When My Friend Punched Benedict Cumberbatch
Patrick Vicktor Monroe directing. Photographed by Jubei Raziel.
The moments that followed were filled with silent intensity. Everyone held their breath as Benedict got up from the floor, bleeding…clearly displeased. The assistant director quickly yelled, “That’s lunch everyone!” and all the stuntmen and production crew quietly ushered their way towards catering as the set nurse hurried in to tend to Benedict’s nose.
I was in London working on a riveting action film starring Nick Moran, Colin Salmon and Benedict Cumberbatch. What I just described involved a fight sequence between Benedict and a slew of henchmen—that included myself and Patrick (who accidentally connected with one of his punches in the aforementioned scene). The film is called Little Favour, and how I ended up working on this film can only be characterized as a series of fortunate events. As you can imagine, working on such a project was absolutely thrilling.
The director, Patrick Viktor Monroe, and I have known each other since childhood. Our families knew each other well and we grew up within the same community, but as life and careers unfolded, we lost touch. It wasn’t until a tragic death that led us to re-connect. Although it was a difficult time, I found it reinvigorating that after so many years, “P-nut” (as Tom Hardy would go on to nickname Patrick) and I would have uncanny similarities from our fitness practices and philosophy on life, to writing, photography and love for filmmaking.
Behind the scenes I demonstrate some fighting choreography.
Unlike my familiar “So close yet so far” scenario with Lin-Manuel Miranda, I stayed engaged with Patrick since the day of the funeral. The relationship transformed both my career and outlook on life in ways I would have never anticipated. P-nut began developing a script (the one that would eventually become Little Favour), and pre-production started months later. He kept me in the loop throughout the process. One day, Patrick called and introduced the idea of me being a part of his film. At the time I didn’t know in what capacity but it didn’t matter; I was thrilled and willing, and said yes right away.
However, just before production, the excitement of my involvement was derailed when I was informed there wasn’t enough in the film’s budget to fly me to London where the project was being filmed. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in a financial position to pay my own way. As it were, I was on a photography assignment in Martha’s Vineyard when the discouraging news came. I couldn’t help but share how upset and sad I was with the colleague I was working with, Kimberly. But something remarkable happened. She decided to help me get to London. Words fail to capture how elated I became. I quickly told Patrick I was coming, and we were able to work out the logistics of my arrival just in time. The way for me to be a part of Little Favour was back! Then it struck me:
Life isn’t about the quantity of friends you have, but rather, the quality. Particularly, those who help you achieve and evolve.
It prompted me to consider how many relationships I had and how many of them were really worth sustaining. It sounds harsh but realizing how distracting and draining our daily lives often leave us, perhaps it’s time to evaluate which people stimulate us and cultivate our growth against those who sap our energy and time without any reciprocity. Let me be clear: Relationships aren’t about capitalizing, but edification: Supporting one another, and sometimes, sacrificing for each other’s goals out of basic love and care.
Patrick Viktor Monroe blocks a scene. Photographed by Jubei Raziel.
My experiences with Little Favour refined me professionally, but more so helped me understand that if we position ourselves with those who nurture our souls, who challenge us to become more, that it can become a powerful formula towards the progress and productivity we seek in life. We ought to reciprocate this. Allowing ourselves to focus on the quality of relationships will likely manifest a new sense of vigor bilaterally. For myself, having a relationship with P-nut, likewise with Kimberly, empowered me to explore more and reach new plateaus; I found my spirit rekindled and excited about the possibilities that surrounded me in a refreshing way.
Approaching challenges and meeting them with help, and not as an individual, radically changes outcomes.
Patrick taught me that his successes were fueled by investing and championing others. He focused on the quality of relationships he had. I mean, how else could someone punch Benedict Cumberbatch in the face and still be best friends afterwards?
Patrick and I on the set of Little Favour.
Rise In Peace
Patrick Viktor Monroe “P-nut”
7/30/1969 — 9/23/2021
(I will keep my promise brother.)