I have created a forum as the final and the probably the most crucial part of the project. The main reason for making the film is to gather some information about how society views Scotland and what we’re all about. I can’t get this information unless they give it to me. So here is the link to the Scotland on Film Forum:
http://scotlandonfilm.forumakers.com/
My hope is for some feedback on my film, maybe even a debate or too.
I have had to prepare a prototype of my project for my tutors. Basically its a mock webpage with a number of components i.e. working navigation, excerpt for the film. It’s basically to show that I’m actually doing some work. I’ve done it but I had to get in and about the editing of the footage I already have. I have been ill the last two weeks after catching a bug from my son so the second part of the film has yet to be captured on camera. I will be doing this tomorrow and Friday. It was great to start editing though. I had so much raw footage that it eat away at the amount of space I had on my iMac. I’ve cut the footage from about 3 hours to 10 minutes so far. There are still other bits I would like to have so I will continue with it after college today and I’m back at home. I’m using iMovie on the iMac and it’s just simply fantastic. Easy to use with lots of extra features. I’ve never made a film before but this programme is practically idiot proof if I can use it. I watched the 10 minutes from start to finish this morning and I’m well impressed so far. Just the motivation I need to get cracking on with it.
My family and I embarked on the days journey from Edinburgh to the Islae of Lewis at about 8am in the morning of the 21st of March. I filmed quite a lot of footage out of the car window which has left a lot of wind noise on the built in mic on the DV camera. I caught some stunning scenery though as we drove through the Highlands. We stopped about half way there and beside what can only be described as a hot-dog stand there was a very random, and very cold, piper as well as 2 stags. They were very friendly although tourists paid now attention to the Do not feed the deer sign and fed them anyway. The weather was pretty dull apart from being a bit on the windy side. The Crossing from Uig on the Isle of Skye to Harris was rough, and at 1 point when the ship dipped down, I honestly thought it wasn’t going to come back up. We got there after 1 and a half hours. The weather on Harris was so diverse. In 20 minutes of leaving the boat we experienced gale force winds, glorious sunshine, blizzards, rain, hail, and the typical Scotland grey day. By the time we got to my Gran’s, 30 miles south of Stornaway in the South Lochs in a village called Comore, we were all very relieved but feeling the effects of the long journey. After a good nights sleep we were ready for filming. Over the week I proceeded to film in and around the village of cromore, weather permitting. I also interviewed my cousin Donald Iain MacArthur and one of the villagers to get an idea of life in that setting and also what the state of local work and community was like. I was also able to film Donald at his loom and he gave me a brief history of Harris tweed and how it was made. I was also able to film the local churches prayer meeting on the wednesday as I wanted to show hoe much the church played in the role of the community. There were also snippets of my gran and us working on the croft.
This Morning I have written the script for the Film. It’s not really a script as such, it’s more of a decriptive timeline of what I’d Like to Happen. It would probably work well with the Storyboard. I have also decided to write a narritive for the film. I will be writing the Narritive this Afternoon.
Here is the Script
Script
What is Scotland?
Scene 1 - Introduction:
The Scene begins with a blank screen (Black) and asks the question (White Text):
What is Scotland?
Fade to Scene 2 – Scottish Landscape:
Fades to shots of the Scottish landscape on the way to the Isle of Sky. Shots also on the ferry of the Islands then progressing to the South Lochs on the Isle of Lewis, Cromore (Road Sign), And finally the House on the croft.
Straight into scene 3 – Inside croft house/Northern Morning:
Still shots of the rooms in the croft house early in the morning. Very quiet with perhaps only the noise of the Clock in the Living room. Shot of an empty hallway. Noise starts to come from the Bedroom as someone is up and begins the day, moves onto the kitchen and has breakfast, puts on boots, boiler suit, and goes out onto the croft to begin work for the day.
Cut to scene four – On the Croft:
Man working on the croft for the day. Also catch neighbours working on there crofts. Perhaps Donald Iain in the Post Office. Half way through the day films the grocery van driving around the loch towards the houses. Films Flora Macleod buying groceries from the Van. Look at resources i.e. peat, Gas, Oil. Look at Open door community.
Join scene 4 – 5 – The Fisherman:
Film Kenny going over to his boat passed the moors, then out to sea using the motor. Watch him cast the lures and then row the boat till he catches fish. Film Kenny giving Fish to Flora Macleod as he passes her house on the way home.
Fade from scene 5 to Scene 6 – The Sabbath:
Begin filming people getting ready in Flora Macleod’s house, putting on their Sunday best for the Church Service. See the car drive away in to the village. On arrival at the Church film the offering at the Door and then the Service at the Free Church of Scotland in Gravir. Finally capture the community outside of the Church on their way home.
Fade to Scene 7: Landscapes of Lewis to Edinburgh:
Fade into landscapes of the Scottish Highlands on the way to Edinburgh. On arrival at Edinburgh capture a welcome to Edinburgh sign with busy traffic in the Background. Cut to a Street in the City Centre (??Prince’s Street??) To show the hustle and bustle of the shoppers. Continue towards Leith filming people who are homeless, selling the big Issue, outside the access point, Alcoholics in Leith. Ask them the following Questions:
Q1: Can you tell me a little about your situation?
Q2: Do you think there is enough being done for people in your situation?
Q3: What do you think should be done to improve them.
Q4: What is Scotland and what does it mean to you?
Cut to Scene 8 - The outside of the Bethany Christian Trust:
Cut to Bethany and film a little of what Bethany is like on the inside. Interview a few of the Service Users and ask them the questions above.
Fade to Scene 9: Out with the Boys:
Follow a group of lads around Edinburgh to Show the large drinking culture. Ask them the Questions above. After Clubbing capture the silliness of after hours in Edinburgh. Capture people getting into Taxis and going home. Film the Sunrise while heading out of Edinburgh into East Lothian, Musselburgh. Film the Harbour, lead towards John Wilson’s house in the heart of Stoneybank
Scene 10: Inside the Town house:
Start with stills of the House and perhaps the Garden. Rest in the living room with the camera facing my Grandparents. Ask them the following questions about the community in and around Edinburgh:
Q1. Do you think the sense of community has changed in the last 50 years?
Q2. What’s the Scottish community like these days from your perspective?
Q3. What is Scotland and what does it mean to you to be Scottish?
Scene 11 – Outro: A selection of Shots from the whole movie at a faster picture rate with Narrative. The Narrative will also have a conclusion, an answer to, “What is Scotland?”
Things are starting to simmer. As I’m fairly new to the filming process my mind feels like a sponge at the moment with all the information and research I’ve been putting in. So far I have encountered the wonder that is the storyboard. I have completed it to the best of my ability although I think it will change depending on circumstances at the time of filming. I’ve already updated the story board 5 times as inspiration seems to be everywhere.
For the Lewis filming I have secured my travel tickets and will be in the Outer Hebrides between the 21st and the 27th of March. I have also written to the Minister of the local Church in the South Lochs District of the Island asking him if I can record the service and use part of it for my film. I’m waiting for a reply. As I intent to show life in a crofting community I have made steps to film one of my many cousins in the area during the day. I’m still not sure about the use of narrative as of yet.
I am going to view some of the Sottish Film Archives next week in the city of Edinburgh at the National Library of Scotland. I have written to them to ask for permission to do so. Here is the letter I sent:
Dear NLS,
My name is Stephen Macleod and I am writing to you in regards to my multimedia project; What is Scotland? Currently I am studying at the Jewel and Esk Valley College and for this years project I have decided to make a film about the cultural differences between life on the Western Isles and life in the City of Edinburgh from the perspective of native Scotsmen and women. Following the filming and editing I will publish the film on a website where I will ask viewers if what they saw in the film reflects what they would normally associate with Scotland.
I hope to capture the traditional sense of community in Lewis by filming my cousin’s daily routine on his croft and his active roll within the local church and contrast it to the 9-5 lifestyle of the city. The other issues and differences I’d like to point out are:
1. The lack of community within the Scottish populace in Edinburgh and whether it’s disintegration is because of changes in industry in the last 50 -70 years.
2. Unemployment and Homelessness
3. Addiction
4. Crime
I have an idea of what I’d like to get on camera but I am very new to filming. my tutor suggested I get in touch with yourself and for research purposes. Would I be able to come and view some of the archived film? Would I need a covering letter from my tutor or anything similar?
My aim is to start filming on the 21st of March for two weeks so if I could, with permission, view some of the archives before then that would be fantastic and, I’m sure, inspirational.
Warmest Regards
Stephen Macleod
I have also made arrangements to book out the equipment I will be using to film. I will be using the following:
Mini DV Camera
Tripod
Tapes
Well that just about covers it. I’ve made a start to the website I will be publishing the film on. I’m Using Adobe Flash CS3.
And so I’ve decided to begin my project. My first film. For the subject matter I have chosen something I have always taken for granted and, other than the history, know very little about; what is Scotland?
What is Scotland, and what does it mean to be Scottish? More to the point, what do people who are not Scottish think Scotland and its populace are all about? If anyone asked me I would, without hesitation, state I am proud of my heritage. If I was asked why, I honestly don’t think I could give you an answer.
We have a great history worthy of its legendary status. There have been countless Scotsmen and Scotswomen who have achieved greatness in the eyes of others and a number of inventors who have contributed to the everyday working world. It is good to think that I have an associasion with these people because we’re from the same country, but really, I didn’t know them and to take pride from the value of others (especially people I never knew or associated with in any way) seams a tad selfish.
So in this project I have decided to look for Scotland and what it means to be part of this great country. Is it a great country after all, or perhaps it does bask in the glory of ageing boasts and achievements.
As my family come from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, where we frequently visit, I have decided to look at the extreme contrast of the crofter’s life, living off the land and having an ‘open door policy’, to the city life in all its sufficating glory; Yobs, Chavs, Pubs, Clubs, Drugs, homelessness, immigration, unemployment…the list is endless. These are things that I have experienced on both sides of the fence, so to speak and want to try and capture this on film without the use of script or narritive. Once the film is completed I’ll place it in an interactive website where people can leave comments about their rection to it; what ever they might be.
This blog will be a dairy of my endeavour.
And so it begins…
Hi and welcome to my Blog. My intentions are to use this blog for collection of projects as an online diary. Included in the blog at the moment is my college Project (ongoing) What is Scotland?
Please feel free to get in touch, constructively critisize, comment.
Cheers
Steph
