Showing posts with label Creative Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creative Scotland. Show all posts

Sunday 30 June 2019

Robert the Bruce released June 28th


Shocking. A huge movie project for Angus MacFadyen. Huge support - so why is Cineworld refusing to show this Robert the Bruce film? Blocked? (Cameron also stopped 'Outlander' being shown until AFTER the 2014 vote oddly. Why can't we acknowledge and understand our differences - they are what make us stronger, not weaker.) Other questions, why did Creative Scotland back 'Outlaw King' with American lead Chris Pine - but not 'Robert the Bruce.' And why exactly is King Robert an outlaw anyway? Strange goings on if you ask me....`i hope to go see the film at an Odeon cinema soon, films need support in the cinemas.
I was wondering, why the powers-that-be down south, enjoy Scots stories that include massacre or Scottish downfall - such as Mary Queen of Scots, Culloden, or other defeats. Rather than any Scottish success stories - Enlightenment, innovations, great songs, art and more. Odd really? Especially when they claim to support the UK Union so much? What other country mocks or puts down a part of itself or a partner

We have known Scotland clutched in the grip of a mighty hand… now we'll set her free!" Signature Ent. in the UK has unveiled a trailer for the action drama Robert the Bruce, made by Australian director Richard Gray (of Mine GamesBlinderThe LookalikeBroken Ghost). Robert the Bruce is a hard-hitting historical epic covering the turbulent time after William Wallace's victories depicted in Braveheart. The epic story of one of Scotland's greatest heroes will be premiering at the 73rd Edinburgh Film Festival this month. Angus Macfadyen stars (playing the same role he played in Braveheart) with Jared HarrisZach McGowanDaniel PortmanEmma KenneyMelora WaltersAnna HutchisonTalitha Eliana BatemanPatrick FugitGabriel Bateman, and Kevin McNally. This also features original music from Scottish national treasure Lulu. Looks a bit dry and talky, but perhaps still an invigorating film about a great legend.
Scotland 1306, Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen) crowns himself King and takes the ambition of Scotland’s freedom as his own. But he cannot overcome England’s power: defeated again and again, his army is scattered and Scotland’s nobility abandons him. Hunted, with a price on his head, he finds himself alone and wounded. The cause of freedom seems lost once more. Hidden secretly in a secluded croft of a clan pledged to England, and close to death Robert is nursed back to life by a young widow and her orphaned children. His determination to do what is right, regardless of the cost, reinvigorates his passion to rise again. But it’s not revenge he desires. It’s freedom. Now. Robert the Bruce is directed by Australian filmmaker Richard Gray, director of the films Summer CodaMine GamesBlinderThe LookalikeSugar Mountain, and Broken Ghost previously. The screenplay is by Eric Belgau and Angus Macfadyen. Signature will release Robert the Bruce in UK theaters starting June 28th. No US release is set yet. First impression?

Friday 14 July 2017

Casting Robert the Bruce! Our Branch Economy


Today they are casting in Glasgow for a big Netflix movie on Robert the Bruce. An English casting director is coming up here to Glasgow, who will get 20%, and who has never worked in Scotland.

Scottish casting agents have been told they cannot participate – a new software was introduced and they were not informed of it – these are agents who have done the casting for big productions such as Trainspotting and Outlander.

The Scottish agents have worked with the Scottish actors for many years and know their strengths and weaknesses. When Brat Pitt filmed here in Glasgow for his movie World War Z a few years ago, it is not always successful to bring in outsiders who don’t know the place, culture, stories or the people.


In both Ireland and Wales they have separate Tv and film agencies and they protect using local crew for TV and film productions – but not here in Scotland. 

The problem in Scotland is that Creative Scotland is too big an umbrella organizing that covers all the creative arts – art, books, music and film and tv. When TV and film are money-making industries that bring in a lot of money and they are not poetry! 


Scotland is treated as a branch economy, where decisions that are often best made in Scotland are being made in London. Being London-centred is not always in everyone’s best interests. Also a branch economy, is always the first to suffer in any downturn.

After the Lyceum theatre lost its photographer a few years back they thought they needed to go to London to get a good photographer. Award-winning photographer Douglas McBride contacted them and said, ‘I am here in Scotland and can do good images for you! ‘

These casting Scottish agents claim this is the first time in 30 years they have not even been allowed to compete. Scottish government money may be involved in the funding for this Netflix production – growth funding.
Yet Scotland will loose out financially. Changes need to be urgently made here for a separate Scottish TV and film agency. There will be a new film studio built south of Edinburgh. 


We in Scotland now have to choose, do we want to continue being a branch economy or run our own businesses?

(PS Casting for men with beards!)

Friday 27 November 2015

Creative Scotland not Responsive to the Arts

Run by bean counters

Culture is how a country expresses and views itself. Culture is vital to any healthy country.
Scotland has a brilliant history of inspirational poets, songs smiths, composers, novelists, innovators, inventors, painters, designers, and much more 

Herald theatre critic Mark Brown has written an open letter to Scotland’s art body Creative Scotland. He talks about the ethos of CS being based on Tony Blair and New Labour. With Bigger is better committees and a top-down approach that is market-driven and led by civil servants rather than artists.

Also in 2012 over a 100 writers and artists wrote to CS complaining over how it was being mismanaged. The then director Alan Dixon resigned. Mark writes that this is not only about a change personal but a change of ethos and organization.

Mark claims CS treats art and culture as an industry. At present the creative industries have an overly burdensome remit covering theatre, musicians, artists, writers, designers, games designers and architects. Along with a bean counter mentality. Mark suggests an Arts body for the artists and writers - and a separate Design Body for architecture and the Games industries.

I would have expected an arts council to be led by those who have not only lived and breathed art all their lives, but are also creative as writers, musicians or painters. We have some outstanding music writers and arts critics in Scotland. Why are they not employed in our arts body? 

If you look at world class arts of any kind – they are normally run by capable, bright and highly creative motivated people, not bean counters. Otherwise the arts produced become bland, mediocre, monochrome and boring,
At the moment Scotland also has a renaissance of writers, artists and musicians that should be celebrated and encouraged to thrive. Our arts body needs to be promoting excellence and innovation in the arts.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Creative Scotland slammed by leading Scottish artists



A hundred leading artists have launched an attack on the management of arts body Creative Scotland. In an open letter, they condemn decision making, disregard for Scottish culture and say the organisation is in an "ongoing crisis". Among those signing the letter are John Byrne, Alasdair Gray, James Kelman, AL Kennedy, Liz Lochhead and Ian Rankin. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19880871