With
the film industry making haste to prepare for its greatest
showcase, at Cannes, there is the usual speculation about
the films selected for screening and great anticipation
of what is a global event, the glitz, the glamour and
all the showbiz shazzamataz that goes with it.
But Cannes is also a time when behind-the-scenes operators
are getting their act together, creating opportunities
to bring their services to the attention of the movie
decision makers. Favourably received, these services will
attract film dollars, investment spent far away from Sunset
Strip, boosting local economies in even the remotest parts
of Britain.
Trish Shorthouse has the job of selling some of those
locations to filmmakers. Her territory as Film Commissioner
for the Highlands and Islands is huge and covers some
of the most beautiful and most remote scenery in Britain,
stretching from Mull of Kintyre in the South West Highlands,
as far as the northernmost Shetland Island of Muckle Flugga,
half-way to Norway.
Last year, she went to Cannes as part of a delegation
of 40 Scots writers, producers, directors and representatives
from Scottish Screen who were intent on promoting Scotland
and it locations. She says Cannes is very important to
a growing Screen Commission like her own. "It is
probably the premiere event in the industry, and it is
important that a developing commission like ours is there
to convey a message that we have everything that a film
company may need to to complete a successful shoot."
Being part of a bigger group brought advantages in opening
up networking opportunities, but the Shorthouse strategy
was to double the opportunities available for film decision-makers
to get information on the Highlands and Islands. The commissioner
explains; "Scottish Screen had an office on the Croisette,
the main street where most of the business activity takes
place, so we were truly at the heart of Cannes. We had
a good meeting area for the production community and Scottish
Screen organised successful business receptions which
were also good networking opportunities. We also had a
presence on the Association of Film Commissioners International
stand in the main festival exhibition hall."
The official stands and receptions were backed by another
strategy to unveil what the Highlands and Islands could
offer to filmmakers. Stunning locations that were depicted
in films actually being screened at the festival. Trish
Shorthouse explains, it was unbeatable publicity; "In
the best form possible – by films shot here!"
Gerard Depardieu’s new film –a live action version
of the famous cartoon character- Asterix Contre Caesar
had its opening sequence of the Roman army shot around
Durness in north-west Sutherland. Then there was Hold
Back The Night which was filmed in Glen Cannich and
on Orkney. Catherine Zeta-Jones starred in Entrapment
which was filmed at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull."
Although there’s a little more to it than that, it
seems that as far as the Highlands and Islands are concerned,
their Film Commissioner may have scope to enjoy Cannes
for the occasion it is. The locations she has already
fixed for the filmmakers, sell the attractions of her
area on screen by themselves!
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>>> archive >>>
With
the film industry making haste to prepare for its greatest
showcase, at Cannes, there is the usual speculation about
the films selected for screening and great anticipation
of what is a global event, the glitz, the glamour and
all the showbiz shazzamataz that goes with it.