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The
Scottish Soldier
Produced
& Directed by Scott Fairweather,
20-24/04/1994
(1
x 10 mins) Bournemouth University / B.A. Media Production Video Major
Julie,
a gutsy advertising manager, gets lost in the Highlands on her way
to a film shoot. She asks for directions in a hotel, and stumbles on
an ideal interior location. But before the barman will give filming
permission, Julie must tell him a story to convince him that she's
genuine. She relates a tale about her sex-obsessed, reptilian boss
Dave, and how she got her revenge on him by chopping off his prick in
a paper guillotine. The bar crowd erupts with laughter at the story
and Julie flees. Before her eyes, the hotel disappears into thin air.
She wonders if she's imagined the whole experience...
Whisky
Galore and Brigadoon collide with Thelma and Louise in this curious
cautionary tale. I have quite a soft spot for it. Scott was and is a
very ardent Celt, and his concept of a mystical, illusionary hotel
filled with characters from Scottish history was most intriguing.
They speak in riddles, making oblique references to Highland culture
and folklore that only a Scot would pick up.
Filming
in Scott's home town of Arbroath, at the Foundry Bar to be precise,
was a great experience and tremendous fun. As good mates working hard
together (and playing hard too) there was a great sense of
cameraderie among us. We crashed out in sleeping bags on Mrs
Fairweather's living room floor, only to be woken at 7am every
morning when she switched on Grampian at an intense volume. The
stovies went down a treat, but my fondest memory is of our sand dune
leaping contest at Auchmithie.
Julie:
Rachel Constantine
Barman:
Peter Dolan
Dave:
Graham Leadbitter
with
Liz
Ward, Harry Will, Frank Gilbert, Alan Ramsay, Robert Chisholm,
Jack
Laing, Beth, Burns T.Mitchell, April-Wendy, Emma, Ian, Tony, Emma
Production
Managers: Orin Solomon, Liz Ward
Production
Assistant: Alan Sim
Camera:
Simon Harries
Sound:
Jamie Bloxam
Lighting:
Pat Conway
Graphic
Design: Phil Allen
Post
Production: Scott Fairweather |