A third bid to establish a state-of-the-art film studio for Scotland has been launched, this time for a Highland studio complex, on a former hospital site near the new city of Inverness.

The new bid comes as the Highlands and Islands Film Commission is pushing hard to win new film business for the area, including looking to set up a Highland Film Production Fund that would act like the Glasgow Film Fund, persuading filmmakers to come in to the area, boosting the local economy with substantial film spends.

At present there is not one studio in Scotland capable of handling large-scale film productions, a factor which according to both enterprise and film agencies, is hampering growth in the film sector for the Scottish economy.

The new proposal follows plans already unveiled for a studio complex which is backed by Sir Sean Connery and another for the central belt, backed by Scottish Screen and targeted on Glasgow’s Pacific Quay.

The Highland studio complex is proposed for the site of a former 19^th century hospital in twenty acres of meadow, woodland and hill ground near the newly created city of Inverness.

Backing for the new proposal comes from Scottish actor James Cosmo, a long-standing champion of a Highland film studio, together with Vincero Productions Ltd, a film and multimedia producer, active in feature film production, internet and broadband services, television production and theatre entertainment.

A third founder of the enterprise is Neal Smith, a Highland property designer and developer with catering and tourism experience.

At present, film companies shooting on location in the Highlands have to hire warehouses or similar industrial buildings as local studio space whenever this is required for the production.

The proposal intends to draw in the public to the complex, as a major tourist attraction, alongside film and television production companies needing top grade facilities when filming in the area. The developers also propose to use the studios as the home of some innovative training courses for training Scotland’s new talent.

Whilst film companies can make use of digital special effects at the studios to create or remodel film backgrounds, the public will be able to enjoy a visit to a Theatre Of Moving Images whisking visitors through scenes from Whisky Galore to Braveheart.

Tourists will also be able to try their hand at producing their own digital creation in the state-of-the-art studio. They’ll be challenged to cross Nessie Bridge whilst avoiding the Loch Ness Monster and enjoy experiencing a virtual flight over the Scottish mountains.

Vincero say they anticipate strong interest from large production feature film companies from America and Europe in state-of-the-art facilities complete with expertise available from some of the UK’s leading film professionals.

The Highlands and Islands Film Commission is working hard at selling the undoubted attractions of their area for filmmakers, attending the recent Locations 2001 Global Expo in Hollywood. This is the annual trade event which brings together film commissions from over 30 countries to show the advertising, television and film industries what they have to offer by way of locations and local film services.

The availability of a purpose built studio complex adjacent to the Highland capital would be a major selling point for the Inverness-based local film commission.

Their efforts may be boosted still further if the Highland film production fund becomes a reality.

Highland and Islands Film Commission have, jointly with Highland and Islands Enterprise, commissioned the management consultancy Olsberg SPI for a feasibility study into such a fund. Olsberg are specialists in film and media work, with a track record in researching film funding scenarios in other regions and countries.

One obstacle that may sit in the way of Highland ambitions, is if substantial public money is required to help finance the development. The Scottish parliament appears broadly in favour of supporting a full film studio development for Scotland and Ministers and MSPs have been lobbied hard on the issue.

However keen Minister and MSPs might be to see studios created to boost local economies, there may be strict limits on the amount of cash available from the Scottish Executive to assist growth in the sector.

In the case of the Inverness proposal, one important factor that might help it find favour is its multiple role, providing high-tech training for quality jobs in a rural area where such perks are rare, and tourism, a crucial money-spinner and job creator in an area where both are needed and traditional employment is in decline.