The June 13 premiere of Transatlantic Storytelling will also introduce two Cardiff artists who, within in a span of 72 hours, crafted original content for the film.
Cardiff spoken word poet and hip hop artist Duke Al, and local musician and singer Jodie Daniels, also star in the film.
Duke Al is a true welsh wordsmith who uses his creativity to ignite passion and stir the soul. Daniels, a tour guide by day at Cardiff Castle, is an aspiring artist making a name for himself in the local music scene.
“Whilst in Wales, the American film crew were introduced to Cardiff performance poet and rapper, Duke Al,” says Cardiff Met Sport Broadcast Director Joe Towns. “And they told him about a line they’d heard Daniels say during their Cardiff Castle tour – ‘If you want something to grow, plant it in Wales’.
“They gave the line to Duke, and he turned it into a poem called, The Seed, which runs throughout the documentary as a returning narrative device. It’s A fitting metaphor for the growth and potential of sport in Wales. Plant it and it will grow.”
Duke Al is a published poet, spoken word artist, hip hop artist and creative practitioner. Writing rhymes is Duke Al’s therapy.
From a young age, Duke Al would scribble raps and poems in his old lyric book. It was his way of expressing himself; an escapism to challenge his OCD. A passion of words, flow and rhyme flared.
After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 23, the pen was there to help him understand and articulate how he felt. Now he aims to make an impactful change using one rhyme at a time.
He is the author of ‘Bittersweet: The Highs, The Lows, Hypers and Hypos of Living with Type 1 Diabetes’. You can find Duke Al’s recent published work on Cardiff Rugby, Creative Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan University ‘Graduation’ and ‘Move More Cardiff’ initiative, TNT Sports ‘Sport in Words’ for Black History Month on Sir Lewis Hamilton, BBC Wales, BBC Scrum V for The Six Nations 2022.
To learn more about his work please follow him on Instagram and X @dukealdurham.