Angus Lamont, producer of the award-winning film Gas Attack has fired a broadside at the Scotsman newspaper after it reported last week that the film had not performed well at the box office. The text of Mr Lamont’s letter to The Scotsman, published under the sub-heading "Limited Yardstick" appears below.

As producer of the film, Late Night Shopping, I would like to respond to your report (August 22), which displayed a lack of understanding of the film business. Home box office results, the yardstick used in the report do not give an accurate reflection of the financial performance of a feature film. This can only be assessed after all revenue-earning media and international sales have been calculated.

Even American studio blockbusters now make more revenue from foreign box office takings than from their own domestic market.

The report made little reference to the income already earned from international sales, nor did it mention the revenues yet to come from video and DVD release and TV sales.

The film has been sold for cinema release to countries including Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It is also the subject of a bid from an American television company for the rights to produce a television series.

In addition, the film successfully launched the careers of new filmmaking talent, introduced a new Scottish production company to the international industry, and improved the profile of the Scottish filmmaking community on a worldwide stage, thanks to numerous appearances at film festivals.

I am not, and never have been, a board member of Scottish Screen.

ANGUS LAMONT

St George’s Road

Glasgow