South London is the star of Netflix’s Supacell

BY SARAH TETTEH

It’s the show Netflix fans have all been waiting for, and will put South London firmly on the map as a hub of entertainment.
Supacell is already making waves in Hollywood, and with the release of the supernatural drama this week, it’s only right we speak to the one of the superwomen behind Supacell, the show that has got everyone so intrigued.
Step forward Sheila Nortley – a true force of nature in the industry, who has humbly carved out her successful career from the ground up.
The producer, who is a South Londoner herself and went to Graveney Secondary School in Tooting with BAFTA-winning stars, said all who worked on the show made it their mission to reflect the essence of South into the core of Supacell.
No wonder fans can’t wait to see Supacell when it’s out this week.
Ms Nortley, from Mitcham, said: “Supacell is a show about five ordinary individuals who discover they have supernatural powers. It’s pretty intense. We probably haven’t seen anything like this before from the UK. There’s something very surreal and very inspiring about being in this genre. Hearing the South London accent, the local accent, black British London twang.

“There’s people with telekinesis and people with invisibility. It’s really inspiring to see us in this genre. Like we are the superheroes.
“It’s a great show, it’s really fun and it’s a great watch. The actors were incredible, they put so much into their characters, and that shows on screen.”
Ms Nortley, who produced episodes three, four and five of the show alongside series producer Joanna Crow who worked across the show, talked about how it was important for the team to portray true essence of our neighbourhood “It was really important for Rapman – who had the concept for the show – to put South London on the map,” she said.
“Londoners love London, but we all think there’s something special about South. There’s so much character, great memories and culture. It reflects our experience in the UK. It means a lot when the place where you have been born and raised is a valid backdrop for a story.
“It means a lot to be able to share that and do it authentically. Rapman was so passionate about that and I think we’ve achieved that. ‘South London to the world!’ It’s got Bagel King and even Morleys in the show, so it’s South London through and through.”
She opened up about when she first blew up a few years back, and the moment she ‘broke’ the industry with her film Sable Fable – where their excellent team won big at the American Black Film Festival.
The media star, who was always writing as a child and creating characters and stories, said: “We flew out to Miami and Spike Lee gave us the awards (Best director and best film). It was a real big moment – a defining moment for me in realising what was possible. I was 26-years-old, and all the amazing stars I’d seen on TV like Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long, were there. Prior to that we had been making our films and doing okay in festivals, but this was the next level.”
Before that, it had been tough for young talented people like Sheila to make their way in the notoriously difficult to penetrate mainstream. Thankfully YouTube, as well as more accessible camera technology, helped to open doors.
Sheila, who started film-making during her media and communication degree at university, said: “We didn’t know there was a market for it [our films]. Or how to do it. The thing is, when you put things on YouTube, broadcasters and streamers take notice, and we realised there was a market for this. So there were projects like Man Dem on The Wall. It was a YouTube show and it went pretty viral, and their company got a deal with E4.
“The talent was being recognised and started to transition into the mainstream. To the point I returned to writing.
“During lockdown – with Black Lives Matter – it allowed people to become more vocal about the lack of representation and about marginalisation of black people in these spaces. So now, there’s more of a desire from these broadcasters to employ black talent. There was a wave of black shows getting commissioned. There was a focus on how to make things more inclusive.”
Speaking of her legacy, Sheila said: “What we have to do now is to ensure that this continues, that it is not just a phase.”
My first encounter with Sheila was when we were both panelists speaking at the Palace of Westminster at the I’m Possible event to inspire young black girls to reach their dreams. The incredible event, organized by the late media powerhouse Simone Bresi-Ando, went down a storm. Standing alongside Sheila, it was clear to see her passion and star quality.
That was 10 years ago, and Sheila has been scaling the heights of the film industry ever since. I can’t wait to see what the next decade will bring for this Netflix queen.
Supacell is available now on Netflix.

Pictured top: Sheila on set with Supacell’s Tosin Cole who plays Michael Picture: Netflix