Film industry -- Scotland

from The Scotsman (10/13)


Lack of studios only snag to film future if weather turns say Hollywood chiefs
LINDSAY MCINTOSH (lmcintosh@scotsman.com)

"AS THE helicopter swept low over the mountains and Scotland's breathtaking scenery rolled out spectacularly below, those on board had one collective thought: "That would look great in the movies."

And if anyone could turn such a whim into reality, it was these passengers - all senior figures in Hollywood looking for inspiration for their latest blockbusters.

They were on a reconnaissance aerial trip around the country organised by national film body Scottish Screen and already had plans to come back.

Vicki Gabor of Walt Disney was wondering if a sequel to Wild Hogs, which starred John Travolta, could work in Scotland.

And the crumbling castles caught the artistic eye of Mike Heard of 20th Century Fox Studios, who thought they could feature well in his new fantasy project, Wolf Brother. With them on yesterday's trip were Malee Nerenhausen of Yari Film Group and freelance producer Andy Weltman who has worked on the likes of Dead Poets Society and The Perfect Storm. He is currently based in Scotland and is involved in projects with Saltire Films.

Back at Edinburgh Castle, all enthused about their trip, which started at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh and took in locations including Rannoch Moor, Fort William, Oban, Loch Lomond and Glasgow.

They felt the UK and Scottish film industries were making efforts to make production more financially rewarding with tax incentives, and the production talents north of the border were exemplary. The only snag was the lack of studios which could be used when the unpredictable Scottish weather conspired to make outdoor shooting impossible.

Mr Heard, vice-president physical production at Fox, said: "If we are spending £25,000 a day when we're filming and we wake up and it's raining we lose it if we don't have a place to go. It puts me off but it doesn't put me out."

Ms Gabor, vice-president finance at Disney, enthused: "Today was wonderful. We were able to see so many different lochs and shorelines and mountains and rivers, and also see the ability to use warehouses as stage space.

"I think as your industry grows you'll have more work which will bring more business here. I think it takes time."

There have been concerns in the past that Scotland does not offer enough tax relief to filmmakers, which has prompted them to work elsewhere. Sections of the quintessentially Scottish Braveheart were filmed in Ireland.

Ms Gabor said: "Tax is an issue, but I think it is becoming less of an issue because you do have an incentive scheme now. As studios, we are looking for money as well as locations."

Celia Stevenson, Scottish Screen's head of inward investment, who organised the tour, said she felt it had gone "extremely well".

She added that although there was not a dedicated studio in Scotland, the industry was "very good at finding build space - empty warehouses which can be used to build sets inside". " .....

For the complete story see:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1636432007