www.list.co.uk/film
A couple of auteurs
9
From top to bottom: Duncan and Wilma Finnigan; and scenes from My Life as a Bus Stop
press ever since. which in turn resulted in her being labelled ‘difficult‘. It was an unfair accusation but has been further fuelled by the fact that Morton is outspoken. Talking about her yet-to-be-released historical drama River Queen prior to filming. she said: ‘We really want Gary ()ldman for a part in River Queen. but he won't read anything we send him unless we offer him a million. How sad is that'." In her defense Morton has noted: ‘I used to be. and still am. considered very difficult. But what is difficult'.’ If I'm put in an uncomfortable environment. I become defensive.‘ In person. Monon's not difficult at all.
Two years after she made her big screen debut in I’m/er the Skin. Morton went to America to make a film with Woody Allen. who directed her in Sheet and [xiii-down to an Oscar nomination. Three years later. Morton received her second Oscar nomination. for In .itinerieu.
She was turned down for a role in Love. .“(TIItl/l)‘. which went to Keira Knightley. and another in Terry (iilliam's The Brothers Grimm. because. the story goes. the money men didn‘t consider her pretty enough. and as a two-time Oscar-nominee she commanded too high a salary. Instead. Morton went her own way playing a junkie in Jesus" Son. the titular Scots heroine in Mort-em ('al/ur. Myra Hindley in the TV drama Longf'onl. choices which signalled greater professional achievements which will stand her in good stead for a long lasting career.
So Morton is in control of her career and her private life. ‘With publicity.‘ she commented. ‘you have to retain a level of privacy. For me. work and my life shouldn‘t be one and the same.‘ That‘s as it should be. Given. however. that Morton is coming to Edinburgh with a film about a couple of young people losing control of their lives. it's also ironic.
‘WE JUST WANT TO MAKE A FILM THAT PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY WITH'
Clneworld, 623 8030, 17 Aug, 7pm; 19 Aug, 9.40pm, both £7.95 (£5.50).
Festival Film
Paul Dale discovers a Scottish filmmaking team to cherish
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vanm‘s, and coaehar‘ .‘tcta'iess They take .."‘.:resee" turns but are colloquial. ‘a'v M.
"iii"; . safety. occas coal, ginii'iicw. and tricks. f“a’. .1"eap “.lCIeO FX t‘ox ‘.‘.dy that not“. feels slightly 'et'; ‘0le Most of all. their firm: are ‘augh out tau “may
'E‘.‘3f‘yTll|Hg do abotit challenging ourse'v es but never gone out there to niake a 'iiessage n‘ovief says Duncan 'We leSi ant to rviake a film that people can identifi. .‘.’lil‘i_ the character or s:f-..ation and then take a comical ‘.‘l(?“.‘.’ on it '
The r latest film, My Life as a Bus Stop, receiv es its world premiere at the EIFF this month, lt is a fiinn. an t frecxied look at Scotland's media industr, Set iii Edinburgh and taking the form of a semi- n‘c-cktinientary, it follows the continued failings of a group of .vannabe SITO‘NINISIHCSS types, including eiiibitfeied working Class actor 'John Stewart. an old scloclfriend of \"ylilinai. his highly strung frustrated screenwriter flat rate Trtidy iAiiiiela Coatesi and media rip off artist Vii: Young i’Duncan Finnigaiii A rough-hewn messy joy. it's a film about the kind of people the Finnigans would be if they were not so prolrfit: and sat about talking about unmade proyxts all day instead of creating them
The Finnigans shoot on Video and digital, often appearing in their own films and have won asiaii Is and commendations at film festivals across the mind as well as taking seventh place in The Lists .9003 poll of the best Scottish films of all time for gaiiililer lr iner comedy Four Eyes. The couple have made six low budget feature films to date, including Two Donuts.
lack Coffee. Big Nose é; TWi’ll/(h’? Toes and Bits 'n 'Bites. and all for the love of it.
So why have their films never been released theatrically or on DVD before?
'No One has had the courage to look at our film, lit a commerCial way.’ says Duncan. 'But .ve Just think that i; make enough films and we have a commercial hit. then there WIII be a back catalrxiue of films that peOple can reViSit. It's like a pension.‘
‘We're really not business-inindw people but #0 do have expectations for Bus Stop. The trouble I‘) that even for DVD release you need a BBFC certification. which costs a fOFtuiie when you are ‘.‘/Dtklfig on the budgets we are. And l JUSI think, “What if we only sell two DVDs?" With that Duncan starts laughing.
Wilma. 30 and Duncan, 37 met and fell in love ii. 7995 after she nursed his granny at the end of her life. They quickly discovered they had a comrnOn obseSSion With moiiiemaking. Both had been making low budget short films on 8mm and 'JldeO Since their teens. They immedately began cellaborating on films together.
Duncan honed his technical skills by doing an HNC in y'deo production and now he has his 0ND eQUioment and does c0rporate won< to finance their films. Wilma has had no formal training but both are Currently doing an MA in screen .vriting.
Hate they ever wondered what they might have done if they hadn't been filmmakers? Duncan chonles: ‘No. To be behest if we didn't make these films v-ie'd probably have seven or eight children? Wilma erupts into giggles.
I Cinewor/d. 623 8030, 79 Aug, 8pm 8 20 Aug. 7.45pm, both £7. 95 (£5.50).
76—23 Aug 2007 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 39