The premiere was organised by Underground Slate, a platform dedicated to promoting powerful, bold and underrepresented voices. Work like this doesn't surface by accident, someone has to build the room for it. Photo Credit: AMFAphotos

Testing the Underground Slate logo in the cinema before tonight’s premiere FIGHT LIKE A GIRL🎬 Amazing to be here working on the delivery and helping make this premiere happen. People often think it’s just a quick “put something on screen” - but there’s so much behind the scenes that goes into making a film premiere feel special. And those people knows this the best Gabriel Wetz Andy Green matthew leutwyler Anton Laines William Borthwick Tonight we premiere FIGHT LIKE A GIRL- an incredibly powerful story of survival, identity, resilience, and reclaimed power. Set in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, the film follows a young woman who escapes forced labour in an illegal mine and discovers strength, community, and purpose inside a women’s boxing club built for survivors of war and gender-based violence. The film stars Ama Qamata and Hakeem Kae-Kazim and was shot on location in North Kivu, blending cinematic storytelling with real lived experience. Following the screening there will be an exclusive live Q&A with Ama Qamata and director Matt Leutwyler, hosted by former GB gold medallist boxer Lesley Sackey. Intro to Film Marion Githegi Can’t wait for tonight ✨ and much more to come There are still a few spaces left - DM me if you want a ticket.