How did Scotland become a Hollywood hotspot?
public mediaFrom superhero blockbusters to Netflix romantic comedies, Scotland has become an increasingly familiar filming location for Hollywood.
Twister star Glen Powell will appear in Glasgow filming sci-fi tale The Running Man this autumn, while Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire will be the setting for a new version of Frankenstein.
The productions join a long list of films and TV shows filmed in the country over the past decade.
Tourism bosses hope Scotland’s successful production will follow in the footsteps of countries such as New Zealand (where the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films were filmed) and Northern Ireland, where tourism is booming. game of thrones fans Want to visit locations used in the fantasy series.
Why does Hollywood love filming in Scotland?
canal studioFor some movies, e.g. The Outrun, a drama set in Orkney Or the hit TV show Outlander, filming in Scotland was a natural choice considering the story itself was filmed in Scotland.
It helps that Scotland’s landscapes and wilderness are very unique and can be reached relatively quickly from major cities.
Over the past decade, however, cities across the country have been taking over from other places – thanks to architectural cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, says Ray Tallan, head of film at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
He said it was “perfectly suited” to the big screen.
Mr Taran also noted that there has been an increase in the supply of studios in the country, e.g. First stage studio Leith and Ward Parker Film and Television Studios in Cumbernauld.
Mr Tarrant told BBC News Scotland: “This provides the production with the flexibility to use not only Scotland’s scenery but also its studio facilities.
“As more and more of these productions are successfully filmed here, it brings confidence and enhances the reputation of the industry.”
There’s another reason – money.
Like the rest of the UK, Scotland Able to provide tax relief production, which adds to its appeal, as well as additional funding.
For example, Glasgow City Council gave Warner Bros around £150,000 to film the DC Comics film Batgirl in the city, but the final film never saw the light of day. Studio bosses decided not to release it.
What Scottish cities could double as locations?
public mediaGlasgow is particularly adaptable, with its streets doubling as London in the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, and its streets serving as a backdrop for legendary comic strips in the opening sequence of comic book adventure The Flash. Gotham City; in the parade scene, the streets of Glasgow are 1960s New York in Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Destiny.
Cheryl Conway, chair of Screen Scotland, told BBC Scotland News that Scotland has a “versatility” that makes it attractive to film studios.
Of course, this works the other way around: the cheesy holiday rom-com A Merry Scottish Christmas used Duns Castle on the Scottish Borders for location filming, but despite the title, almost the entire movie was shot in Ireland of.
What movies were filmed in Scotland?
public mediaThe number is quite impressive. Recent fares include…
- Frankenstein(Netflix)
- “The Rig” Series 2 (Prime Video), “Fear” (Prime Video),
- Lockerbie: The Search for Truth (Sky)
- One Day (Netflix),
- Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Destiny (Amblin)
- Beyond (Arcade Picture)
- Tetris (Apple TV+)
- Andorra (Disney+)
- Batman (Warner Bros.)
- California Conspiracy (played by James McAvoy)
- Avengers: Infinity War (Marvel Studios)
- Avengers: Endgame (Marvel Studios)
- The Princess Switch Trilogy (Netflix)
Does Scotland’s economy benefit from films?
public mediaThis is a more complex issue.
When large-scale productions take over parts of a city, a common concern is whether the disruption will negatively impact local businesses.
When the Batgirl movie was axed, Glasgow City Council told the Daily Chronicle that its production still provided “very significant economic benefits” to the wider city.
However, businesses in the area where the filming took place were less than convinced, telling the BBC at the time that their businesses had been cancelled. adversely affected.
Social Recluse clothing store in King Street, Trongate, was compensated £1,000 after being closed for 10 days due to filming – which staff said did not make up for “a wasted month”.
Other productions, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Running Man remake, have seen large swathes of Glasgow transformed, with streets and roads blocked off, raising the question of whether those directly affected actually saw anything benefit.
Dr Evelina Lacca from the University of Edinburgh Business School told BBC News Scotland that the economic benefits of film in Scotland were “mixed”, particularly in terms of tourism.
She explained: “It’s not just the film being shot there, but whether certain conditions are met, mainly to do with destination management and marketing.
“It highlights the importance of events like Visit Scotland having a marketing strategy in place before and after filming.”
What impact will Outlander have on Scottish tourism?
STARZ/Amazon PrimeThe most obvious example of a film or TV production promoting Scotland is Outlander, the popular TV show based on the books by American author Diana Gabaldon.
Several companies have now halted Outlander tours across Scotland, visiting used locations throughout the long-running series.
“It’s a transfer effect – people plan to travel and work on filming locations as part of a wider visit,” Dr Laca said.
Mr Taran agreed, saying: “Outlander has had an incredible global impact and there’s no doubt it has had an impact on tourism in the locations where it was filmed.”
Does Scotland’s local film industry benefit from Hollywood productions?
Screen Scotland believes the local film industry can gain an advantage by visiting big productions.
Ms Conway said this allowed trainees and Scotland staff to gain “vital experience” and help secure “sustainable careers” in the long term.
Taran agrees, saying that more experienced crew members can move onto larger productions, which in turn “provides the opportunity for new blood to come in” on smaller-scale shoots.
Where will we see Scotland on screen next?
public mediaGlasgow is most recently known for Running Man, an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel that was adapted into an 1980s action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This time, Glen Powell is forced to fight for survival on a brutal game show, while Glasgow depicts a dystopian future city.
Frankenstein, a new version of the gothic horror film from streaming giant Netflix, directed by Guillermo Del Toro, will take place in Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire in 18th-century Germany.
The Hellboy director had an interesting experience in Scotland – posting on social media that he Believes his hotel may be haunted.
new sky drama Lockerbie: The search for the truth It will be released in January and will be filmed in Linlithgow.
