More than 200 film-makers, TV producers and other behind-the-scenes crew are demanding the Scottish Government backs the country’s first major studio complex, which could see more Hollywood-style productions shot in Perthshire.
Controversial plans for the £230 million Pentland Studio, which is expected to bring major benefits to the Crieff area, were called in by Scottish ministers after Midlothian Council failed to make a decision on planning consent.
Opponents argue that the land near Straiton, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is the wrong location for the 96-acre development, which, if approved, would feature six large sounds stages and a water stage.
Developers are in talks with the Abercairny Estate, near Crieff, about using its lochs, woodland, mansion house and walled garden for outdoor shoots.
The Association of Film and Television Producers Scotland has written to first minister Nicola Sturgeon and culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, amongst others, to warn that Scotland will fall behind the rest of the UK if the Pentland project is rejected.
The letter has been signed by industry figures who have worked on Star Wars, Trainspotting 2, Outlander and Sunset Song, to name but a few.
It states: “The screen sector in Scotland is failing badly and the public sector is failing its screen sector. Our share of the current UK production activity for feature films is currently around three per cent of the national total and we receive a smaller percentage of the BBC licence fee.”
The letter continues: “What is urgently needed is a facility that allows for year-round activity, which can be heated and cooled with maximum efficiency, and can house a number of productions simultaneously, both incoming and indigenous.”
David Burt, the location manager responsible for transforming Perth train station for the 2013 Nicole Kidman feature the Railway Man, said: “Studios in England and Wales are booked out for years to come and talk of expansion is commonplace.
“Large scale film and TV productions are begging for studio space up and down the country. If we can bring these productions to Scotland and show them our world class crew (which we absolutely have) and world class studios then we will be in a far better position than we have been in for decades.
“As it is, we are working out of dangerous, grimy, asbestos ridden sheds which are not fit for purpose.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have already affirmed emphatically that we believe that Scotland can sustain more than one permanent studio which is why we continue to welcome approaches from the private sector.
“In relation to the Pentlands Studio proposals, all those who have an interest have had an opportunity to put their case to the reporter, so it would be inappropriate for ministers to offer any comment on the application.”
Proud film history
The Perthshire patch might not yet be the top choice for Hollywood movie makers, but it does have the honour of being home to possibly the only location in the world where a medieval knight has been mauled to death by a rabbit.
The famous scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail – where John Cleese faces death “with nasty, big, pointy teeth” – was shot at Doune Castle on the Perthshire border.
The same fortress also appears as Castle Leoch in the ever popular Outlander TV series, based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling time travel novels.
Perthshire also features in the 1981 Oscar winner Chariots of Fire. Although the best known scene is filmed on the West Sands at St Andrews, one scene, where Liddell awards prizes at a Highland games ceremony, was filmed in Crieff.
Megginch Castle, outside Errol, was used by the makers of Rob Roy, starring Liam Neeson and Tim Roth. Filming also took place across the country from Glen Coe to Loch Leven and at Perth Sheriff Court.
The 2005 horror film The Descent was filmed in around Pitlochry – as well as claustrophobic caves near Dunkeld – despite being set in America.
The surviving cast returned to Scotland for a sequel to the flesh-eating monster romp in 2009.
Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman caused a stir when they arrived in Perth to film World War II drama the Railway Man at the train station in 2012.
And the Trainspotting crew this year returned to Corrour Station in Highland Perthshire, where Ewan McGregor gave his now famous speech about the problems of being Scottish.
Studio plan could bring massive economic benefits
If approved, the Pentlands studio complex would be the country’s first purpose built facility for major TV and film productions.
It follows separate plans for similar, smaller scale ventures at Auchterader and Dundee which, despite generating some buzz, have so far failed to materialise.
Senior location scout David Taylor, who helped transform Glasgow’s George Square into downtown Philadelphia for World War Z, helped launch a fresh bid to lure more big-name shoots to Perthshire earlier this year.
He said that Outlander had helped the Scottish industry grow by £12 million to more than £42m last year.
And he said one production alone can bring major benefits to the area, with the remake of Whisky Galore bringing about £1.5 million to the north-east area.
He told a gathering in Perth that the screen sector in Britain was booming because of UK tax incentives.
“At the moment in Scotland, we are failing to take advantage of this.”
