WELCOME TO SCOTLAND
Scotland has a well-deserved reputation for innovation, creativity, skills and enterprise, with a wealth of home-grown talent. Creative and digital media businesses now contribute over £2.8 billion (over €4.0 billion) to the Scottish economy. And we pride ourselves on our supportive film-friendly Government and infrastructure.
Scotland is rapidly becoming a favourite location of choice for the film and TV industry: over the last two years, we've hosted films directed by Jay Russell (The Waterhorse), Ed Herzog (Almost Heaven), Harmony Korine (Mister Lonely), Shekhar Kapur (The Golden Age), Matthew Vaughan (Stardust), David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Chris Noonan (Miss Potter), Stephen Frears (The Queen), Steve Hudson (True North), Neil Marshall (Doomsday), Steve Barker (Outpost), Paul Weiland (Made of Honor), Peter Flinth (Arn) and Charles Martin Smith (Stone of Destiny). High-profile TV features included Adrian Shergold’s award-winning Low Winter Sun and Irvine Welsh’s directorial debut Wedding Belles.
On average, 12 large-scale feature films and up to eight television dramas and series are shot in Scotland each year, along with many television programmes, documentaries, short films, and commercials.
Scotland is home to a vibrant digital creative community which spans a wide range of industries. We create some of the best known, best selling games in the world across a range of platforms, from consoles and online to television and mobile devices. The combination of artists and programmers produces world class games, websites and interactive learning environments.
Scotland is an exciting and dynamic place to visit and do business.
"Shooting
Doomsday
in and around Glasgow was an unqualified pleasure
and gives testament yet again to the fact that Scotland can deliver on
its promises to the international filmmaking community and that Scottish
crews are a world class act."
Peter McAleese, Executive Producer, DoomsdaySCOTTISH SCREEN
Scottish Screen is the national agency responsible for the development and promotion of the screen industries across Scotland. We aim to inspire audience, support new and existing talent and business, educate young people, and promote Scotland as a creative place to make great films, award-winning television and world-renowned digital entertainment. We invest money, including National Lottery funds, in a number of different areas. Our work includes:
• production company growth
• short and feature film development and production • freelancer and company skills development
• support for experimental, alternative and interactive digital screen content, formats and platforms
• the development and production of television drama pilots
• audience and market development and distribution initiatives, including support for festivals and screenings
For more information, please visit our website at www.scottishscreen.com.
To subscribe to e-roughcuts, our regular e-bulletin on the screen industries and activities in Scotland, or our bi-monthly paper magazine, roughcuts please e-mail roughcuts@scottishscreen.com. Contact details:
Scottish Screen, 249 West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 4QE t: + 44 (0)141 302 1700 | e: info@scottishscreen.com
w: www.scottishscreen.com | w: www.scottishscreenlocations.com
The Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel
When scouting for
The Waterhorse
, it wasn't a matter of ‘where do
we shoot?’, it was more a problem of narrowing the choices down.
Everywhere I turned, I saw another amazing possibility."
Jay Russell, Director, The Waterhorse Loch Fyne, The Waterhorse, starring Alex Etel
TALENT
Scotland boasts an incredible range of talent, from award-winning directors and writers to internationally renowned actors. Indigenous Scottish talent means that at least five feature films are produced out of Scotland each year.
Recent Scottish productions include Hallam Foe, written and directed by David Mackenzie, and produced by Gillian Berrie (Sigma Films) opening the 61st Edinburgh Film Festival, and winner of the Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas at the Berlin Film Festival 2007; Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle, a contemporary feature film in Gaelic, directed by Simon Miller and produced by Chris Young (Young Films); and My Life as a Bus Stop, by Wilma and Duncan Finnigan, Scotland’s most inventive low-budget filmmakers.
Soon to be released are Outpost, directed by Steve Barker and produced by Kieran Parker and Arabella Croft of Black Camel Pictures, which has been picked up by Sony Pictures; Senseless, written and directed by Simon Hynd, and produced by Micky MacPherson of Plum Films; Doomsday, directed by Neil Marshall and produced by Peter McAleese, to be released in December 2007; and
Stone of Destiny, directed by Charles Martin Smith and produced by Rob Merilees and Andrew Boswell, based on Ian Hamilton’s book.
For anyone interested in discussing co-production opportunities with experienced Scottish producers, their full contact details and credits are available at www.filmbang.com.
Over 80 short films are produced in Scotland each year, with Scottish filmmakers demonstrating their considerable talents in a variety of subjects and styles. Recent awards include The Way We Played winning a Silver Remi at the Houston Worldfest IFF and consequently being screened at a further 22 festivals around the world; The True Story of Sawney Beane won the Centaur Prize for Best Animation Film at the St Petersburg International Festival; Trout was selected for competition at the prestigious Sundance IFF, Stockholm Film Festival and Flickerfest in Sydney; Run screened at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in the US; Mono was runner-up in the BBC New Talent Award at Encounters Short Film Festival; and Dog Altogether won the Silver Lion for Best Short Film at the 64th Venice Film Festival in 2007.
Further information, production contacts and DVDs of recent Scottish short films are available from Scottish Screen, by contacting info@scottishscreen.com.
Kevin Macdonald on set of The Last King of Scotland with Forest Whitaker.
“It seems to me that there is almost no limitation to the kind of picture
that can be done in Scotland.”
Peter Strauss, producer, The JacketLOCATIONS
With 37% of the UK land mass, populated by a mere 8% of the UK's population, Scotland has more space and more wilderness than practically any other European country. It boasts the UK's highest mountains and deepest lochs, as well as large and accessible tracts of forest and unspoilt moorland. Scotland also has one of the longest coastlines in Europe, an incredible 6,000 miles (9,700 kilometres) of coast from rugged cliffs to pearl-white beaches, with 790 islands along the shoreline. Scotland also has the longest daylight hours in the UK with up to 18 hours of daylight at midsummer, ensuring longer shooting days. There is a huge range of locations on offer, from prehistoric sites to contemporary cityscapes, as well as the thousands of castles and mansion houses for which Scotland is renowned.
Scottish Screen Locations offers you a fast, free, confidential and informative service to facilitate your project, whether it's a feature film or a stills shoot.
We work in conjunction with all the regional film offices in Scotland, as well as a large number of national organisations, businesses and service providers across Scotland, to ensure a trouble-free filming environment across the country.
We can offer:
• An image library of 55,000 images
• A free location-finding service covering the entire country • Familiarisation trips and financial help with recces • Script breakdowns and assistance with research • Contact details for location managers and scouts
For more information, see our fully searchable website at www.scottishscreenlocations.com or e-mail us at locations@scottishscreen.com.
Ring of Brodgar, Orkney
"There are few places on earth the camera could love more than Scotland.
The light, the colours, the ancient beauty of its hills, lakes and castles. There
is no need to manufacture magic - it is everywhere you look. With major
cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh only a stone's throw away, this unique
scenery is convenient for any size production." Jay Russell, Director,
The WaterhorseCREW
With over 100 Scottish-based production companies and more than 300 facilities companies generating a turnover of £1.2 billion (€1.7 million), production activity in Scotland is one of the highest in the UK outside London.
Full contact details and credits for Scottish producers, production companies, crew and facilities are available at www.filmbang.com. Alternatively, contact locations@scottishscreen.com for a copy of Film Bang to be posted to you.
STUDIO SPACE AND
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
The national register of available buildspace and studio space in Scotland is updated every three months, and is available to be downloaded as a PDF file at www.scottishscreen.com/buildspace. The register gives full details of each space including the location, dimensions, contact details and facilities at each site.
The register of production office space available is at www.scottishscreen.com/officespace.
Rapidly becoming the premier production and post-production centre in Scotland, Pacific Quay, on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow, is home to:
The brand new BBC Scotland development www.bbc.co.uk/scotland. The Scottish Media Group www.smg.plc.uk.
Film City Glasgow is a joint initiative by Sigma Films, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and European Regional Development Funding. As well as buildspace and production office space, Film City Glasgow houses state of the art post-production facilities companies, including Savalas, Scotland’s largest sound facility, and Serious Facilities, for picture post production:
for more details see www.filmcityglasgow.com.
M8Media (formerly JAe) offers production, post-production and studio facilities www.editing.co.uk.
On set of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
“Scottish crews can be really cooperative, and do not hesitate to pull
together to get a job done - it's wonderfully refreshing."
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Scotland is part of the UK and therefore all UK film tax incentives and UK co-production treaties apply in Scotland.
The UK Film Council is the first point of call for general information about filming, tax rules, and available funding in the UK: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/filmmaking/filmingUK/taxreliefbritfilms. The above page contains links for: all the UK’s co-production treaties, information on qualifying as a British Film using the Cultural Test, and information on the UK’s system of Tax Relief for British Films.
The UK Film Council also has a number of funding strands for feature films, digital short films and project development: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/filmmaking.
MEDIA Antenna Scotland is the Glasgow-based office for Scotland of the European Union’s MEDIA Programme. Funding is available for training, project development, distribution, exhibition, and promotional activities at markets and festivals: www.mediadesk.co.uk.
Scottish Screen offers co-investment opportunities for Scottish feature and short film development and production through its Lottery funding.
Full details and all funding opportunities available can be found on the Scottish Screen website: www.scottishscreen.com/funding.
Glasgow Film Office administers a Production Support Fund to support production and post-production in Glasgow. See www.glasgowfilm.com for more information.
Scottish Screen Locations offers additional financial support for recces, accommodation deals and transport costs throughout Scotland: please contact locations@scottishscreen.com with details of your project.
Edinburgh, Hallam Foe, staring Jamie Bell
“Epic landscapes and wonderful natural resources coupled with a first
class film infrastructure and committed, experienced crew.”
MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Scottish Screen is committed to supporting a thriving and diverse exhibition environment that shows the best screen material from Scotland and beyond. World class cinema venues and international film festivals showcase the best film product from Scotland, the UK and overseas. Grass-roots community and special-interest initiatives are broadening the audience for cinema and encouraging local talent to step-up to the world stage.
New technologies are giving filmmakers and artists the tools and freedom to realise their vision and we are supporting a range of new media projects across a number of schemes. Digital cinema is changing the face of cinema distribution and we are fully behind the technology providing investment and advice to distributors and filmmakers wishing to embrace this emerging format. We are also encouraging the take up of cinema access equipment in the exhibition sector to break down barriers to hearing and visually impaired audiences.
Market Development doesn't just mean increasing the number of people going to the cinema, it's about supporting indigenous producers, enriching the cinema-going experience and developing existing audiences now and for the future. For more information, please visit the Developing Audiences section of www.scottishscreen.com.
Useful websites:
Edinburgh International Film Festival www.edfilmfest.org.uk Celtic Media Festival www.celticfilm.co.uk BAFTA Scotland www.baftascotland.co.uk Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy www.adamsmiththeatre.com Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen www.picturehouses.co.uk British Federation of Film Societies Scotland www.bffsscotland.co.uk Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, Dundee www.dca.org
Eden Court Cinema, Inverness www.eden-court.co.uk Edinburgh Filmhouse www.filmhousecinema.com Glasgow Film Theatre www.gft.org.uk
McRobert Arts Centre, Stirling www.macrobert.stir.ac.uk Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries www.web-link.co.uk/rbc Screen Machine www.screenmachine.co.uk
TRAVELLING IN SCOTLAND
Flights from London to all Scottish mainland airports take about an hour, and so most of the country is easily accessible within a couple of hours of travel time. There are also many regular flights and ferries to all the main islands.
• Five international airports: see www.baa.com and www.hial.com for flight information. • Driving routes and drive times are available from www.theaa.com.
• Ferry timetables are available from www.calmac.co.uk. • Rail timetables are available from www.travelinescotland.com.
• Car hire: both Arnold Clark www.arnoldclark.co.uk and Enterprise www.enterprise.co.uk offer competitive rates for production companies.
• Weather and tidal information are available from the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/weather. • Accommodation information available from www.visitscotland.com.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
Scottish Screen www.scottishscreen.com
Scottish Screen Locations www.scottishscreenlocations.com UK Film Council www.ukfilmcouncil.org
Scottish Parliament www.scottish.parliament.uk Scottish Arts Council www.scottisharts.org.uk Scottish Enterprise www.scottish-enterprise.com MEDIA Antenna Scotland www.mediadesk.co.uk
PACT www.pact.co.uk
Skillset www.skillset.org
Screen Academy Scotland www.screenacademyscotland.co.uk General information about Scotland www.undiscoveredscotland.com Images of Scotland www.scottishviewpoint.co.uk
Shetland Islands Dundee Aberdeen Newcastle Inverness Dumfries Prestwick Edinburgh Glasgow Perth Stirling Fort William Stornoway Portree
SCOTLAND
ENGLAND Berwick“The screen industries are massively important to Scotland, not just economically
– and becoming more so – but culturally: it’s how we express ourselves.”
Muriel Gray, author and broadcasterForth Rail Bridge
SCOTTISH WEATHER
Average monthly rainfall
(millimetres)Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 100 80 60 40 20 0
Average monthly sunshine
(hours) 200150 100 50 0
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Average daylight hours
18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
B r e a t h t a k i n g L o c a t i o n s A r e O n l y P a r t O f T h e P i c t u r e . . .
WE CAN OFFER A FREE LOCATION-FINDING SERVICE | AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION COMPANIES UK TAx INCENTIVES | FANTASTIC HOSPITALITy FRIENDLy AND ExPERIENCED STAFF
A SUPPORTIVE, FILM-FRIENDLy GOVERNMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
For more information, e-mail locations@scottishscreen.com | telephone 44 (0)141 302 1723/4 or visit our fully-searchable website www.scottishscreenlocations.com
