I want to tell you a Storify

I ended 2011 the same way I started 2012, with a story. To be more precise, in December I had something to say about a year in the life of Screen Machine, Scotland’s mobile cinema that I’ve blogged about a few times here, and I needed a good way to tell it.

The answer was Storify.

For those who haven’t heard of Storify, it’s a tool that allows users to curate social media posts from numerous accounts, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo. It’s free to set up and easy to use, so it seemed perfect for my needs.

With numerous stories in the press, video published, comments on Twitter and other mentions for Scotland’s most unusual cinema, I spent a few hours looking back through my work around the web and ended up with the aptly titled Screen Machine: 2011 year in review post.

The success of that post led me to pull together another one this month, detailing the online reaction to the repeat of a 1974 BBC Play for Today, The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil, on BBC ALBA.

While repeats of old TV shows don’t usually cause much of a stir, this one was quite rare, and I wrote about it on ReelScotland just ahead of the screening. When the number of page visits and tweets went through the roof, and I led a live Twitter commentary of the screening, I collected the most interesting responses into another Storify.

The result, Twitter reaction to The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil on BBC ALBA, has already notched up almost 250 views, while my embedding of the post on ReelScotland has itself had many hundreds of views.

I spend a lot of time on Twitter trying to sift through a mass of dross for the best information, and being able to present that to my own followers, or those of Screen Machine or ReelScotland, in a concise way is going to become more important. Hopefully I’ll have another opportunity to use Storify soon.

Tags: BBC ALBA, Screen Machine, Storify

Young James Herriot week on ReelScotland

As well as covering a large amount Scottish films on ReelScotland, I also try to feature as much new television as I can.

Following articles on BBC Scotland’s The Field of Blood and Burnistoun, I was on the set of All Creatures Great and Small prequel, Young James Herriot, in July.

Starring Iain De Caestecker, Amy Manson and Ben Lloyd-Hughes, the series is set in the 1930s and follows a young James Herriot as he becomes the accomplished vet we know from the books and original TV series.

I’ve decided to run interviews with the three leads and their co-star, Tony Curran, from Tuesday until Friday, with episode one showing on BBC One on Sunday evening.

I’m also dropping in some audio clips from the interviews alongside the text, making the interviews more interesting for fans. I’ll add links to the interviews on here during the week and also embed the audio below:

‘It’s about James Herriot becoming the character everyone knows’: Iain De Caestecker on Young James Herriot

‘She just breezes through life’: Amy Manson on Young James Herriot

Tags: BBC, Burnistoun, The Field of Blood, Young James Herriot

The future of film criticism is in the past

Being a classic film fan can be a lonely experience, one of those people who regularly scans the TV listings for 1am repeats of Clarence Brown films or documentaries about RKO.

This past year has found me immersed in cinema history, through my visit to the TCM Classic Film Festival (TCMFF), my work running the Park Circus blog and my weekly Edinburgh Evening News column.

A few weeks ago I wrote in the paper about the arrival of Scorsese’s Hugo and new silent film, The Artist, both of which celebrate the early days of film, while on Thursday I noted the arrival of Edinburgh’s IMAX screen and the need to keep an eye on some of the smaller films in the city.

As I’ve discovered through working with Park Circus, the world is increasingly looking to the past for its entertainment, something I’m more than happy to be a part of.

I’ll be visiting the IMAX for Mission Impossible:Ghost Protocol in a few weeks, and appreciate the need to promote quality new cinema via sites like my own www.reelscotland.com, but I also think it’s my responsibility to tell readers about our rich cinematic heritage, as I did back in September for the Evening News.

It’s also the reason I recently started another blog in the shape of Holyrood or Bust. With the huge volume of DVDs and Blu-rays currently being released, not to mention cinema re-releases and films such as The Artist, it’s a golden period for those wanting to write about classic film.

My most recent post was requested by a friend in New York, Will McKinley, who is a viewer and fan of the US TCM channel. Though I’m unable to watch the channel, I did become a convert to TCM during the TCMFF and used their recent Buster Keaton season to launch the site in October. This time, Will asked if I could write a post to celebrate the return of TCM host, Robert Osborne, to the screen after a short absence.

I obliged by using an excerpt from an interview I carried out with Osborne in LA earlier in the year:

I’m now gearing up for a 2012 filled with even more classic films, including another trip to Bristol’s Slapstick Festival, the second Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema here in Scotland (see my video interview below), a return to Los Angeles and a few other projects that are in the early stages.

Through my work I’ve discovered a vibrant community of classic film fans it’s been a privilege to engage with them on various websites, via Twitter and, most importantly, in cinemas around the world.

Here’s to another classic year of film coverage in 2012.

Tags: classic film, Edinburgh, Hugo, IMAX, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Park Circus, Robert Osborne, TCM, The Artist

Brian Cox column in Edinburgh Evening News

Brian Cox at the NLS

Last week I attended a talk by Scottish actor, Brian Cox, at the National Library of Scotland, covering it for my Thursday Edinburgh Evening News column. While the following article was published in the 10 November print edition of the paper it didn’t make it online, so I’ve published it here instead:

He may have appeared in a string of Hollywood hits, counting Matt Damon and Hugh Jackman as co-stars, but Dundee-born actor Brian Cox has a special place in his heart for one particular leading lady: Edinburgh.

Speaking at the National Library of Scotland on Tuesday evening, the Braveheart and Bourne Identity star was vocal in his love for the city.

“I look upon Edinburgh as my spiritual home,” he said. “This goes back to when I was two-years-old and my auntie Jean ran away to Edinburgh to marry a Protestant. She lived in Leith and Granton, and I remember years later walking over the Mound and the hairs standing up on the back of my neck.”

Cox spoke about his memories of attending the cinema in Dundee when he was a boy, deciding that acting was for him as Spencer Tracy and James Cagney filled the screen.

“Edinburgh is where everything came together for me as an actor,” continued Cox. “Working at the Lyceum with actors such as Duncan Macrae and Fulton Mackay.”

Mackay is also the star of one of Cox’s favourite Scottish films, 1952′s The Brave Don’t Cry, with the work of directors Bill Forsyth and Peter Mullan also high on his list.

When I ask Cox if we can expect to see him filming on Edinburgh’s streets he’s unsure, though one project may come to fruition in 2012.

As he plans to head back to the USA to shoot Will Ferrel’s latest comedy, Dog Fight, can we expect to lose him to Hollywood? Cox shakes his head: “The weather is beautiful and I love going there, but after a while it gets boring.

“Edinburgh’s always meant a lot to me, it physically charges me whenever I come back here.”

Tags: Brian Cox

Craig Armstrong interview for Park Circus

He’s written scores for films as diverse as Moulin Rouge, Plunkett and Macleane and The Incredible Hulk, but Glasgow-based composer, Craig Armstrong, has also collaborated with director Peter Mullan on all of his films since 1993′s Close.

To celebrate the release of Mullan’s first feature on DVD, 1998′s Orphans, I interviewed Armstrong for Park Circus’ blog. We discussed his close working relationship with Mullan and some of his other projects, including the latest Justin Timberlake sci-fi, In Time.

I was also recently able to interview film director/critic/scholar, Pierre Rissient, for the Park Circus blog, when we discussed his work on 1969′s La Piscine and his recommendations for forgotten classic films.

Here’s one of Armstrong’s best known tracks, ‘Escape’.

Tags: Craig Armstrong, NEDS, Orphans, Peter Mullan

Talk at Dundee Discovery Film Festival

Last week was a bit of a busy one around these parts, meaning I didn’t have time to mention the talk I gave at the Discovery Film Festival on Saturday 22 October, held at Dundee’s DCA.

As part of a workshop entitled From Tweets To Blogs: Online Film Writing, I offered some of my thoughts on film reviewing today and the role of the blogger/film journalist to an audience of young film fans.

With anyone now able to set up a blog and start telling the world their views on the latest movies, I strongly believe there are some basics that everyone should at least attempt to heed if they want to appear semi-professional to their readers. Having a wide frame of reference and not simply discussing the latest Hollywood movies were two of the points I offered up, as well as advising them to enjoy what they’re doing.

Writing this post also reminded me that it’s been a year since my AmbITion talk was put online. I discussed how arts organisations can use social media to help promote themselves and the tone of voice required for online audiences – click through on the image below for the full talk.

Tags: Social Media

BAFTA Scotland 2011 jury member

Today saw the announcement of the nominations for the British Acadamy Scotland Awards 2011, celebrating the best in Scottish film, television and gaming talent.

I recently accepted an invitation to become a member of the BAFTA Scotland jury deliberating the Feature Film category, which now includes Peter Mullan’s NEDS, Morag McKinnon’s Donkeys and David Mackenzie’s Perfect Sense.

As the awards aren’t announced until Sunday 13 November I can’t say much more about the process or the nominess, except that it’s been an exciting few months being part of the BAFTA Scotland deliberations.

I’m as intrigued as everyone else to see who wins on the night and wish everyone the best of luck.

Tags: BAFTA Scotland, NEDS, Peter Mullan

Screen Machine behind-the-scenes videos

Last week saw the second of my new Screen Machine videos go live on Vimeo, both of them filmed recently on Arran during the cinemas visit.

The brief here was to both interview senior operator, Iain MacColl, about his work on the cinema and to show how Screen Machine is set up, a question often asked by the 25,000 visitors who attend each year.

Both videos have had a positive response, mainly on Facebook from some of our 2,000+ followers. Let me know what you think.

Tags: Screen Machine

Screen Machine + classic films = success Galore

Back in July I wrote about some of my work with Scotland’s mobile cinema, The Screen Machine, which sees me managing the Machine’s social media presence and PR. With the promotion of an upcoming tour of 1940s film, Whisky Galore, the cinema is back in the news again.

We may have over 2000 Facebook fans and a growing Twitter presence, but nothing beats the traditional press release to generate some buzz around a project, particularly one as exciting as Screen Machine taking Whisky Galore back to Barra, where it was filmed in 1948.

Within a day we had news items on the BBC, STV and Stornoway Gazette websites, plus news items in the Daily Mail and other print publications. I also started some discussion on Twitter, inviting film fans to suggest other famous Scottish films that should be taken to locations around the country.

The response was fast and good fun, with some interesting ideas coming from all over the Twittersphere.

Screen Machine locations

The buzz has continued over subsequent weeks, with a new competition recently added to the main website, offering a tour of the Scotch Whisky Experience and DVDs of the film.

Most importantly ticket sales are strong and the response from attendees positive, hopefully ensuring more special screenings in the coming year.

Listen to the BBC Film Programme’s trip to see Screen Machine on Barra on the BBC iPlayer.

Tags: The Screen Machine

Interviewing Scottish documentary filmmakers

I’ve been focusing on documentaries over the past few weeks, spending some time looking at the work of Scottish filmmakers who are doing interesting things away from the multiplexes.

One part of the Creative Scotland project I’m producing is scottishfilms.com, a resource for Scottish filmmakers which allows them to have their short films uploaded to a password protected section and watched by film festivals around the world.

The blog is a recent addition to the site and I’m carrying out a series of interviews with filmmakers, finding out more about their work and giving an overview of the talent working in Scotland today.

As well as talking to the organiser of documentary festival, Edindocs, my first two video interviews are now online, one with documentary filmmaker, Martin Smith, and the second with You’ve Been Trumped director, Anthony Baxter.

For last week’s Edinburgh Evening News column, I spoke to the Scottish Documentary Institute, the Edinburgh-based research centre specialising in documentary training, production and distribution, about their work, while this week was the turn of Edindocs.

I have further videos waiting to be published, with more in the pipeline, and I’m hoping it builds into a useful resource for other filmmakers and anyone interested in Scottish cinema.

Tags: Creative Scotland, Scottish Documentary Institute

Celebrating The Persuaders and Sir Roger Moore

Roger Moore and Barry Norman on stage

I was in London over the weekend celebrating the 40th anniversary Blu-ray release of The Persuaders!, the 1971 ITC adventure series starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis.

Hosted by DVD distribution company Network, the event took place in Knightsbridge on Saturday evening, with Lord Brett Sinclair’s Aston Martin parked outside, complete with the interior of the boot signed by Moore and Curtis.

The Persuaders' Aston Martin, with signed boot

Around 150 fans were then offered the opportunity to meet and greet Sir Roger, have their Blu-ray boxset signed, watch a few episodes of the series and hear the actor in conversation with veteran film critic, Barry Norman.

Barry Norman introducing the event

The first episode of the series, Overture, was shown after the signing and looked impressive on the big screen, looking fresher than it ever has and still a huge amount of fun, as Lord Sinclair (Moore) and Danny Wilde (Curtis) are brought together to fight crime by wily Judge Fulton (Laurence Naismith).

After the episode Barry Norman returned to introduce Moore, who may not be quite as dashing as he was 40 years ago but who still has the self-deprecating sense of humour he’s known for.

The pair discussed the genesis of the show (Lord Lew Grade signed Moore up to the series without asking him, then paid him a hefty salary he couldn’t refuse) and took in topics such as Tony Curtis’ doubts about acting in a TV series after being a movie star and how he was known to smoke a spliff before a take. It’s worth noting that Moore does a mean Tony Curtis impression and it was heartening to hear how the pair bonded and remained friends long after the end of the series, Moore comforting Curtis when the latter’s son died in tragic circumstances.

Roger Moore and Barry Norman

There was also a second episode shown on the big screen but as Moore had left by this point so did a large part of the audience, including me – I headed to the pub to celebrate the series with fellow Persuaders fans for the rest of the night.

An opportunity to meet a childhood hero, thanks must go to Network for taking the time to treat a small audience to a night to remember. Although I’ve not had a chance to get stuck in to the Blu-rays, I’m looking forward to it; I need as many distractions from modern TV as possible and a few hours in the company of the Persuaders seems a perfect way to do so.

Find out more about the Blu-ray release over on the Network DVD website and watch some clips from the event below:

Tags: Barry Norman, ITV, Roger Moore, The Persuaders, Tony Curtis

Interview with actress Melissa George

It was in June 2010 that I headed north to Muir of Ord, just outside Inverness, to interview the cast and crew of new British action thriller, A Lonely Place to Die.

Star Melissa George was there alongside director Julian Gilbey and co-stars Ed Speleers and Stephen McCole, but it was George who I managed to get a 15-minute chat with about her career – including Mulholland Drive, The Limey, In Treatment and Alias – and her Scottish roots.

The full interview is now up on the ReelScotland YouTube Channel and, although it is a lengthy one, it was preferable to a cut down version that you could find anywhere else. There’s also more on the film over at ReelScotland.

Tags: A Lonely Place to Die, Melissa George

Tremors feature in SFX Magazine

A Graboid prepares for a scene in Tremors

Pick up a copy of this month’s SFX Magazine, turn to page 70, and you’ll be faced with a lovely looking four page article by yours truly on one of my favourite film series, Tremors.

SFX Issue 213

It was during Christmas 2010 that I realised Tremors would celebrate its 21st anniversary in 2011 and decided to get in touch with co-creator/writer, SS Wilson. Thanks to his generosity with his time, we not only covered the first movie but also the three sequels, the spin-off TV series and the proposed fifth film, Thunder from Down Under.

Add to that some valuable input from Michael Gross, the only actor to appear in every incarnation of the franchise as Burt Gummer (or one of his ancestors), and you’ve got one of the most enjoyable articles I’ve ever had the pleasure to write.

SFX Magazine, which I’ve been subscribing to since issue one in the mid-90s, have done a great job of putting the feature together, and I hope it does Tremors justice.

Fans of the films might like these videos, the first is Kevin Bacon’s recognition of the movie that he’s disassociated himself from for many years, while the second is a clever bit of science about the Graboids…

Tags: Graboids, Michael Gross, SFX Magazine, Short Circuit, Tremors

Edinburgh Fringe interviews

It’s been a few years since I covered the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival for the Edinburgh Evening News or my own blog, but I still try to keep an eye out for something that might interest fellow film and TV fans.

This year I got in touch with the team behind Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut, a loving homage to the 1941 film, and asked for an interview with two of its stars, Gavin Mitchell and Jimmy Chisholm, for ReelScotland. I took along my video camera and set it up in the noisy bar at the Pleasance to film a short chat for YouTube, and the guys couldn’t have been nicer.

Then, as a vintage television fan (to clarify, it’s the TV programmes that are vintage, not me), I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to interview Clive Mantle, one of the stars of 1980s TV show, Robin of Sherwood. He’s in town playing Tommy Cooper in the brilliant Jus’ Like That.

This time I decided on recording short audioboos, one about the show and one about Clive’s TV work, which also includes The Vicar of Dibley, Casualty and Holby City. During the interview it emerged the cast and crew of Robin had attempted to revive the show with ITV a few years back, only for the channel to turn the idea down.

I blogged about it and it generated hundreds of page views and a number of comments, including one from another star of the show, Mark Ryan. I’ve now had interest from fans and press around the globe and it’ll be interesting to see if the story goes any further.

Tags: Casablanca, classic cinema, classic film, Clive Mantle, Edinburgh International Fringe Festival

ReelScotland and Screen Machine on BBC Radio Scotland

Senior Screen Machine operator, Iain MacColl, in action

The team at BBC Radio Scotland invited me back on the Movie Cafe today to discuss a couple of my current projects, Screen Machine and ReelScotland.

First we talked about Scotland’s mobile cinema, Screen Machine, a project I’m currently working on for Creative Scotland. The cinema’s senior operator, Iain MacColl, was on the line to Janice Forsyth to talk about his long-time involvement with the cinema, before some interviews I took on Arran a few weeks back were broadcast. I  then added some thoughts on the importance of cinema to communities in rural areas.

Part of the Arran visit was to shoot some video of the Screen Machine for the YouTube channel, but while that continues to be edited here’s a shorter version I cut for ReelScotland’s YouTube channel:

The other reason for me being there was to talk about ReelScotland’s recent placement in The List magazine’s Best Scottish Websites feature, coming 10th out 30 sites, more recognition for the site which is doing well in its second year and which I’m developing some new ideas for.

The show is available on BBC iPlayer until Thursday 18 August and the above segments begin at around the 26 minute mark.

 

Tags: BBC, ReelScotland, Screen Machine