Scotland The Brave!

I thought I would end my ten blog entries, for my university course, on a more high, more Scottish note!

Brave, an animated film produced by Pixar, this being its thirteenth film and will be released by Walt Disney Pictures.

Set in Scotland, it tells the tale of Merida, a skilled archer voiced my Glaswegian actress Kelly MacDonald, who is determined to make her own path in life, she defies a custom that brings chaos to her parents kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Her father, King Fergus, played by Bill Connolly and her mother, Queen Elinor voiced by Emma Thompson are unimpressed with her actions and try to prevent her from going further forward.

Set in times before the Braveheart era, many are deeming it the same success as the Scottish set film with Mel Gibson and others!

A star studded cast, with a few being Scottish too which is nice, like Kelly from Glasgow and Robbie Coltrane who plays Lord Dingwall. Julie Walters also voices a character in the exciting new film! Kelly is also known for her roles in Nanny McPhee starring alongside Emma and also in the last Harry Potter film with Robbie Coltrane, so she will be familiar with the majority of the cast!

Pixar always entertains and proves successful and I'm sure their adaptation of Scotland back in the day will not disappoint! There will be loads of laughs, from Billy and Coltrane for sure and the other cast members will not fail us either!

Most Scottish citizens, mainly critiques, will be looking out for perfectly perfected Scottish accents from the cast and factually correct names and places, but its all a bit of fun! That's what Disney and Pixar are all about, bringing joy and laughter to kids, and adults all over and I'm sure Brave will be another great hit!

I would love to be in the recording studio with the cast, especially funny man Billy Connolly and Robbie Coltrane. It must be such a fun, exhilarating time, and it seems so easy! What a life they have!

Here's a little teaser of the film! I hope you enjoy, I also hope you have enjoyed my blogs so far, I've learned a lot and I hope I've passed some of that on to you!

Thanks again!

Scot Stars

Well, there have been many Scottish actors making a name for themselves in Hollywood and beyond, which many are due credit for!

To name a few we have Sean Connery, Ewan McGregor, Gerard Butler, Robert Carlyle and Karen Gillen. I bet some of you never knew that Isla Fisher is actually Scottish? Her parents are but they decided to bring her up in Perth, Australia.

 

I don't know many people who don't know Mr Connery, especially for his role in the James Bond movies. He is probably Scotland's most famous name today, in the acting world anyway. Now know as Sir Sean, he was given his knighthood in 2000 and was voted at the age of 69, the sexiest man of the century by People's magazine, not to mention sexiest man in 1989 and 1999! Fancy! Well he played the part of Mr Bond in seven films between 1962 and 1983.


Ewan McGregor is also well acclaimed in the Hollywood world! He is probably best known for his roles in Trainspotting along side fellow Scots Robert Carlyle, his part as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars trilogy and his role in Moulin Rouge! Again, another sexy Scotsman voted by many and he was ranked at number 36 in Empire's magazine in the Top 100 Movie Stars of all time, in the year 1997.

Gerard Butler, the most recently made famous star to hail from Scotland. He has appeared in many films, before his popularity grew as well, like Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, from that he went on to work on an American TV series Attila. Butler has also starred in a film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera in 2004, 300, the role which shot him to fame, P.s. I Love You and more recent lead roles in The Bounty Hunter and Law Abiding Citizen, also voicing one of the characters in How To Train Your Dragon.

All Butler, Connery and McGregor have proven that us Scots have talent too, although many still will argue against that.

Not to be sexist, but I think it's time we saw some more female Scots stars in the acting world. Maybe from my last post many will seek to join acting schools, not me anyway! Apart from that I think Scotland is a place full of talent, not just actors and inventors but many others too! It's just a matter of providing adequate facilities and help to those who want to succeed and Scotland needs more of it!

Performing Platforms

Scotland is a relatively small place compared to America and England, where most actors and actresses hail from today so it's no wonder Scottish actors find it hard getting into a reputable drama school that is in Scotland, as there isn't many.

What is out there for aspiring actresses and actors to build their acting skills and get a helping hand into the very intimidating and competitive film industry?

Scotland doesn't have the same scale of drama schools, film studios, money, not to mention the weather which effects lots of things and there isn't many scholarship schemes either when compared to movie buffs America. So many young people travel and spend thousands to get into a drama school elsewhere in London or further abroad.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly known as RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) is available to those lucky and determined enough to succeed. Founded in 1847 as RSAMD and based in Glasgow it is one of the most reputable and acclaimed Creative Arts Schools not just Scotland but England has to offer.

Now under new name RCS, and in its first yer remains successful. It offers scholarships and programmes to all ages and talents, such as music, acting and dancing and each individual is treated with the same level of education in order to bring out the best in everyone. You can even leave with a PhD!

There has been many famous names that have studied and moved on to bigger things whilst at the school, which is situated in Renfrew Street. They include James McAvoy, John Barrowman and Richard Attenborough, most notable for his part as the professor in Jurassic Park. He continues to be an honorary associate artist for the RSC today.

I'm sure there will be many more famous faces arising from the newly names school like before, why not!?

If your interested in having a look at the website and the work they do and courses follow this like here!

There is also talks with Glasgow City Council and other councils such as the Glasgow City Council Film Office with the likes of Ewan McGregor and Gerard Butler in building a new drama school or film studio in the Glasgow or Paisley area so as more movies can be filmed in Scotland.

When I find out more I'll be sure to keep you informed. Thanks again for reading!

Gotham or Glasgow City Centre?

OK so I've talked quite a bit about films that have been filmed here recently in Glasgow and the surrounding areas. But what about films that are planned to be in the future?

I'm really hoping there will be many more blockbusters either set or filmed, or both, in Glasgow. It means us Glaswegians can get a closer glimpse of not only some of the best Hollywood actors in action, or is that being a little bit creepy ? But also we get too see how exactly things are done, what goes into a days worth of filming, the costs, how time consuming a days filming can be, all which might encourage on lookers to involve themselves in the film industry and therefore get from that some home grown fresh Scottish talent. Whether that be an aspiring actor or an amazing new director!

Now, I'm excited about this, and I've only just recently heard about it, but the new Batman: The Dark Knight Rises is reportedly having some scenes shot in Glasgow and the highlands next month! I love Batman! A superhero geek but who isn't? I really hope these rumours are true!

It has been said that the cast and crew will move into Glasgow hotels next month to begin filming. Many fans will know who Batman is, but for those who don't, its the well acclaimed Oscar winner actor Christian Bale. Also joining him for this film, which is set to be released later this year, is Anne Hathaway who is playing Catwoman, and the gorgeous, apologies but I love this guy, Tom Hardy, who plays bad guy Bane. I really hope to see him!!

 


Tom Hardy as Bane



Anne Hathaway filming

 Enough about Mr. Hardy anyway, the reason as to why director Christopher Nolan is planning to film in Glasgow and also other cities like Chicago, is because he wants to create a new Gotham City (fictional city in the film) that no one will recognise and the scenes where filming took place. So to create a totally fictional but real, in a sense, city. Due for release in July this year it is the last of Christopher Nolan's contribution to making the films, he is happy with his trilogy so far and states that someone else will make the next films where Batman is going to star along other Superhero's like Superman! Oh I cant wait for that either!

Other films reported to be filming in Glasgow or somewhere in Scotland is the new James Bond film, although it hasn't been confirmed for certain yet. It seems though that Nolan is keeping it secret as to where filming will take place so to get the job done quicker and in time for release and it's no wonder why, crazy fans interupting filming and leaking home taken videos on the internet before release.

Well it seems like a good future in store for Glasgow and Scotland and the film industry with such big films like Batman set for filming next month and lets hope it carries on!

Glasgow Painted Scarlett

Now Scarlett Johansson is a lovely lady, not only blessed with good looks but she's quite the actress too, with movies like Iron Man, The Island with Scots man Ewan McGregor, and the Avengers under her belt to name a few. Last year she was another Hollywood starlet to venture out and join the list of those setting foot in Glasgow for filming for the first time or making a return. This was her first time in Glasgow, and she spent three months filming for new movie Under the Skin.

Scarlett on set in petrol station up North

FilmNation, one of the producers of the film, say that Scarlett plays an alien on Earth, disguised as the perfect aesthetic form of a mesmerising woman, who seduces men and harvests their body parts. Lovely.

Again like my last blogs, most of the film is set in Scotland, this time not primarily Glasgow, but in the Highlands.

Under the Skin is based on a novel of the same name by Michel Faber, who lives in the Black Isle.

The book tells of an alien, Johansson's character in the film, who picks up hitchhikers on the A9 road in the Highlands to harvest body parts.

The majority of this movie was filmed in Glencoe on the A9 and A82. A crew of more than 70 descended on Auchmithie, just outside Arbroath, to film certain scenes too, crew members were from America but also Scottish companies too, again aiding and helping the Scottish Film industry. Some scenes were shot in Glasgow, including the Buchanan Galleries.

It didn't stop there though, Scarlett let her hair down in Glasgow city centre where she celebrated her 27th birthday and enjoyed a tipple with locals at a bar in Sauchiehall Street called Nice N Sleazy and was also spotted wandering around Buchanan street and the Merchant City.

However, she muddled her words and facts in an interview on the David Letterman Show, claiming 40% of Scottish prisoners were murders, when in fact it is only about 13%! She goes on to say how Scotland is a lovely place but with mad people.

Under the Skin is due for release later this year and there is no trailer as of yet!

I'll keep checking. Thanks again!

Streets of Glasgow

Many famous actors have filmed in Glasgow, as I have mentioned before. Whether the film be set in Glasgow or used for economic benefits, the city proves time again to be a well-equipped host. Voted one of the friendliest and hardest cities, contradicting I know, it has its own uniqueness and variety in landscapes, streets and buildings, that when dressed appropriately can be mistaken for somewhere else.

When Halle Berry came to town, shortly after Brad Pitt, for the three days of filming Cloud Atlas in Glasgow which was transformed into a 1970's San Francisco. Filming took place on the 16th, 18th and 26th September 2011 which was the second Hollywood blockbuster to be filmed in Glasgow that year.

Berry obviously not used to the Glasgow weather kept warm with a hot water bottle when filming between shots!

Cloud Atlas is produced by a German company who said they wanted to film in Glasgow for its geographical similarities to San Francisco, the steep hills that some of the Glasgow streets possess. So after meeting with Glasgow City Council Film Office, an agreement was made to allow permission to film there as Jennifer Reynolds, one of the film commissioners believed it would benefit Glasgow. Some of the script was set in the UK so it was perfect to film in Scotland's largest city and other scenes in London.

Vintage U.S car brought in to transform Glasgow to San Francisco

Filming took place around Blythswood Square and Montrose Street, seeing it transformed with old vintage American cars being flown in to re-create San Francisco.

Many local filming crews were hired on scene in Glasgow, benefiting them and Glasgow's economy as various hotels, restaurants etcetera were used too.

Cloud Atlas is based on British author David Mitchell's bestselling novel, of the same name, which was released in 2004 and was shortlisted for a Man Booker Prize.

The film is due for release later this year and along starring Halle Berry includes a star studded cast with Oscar winners Tom Hanks and Susan Sarandon, also co-starring are British actors Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess and Ben Whishaw.

I hope you have enjoyed my blogs so far, thanks for having a look!

Home Turf

Now there's been a lot happening in Glasgow with regards to the film industry lately. Brad Pitt was in the city filming World War Z, Halle Berry with Cloud Atlas, Scarlett Johansson with Under the Skin and most recently, James McAvoy and Jamie Bell filming Filth; a film set and based in Glasgow.

More about Filth, seen as it's a Scottish based film, with one of the lead actors being Scottish too! James McAvoy that is. Filth, is written by the Trainspotting author, Irvine Welsh, who also cast Scots actors Robert Carlyle and Ewan McGregor as the lead roles in Trainspotting. One of his other books, Ecstasy, was shown earlier this year at the Glasgow Film Festival in a film adaptation. The controversial book was published in 1998 and reads of two Scottish cops, Bell and McAvoy, who are called in to solve a brutal murder, set in and around Glasgow city.

Looks like fun! Jamie Bell and James McAvoy have a laugh on set in Glasgow

 Fans of the best selling novelist have long been anticipating the film version of the books release and I don't think it will disappoint!

Most scenes were filmed in Glasgow city centre, Stirling and Edinburgh. McAvoy and fans express their joy online and elsewhere at the return of McAvoy to his homeland and being able to use his own accent! James was born in Drumchapel, Glasgow, so he can relate well to this film in particular as Drumchapel was seen to be a turbulent, violent place, which the movie contains lots of.

This comes after his success in Hollywood where he has taken part in many blockbuster films, taking on a variety of roles and speaking with many different accents other than Scottish.

McAvoy plays a racist cocaine addict and Bell his partner. James stated in an interview that this is one of the most challenging roles he has ever agreed to play as his character Bruce Robertson is not likeable.
He told The Sun: "I'm taking probably the biggest risk of my career in playing the part in Filth.
"It's an incredible role for me, unlike anything I've ever done and a massive challenge."
Well it certainly will be a challenging role as Bruce, is also a sex obsessive and misogynist, who somehow is a cop?

Interestingly enough, fans have critiqued what the outcome of the film will be like, as in the book, McAvoy's character has a tapeworm, which has a big part in the novel. I'm not entirely sure how that will be played out? Many members of the public are slating the plot adding that it's another grim and depressing portrayal of Scotland, but they still want to see it!

Anyway, lots of fans of both the novel and James say that even though it is a challenging role to play, they believe he will fulfil the role excellently and many can't wait to watch and judge for themselves!

So already good news for director Jon S Baird, cast and crew!

I couldn't find a trailer as filming and editing is still on going but I found an interview of McAvoy and Bell about playing their controversial characters and the film itself!

There are more high profile films said to be filmed in the near future in Glasgow and when I find out more; I'll update you in one of my blogs!

I'll also be blogging about other movies I've stumbled across that have also been film in Glasgow.

Thanks for reading!