AGENDA
A Historical
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The Tanner's Tale and Braveheart are two films about the same subject — William Wallace — but with very different approaches. The first is a low budget. no stars short. made by two Scots for little more than the price of the film stock; the second. a major Hollywood production. will cost an estimated £35 million. with Australian actor Mel Gibson in the lead role.
The Tanner's Tale is the first production by independent company Magic Stones which was set up to make historically-accurate films about Scotland‘s past. mainly aimed at the tourist and educational markets. Brave/rear! will be big budget entertainment; how closely it adheres to the known facts in creating a film hero‘s role for Gibson remains to be seen.
Jason Robertson. director of The Tanner's Tale. believes the Hollywood production of the Wallace story shows that American filmmakers have woken up to the potential of Scottish stories and locations in a way the local film industry hasn’t. Apart from Brave/lean. Rob Roy. starring Liam Neeson. and Mary Reilly. a film about Jekyll and Hyde with Julia Roberts. are also due to
start production. with Hollywood backing being sought fora film based on John Prebble‘s book about the Glencoe massacre.
‘We got no support from film funding bodies who don‘t seem interested in funding something about their own culture.‘ Robertson says. ‘With outsiders coming in and doing our history. it’s no wonder we Scots are confused about who we are — we‘ve been given our heroes by other people. Our films are an attempt to reappropn'ate our own history.‘
Alex McSherry in The Tanner's Tale and Mel Gibson (right). who will be
trading his gun for a broadst in Braveheart
The Tanner 's Tale is a compelling ten minute short based on a script by Taggart writer Stuart Hepburn which recounts the real events surrounding Wallace's victory at Stirling Bridge. through the eyes of a ficticious character whose son fought in the battle. Future projects planned by Magic Stones include a short about Robert the Bruce. (Eddie Gibb)
The Tanner 's Tale is due to be shown with The Unforgiven at the Glasgow Film Theatre later in June.
I Film guarantee Edinburgh‘s Cameo cinema is claiming a first by offering movie-goers their money back if they don‘t enjoy the film. So for a week from Friday 10 June. if you see a turkey at the Cameo — it‘s main films include The Secret Rapture and Little Buddha —just fill in :1 comments slip at the Box Office to receive a free ticket voucher. ‘At the Cameo we programme films which we like and we think our audience wants to see.‘ says a spokeswoman. ‘()bviously you won‘t always agree with our choice. so if you don't like the film — we‘ll give you the chance to see another film for free.‘ The feedback from customers who take advantage of the scheme will be used to help programme future films.
I Writing request Glasgow’s Annexe Theatre Company is looking for new scripts from Scottish-based writers for production or workshOp. The deadline is 31 July and scripts should be sent to Chris Ballance. Annexe. The Quadrangle Business Centre. Ruchill Street. Glasgow G20 9PX.
I Mayfest success Box office takings during Mayfest were up 30 per cent on last year with over half of the sales coming from events at The Beck‘s Tent. Attendances t0pped 43,000. excluding shows at venues like the Tron and the Tramway which are not officially Mayfest events. ‘This is a remarkable achievement. especially at a time of recession.‘ commented outgoing director Robert Robson. A consultancy firm is now reviewing the performance of this year‘s festival before making recommendations about its future.
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Split images
Last month’s disturbances in Graigmillar - calling them riots seems exaggerated - perfectly illustrated something many residents have long suspected; no one takes any interest in the area until there’s trouble.
The day before the unrest, the launch of a community proiect intended to generate positive images of Graigmillar for its 30th anniversary celebrations attracted little attention. The following day, Graigmillar was a big story. Graigmillar flow, which uses tape-slide sequences produced by community groups, has now been re- edited to include a section about the media portrayal of the incidents.
‘In a way this highlighted what we were up against,’ says Rosie Gibson,
JAMES'MCCHLERY
co-ordinator of Magic Lantern Val, which produced the project. ‘Before they started, the youth groups felt there was so much prejudice about coming from Graigmillar that it was a waste of time working on any project.’
Gibson says the process of making their own images and commentary about life in Gralgmillar helped those . involved to feel more confident in expressing their opinions. The flexibility of tape-slide makes it an ideal medium for this kind of project. ‘We live in a media-dominated age and this is a way of making the media accessible in terms of technology, but it still has a powerful end product because the quality of the images is very high,’ she says. (Eddie Gibb)
Gralgmlllar flow will be shown at the Jack Kane Centre, Gralgrnular on Wed 15 June at 2.15pm and 7pm, and Set 18 June at 7pm. Details on 554 8524.
I Spot The Bomb Scottish CND is organising a mass demonstration at the Coulport nuclear military base at the edge of Loch Long on Saturday 4 June. The action is intended to draw attention to the Trident nuclear warheads the Ministry of Defence keeps there. There are currently between 70 and 100 warheads in top secret bunkers. with this figure set to rise to 400 by the end of the century. SCND is inviting people to see the scale of the massive new base for themselves. The event starts at noon at the'Whistlefield picnic site. setting off for a walk and picnic at 12.30pm, followed by a protest rally at the Coulport gates at 2.45pm. At 4pm there will be a barbecue on the beach near the Faslane Peace Camp. SCND (041 423 I222) is organising a bus to leave George Square. Glasgow at l lam. For Edinburgh transport details phone Jackie Gulland on 031 664 0017.
I The Joint’s Jumping Support the work of Amnesty lntemational at an evening of ceroc — a ‘sexy style of French jive' — and dance music from the 40s to the 90s at the Renfrew Ferry. Glasgow on Saturday 4 June. 8.30pm—lam. Entry costs £8 (concessions: £6)
I Action Against Blood Sports The Scottish organisation which campaigns against the hunting and shooting lobby is holding a fund-raising Summer Fayre at the Hillhead Library. 348 Byres Road on Saturday 4 June. noon—3pm.
I A Brave flew World? Developments in genetic research are the subject of a seminar organised by the University of Glasgow at the GET. Rose Street. Glasgow on Saturday 4 June from 10.45am. Entitled ‘Genetic Research: where is it taking us?'. the event follows on from the programmes broadcast by Channel 4 during May about concerns over human fertilisation. A panel of five internationally renowned speakers. including Dr Saveria Campo (institute for Cancer Research. Glasgow) and Professor Sheila McLean (institute of Law and Ethics in Medicine. Glasgow), will talk about their own hopes and fears concerning present and future genetic developments. There will then be the opportunity for questions and discussion. in the afternoon there will be workshops to allow more detailed discussion. Entry is £1 (unwaged: free).
I Camptown Racing The Glasgow Gay and Lesbian Centre project will be holding a Camptown Race night on Friday 10 June from 8pm at the Gamethill Multicultural Centre. Rose Street. Glasgow. Tickets cost £2.50 (GLC members: £2) and are available from Clyde Books.
I War and Peace in Ireland A new book by journalist Mark Ryan which asks whether the Downing Street Declaration can bring an end to the conflict in Northern lreland will be launched at the Appleton Tower. Edinburgh University. at 6pm on Monday l3 June.
I if you have news of any events or courses which you went publicised in this oltnnn, please forward thorn to ‘Act on’ at The list, 14 lllgh Street, Edinburgh EH1 1T! and include a day- tirne phone number.
The List 3—l6 June I994 5