Global Glasgow

Most of us just go to the cinema and watch the movie, but do we ever consider those behind the camera, behind the sound desk at post-production, or those telling the actors what to do. 
All together, without the jobs of the Director, the cameraman, the cinematographer, the lighting engineer etc. a movie would never be successful. 

And many people who do these jobs are from Glasgow. So here are a few people from Glasgow that have made an impact in the world of film and have created a "Global Glasgow".

Lynne Ramsay

Lynne Ramsay is a director/producer/screenwriter/
cinematographer (some people can just do it all...) and has been most well known for her films "Ratcatcher", "Morvern Callar" and "We need to talk about Kevin". Her films mainly try to focus on the images and powerful music rather than using dialogue to make a point. Also, Ramsay's films often focus on the issues of grief and death, so not films to have a joyful family night in with...

Lynne Ramsay has definitely made an impact in Glasgow film and also global film. This can be seen with Ramsay in 2007, featuring at number 12 in the Guardian Unlimited's list of the world's 40 best directors working today... Impressive!

Here's the trailer to "We need to talk about Kevin".
Full link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLRgAe2jLaw

Mark Millar

Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer... Yes, I know he isn't a director etc. but he is the writer of comic books like "Wanted" and "Kick-Ass" which have been made into very successful feature films.

Millar has been nominated for four Eisner Awards and two Eagle Awards, but not only that, he was recognised by the Queen as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to film and literature... not bad!

I'm actually going to a lecture soon where Mr Mark Millar himself will be talking at, so that should be exciting as I believe that Mark Millar, even though he is a comic book writer, has impacted film dramatically around the world.



Here's a clip to "Kick-Ass", adapted from Millar's comic book.
Full link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFpWpkxsVI8

So there you are, "Global Glasgow". It is so clear that we can see these two Glaswegian's have done amazing work and have impacted the global film scene. Obviously there are many more Glaswegian people who have made an impact in film not only in Glasgow but globally, however, if I was to talk about everyone who has made an impact, I would be writing for weeks. 

"Global Glasgow"... I think it could catch on!

Glaswegian Actors - Part 3

Finally here we are at our final installment of our Glaswegian actors. Our final actor is one of Glasgow's most famous stars and has rapidly rose to fame since his first acting job in 1995 at the age of 15.

It's James McAvoy! Born in Port Glasgow on the 21 April 1979 McAvoy is one of the biggest actors to come from Scotland. 
McAvoy attended St Thomas Aquinas secondary school in Jordanhill as he was raised Catholic. This made him consider joining the priesthood mainly because it would allow him to travel. 
However, at age 15 he starred in his first movie "The Near Room" (1995), he wasn't initially set on becoming an actor but he continued to act and in 2000 he graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).

After graduating, McAvoy starred in many productions from stage to screen. In 2001 he starred in "Band of Brothers" alongside Tom Hanks, the miniseries, directed by Steven Spielberg, is amazing and is set in World War II. Also, in 2004 his profile was raised dramatically when he starred in the first two seasons of "Shameless". 

McAvoy at "Filth" Premiere.

From this, James McAvoy has starred in a range of movies from "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to one of his biggest movies "Wanted" where he starred alongside Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. He has also starred in major blockbuster's like the most recent X-men movie, "X-men: First Class". 

However, his most recent Scottish based film, "Filth" has made quite the impact, with people talking about it for weeks after it's release, resulting in McAvoy winning Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards. 

Here's the trailer for the upcoming "X-men: Days of Future Past" starring James McAvoy.
Full link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6acRHWnfZAE

Now you know a wee bit about James McAvoy, here are a few interesting facts about the man himself.

- He is a dedicated supporter of Celtic Football Club.

- After his parents divorced, when McAvoy was age 7, he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

- He met his wife, Anne-Marie Duff, whilst working on Shameless in 2004 where she played his character's love interest.

So that is the final installment of Glaswegian actors. For me, these three actors have shown how talented they really are, with them starring in a range of productions from stage to screen. As you can see, Glasgow is home to a whole host of talent in the world and this looks set to continue. Hopefully we'll see a few more upcoming Scottish actors in the future with Scottish productions becoming more and more popular.

Glaswegian Actors - Part 2

So here we are at part 2 of 3 of our Glaswegian actors. Our next actor is often forgot about, usually because many people forget that he is also an actor as well as a comedian. Can you guess who it is?

If you said "the Big Yin" aka the legend that is Billy Connolly, then you are correct! 
Billy Connolly was born in Anderston in Glasgow on the 24 November 1942. He attended St Peter's Primary School and St Gerard's Secondary School where he discovered that he wanted to become a comedian but at the time he thought he should be more "windswept and interesting" in order to do this. 

Connolly left school at age 15 where he became a delivery boy until he turned age 16 and got a job in the shipyards.

Connolly received his big break as a comedian on BBC's Parkinson. Since then Connolly's profile has only increased through the years mainly due to his edgy comedy, which people either love or hate.

A young Billy Connolly.

However, people often forget the comedian is also an actor in TV and some fairly big films. His television appearances include things like "Down Among the Big Boys" and also in TV where he played himself like in "Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand". 
His movie appearances include one of the first movies I ever remember seeing was where Billy Connolly was the voice of the dog from the movie "Paws". Also, more recently he has been seen in "Quartet" and has been confirmed to play Dain II Ironfoot in "the Hobbit: There and Back Again"... Yassss!

Here's a short clip of Billy Connolly doing some stand up comedy:

Full link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zml2OmjjwP8

So now you know who "the Big Yin" is, here are a few interesting facts about the man himself.

- Billy Connolly is a long time supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.

- Connolly is a former reserve soldier for Britain's parachute regiment.

- In July 2001, he received an honorary doctorate from Glasgow University and in July 2006 he received an honorary Performing Arts degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)... not bad for leaving school at the age of 15.

So there you are, the legend himself. Who has proved he is very talented in Comedy, Music and Acting. Billy Connolly is definitely an example of someone who has worked their way to the top, and quite right too. From watching Mr Connolly in film from a young age and now watching his absolutely hilarious stand up, it's no wonder that he is an idol to so many people, not only from Glasgow but globally.

Glaswegian Actors - Part 1

We often forget living in Glasgow that we actually are home to a lot of Glaswegian actors, and terrific actors at that! So here's a few Glaswegian actors that have made it in cinema, whether it be globally or just in the Glasgow film scene.

Firstly, we have Gerard Butler, who was born in Paisley in the South West of Glasgow. Born on the 13 November 1969 he attended St Mirin's and St Margaret's High School where he left with good enough grades to get into Glasgow University to study law where he got his degree. One week before qualifying as a trainee lawyer he was fired for being late and coming into work hungover, whoops. 
However, this meant Butler got the reality check he needed and encouraged him to pursue his career in acting which he has had a passion for since a young age. 

Butler and his character Stoick the Vast

Now, Gerard Butler is a household name that we can see in major blockbuster movies including "Olympus has Fallen", "Chasing Mavericks" and who could forget "300". One of my favorite animation films stars the voice of Gerard Butler, as he plays Stoick the Vast in "How to train your Dragon" which is absolutely brilliant. The message the whole film portrays is amazing and Butler aces the thick Scottish voice of the tough viking in this feel-good animation.

But the first ever film I recall seeing, that starred Butler was "the Phantom of the Opera" where I was astounded that he could actually sing! Also, it showed that he could act on stage as well as on screen.
Here's a clip of Butler from the 2004 "the Phantom of the Opera".
Full link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JaeBxYCI9k

So now you know the basics about Gerard Butler, here are a few facts that you may not have known about the Scottish actor.

- During the film "Chasing Mavericks", Butler had to be rescued after he was in a surfing accident. After the accident he had to be rushed to hospital because he was stuck under the water for around a minute.

- He hates the way Americans say his name Gerard, so insists that whilst in America people call him Gerry. 

- He had previously been the singer of a rock band called Speed.

So there you are Part 1 of our Glaswegian actors. Gerard Butler is definitely one of Glasgow's treasures and many people in the city, whether they are aspiring actors or not will surely feel the same as I do and see Mr Gerard Butler as an inspiration. As someone who failed at first and instead pursued their true passion in life it only makes me think maybe I should drop out of Uni and do the same... or maybe not because I wouldn't be as lucky and would end up working in McDonalds for the rest of my life. Oh well. Well done Mr Butler.

Film makers... Mon tae Glasgow!

James Bond in Glencoe

When we think of film, we often think of the glamour of LA and the massive film studios that come with it. But other countries are starting to make an impact in film. Like Scotland! We've seen World War Z filmed in Glasgow's very own George Square and James Bond's Skyfall filmed in Glencoe. 

But, to be honest, Scotland we can do so much better, if only we had the resources. I think not only Scotland but specifically Glasgow has definitely been left behind in the movie race and it's time that this should change.

Where's our Studio?!

With Glasgow specifically becoming a hot spot for recent big, blockbuster movies, it's unbelievable that we still don't have any film studios. I mean you would think this would be a given considering our unreliable weather. But, no. 

Pinewood Studios in England

This also means with the poor film production facilities in Glasgow, many media/production/film studies graduates struggle for jobs in Scotland so have to move down south in order to have a chance in the industry like to Pinewood Studios in England. So this pretty much means that we are losing out on the income and expertise of film makers as we simply don't have the facilities that they need to make a film.

However, there is a small light at the end of the tunnel! Yes, Glasgow is set to have a film studio complex due to be completed in 2017 so for people like me, who are hoping to work in the film industry, this couldn't come at a more perfect time (it happens to be the year I'm due to graduate). I'm not saying that having Glasgow film studios will stop me moving to sunny LA or London but at least I'll feel conflicted about it...


"Mon' tae Glasgae"

Eilean Donan Castle - Scotland's Western Highlands

If Glasgow can be turned into Philadelphia for World War Z, then it can be turned into... pretty much anything really. Glasgow actually has so much potential for filming like for a city, central Glasgow can be used and for old stunning architecture, places like Glasgow University could be used. So why don't we actively advertise not only Glasgow's potential but Scotland's potential! I'm not just being biased because I live here but Scotland is a beautiful country with landscapes to die for with a mixtures of lochs and amazing colours spread throughout the hills.


So Scotland, whilst you have shown that you definitely can cater to film makers needs. But Glasgow, you seem to have fallen behind the movie craze and now its time to grab film makers by the hand and show them that we can become a film capital. You can change Glasgow to look like any city in the world and we will soon have the film studios so that any movie you can think of can be filmed right here. So, why not?

C'mon tae Glasgow and we'll show you how it's done.

Upcoming Film in 2014

I am so excited for some of the film releases this year and I know you'll probably see me in some of the queues for midnight showings this year (in costume... sad, I know). So here's a few of the most (in my view) exciting releases of 2014!

1.  Divergent - Release Date: 4 April 2014

Excuse me while I fan girl in the corner... Ahhhhhhh! And compose... right, OK.

Divergent is the film I'm most looking forward to this year. Firstly, the books are amazing, and if your a hunger games fan, I can guarantee that you'll love this. I'm not even kidding, I am obsessed with it.

I'll try not to give any spoilers away. The story is that Beatrice/Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is living in a world that is divided into factions and once old enough the teenagers must decide whether they want to stay in their own faction or switch to a different one. Tris makes a surprising decision resulting in her having to endure a highly competitive initiation. 

But Tris has a secret, she is "Divergent", which if found out would sentence her to death. Tris then discovers a plan to destroy the Divergent and Tris, with fellow faction member Four (Theo James), has to find out what makes the Divergent so dangerous before it's too late.

Let's just hope the film is as good as the books *fingers crossed*.

 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM

2. X-men: Days of Future Past - Release Date: 22 May 2014

 

  Sci-fi fanatics unite. X-men: Days of Future Past is out this year and I promise I'm not just excited about it because Wolverine aka Hugh Jackman is in it. *Girlish squeal* Well maybe a wee bit.
Anyways, ahem, this instalment in the series, sees the X-men sending Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to visit the past in order to change history so a catastrophic event can be avoided that endangers both humans and mutants. With the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Ian McKellan and Glaswegian actor James McAvoy, I'm sure this movie will be a good one.
Here's the trailer, YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2zYHWDZKo

3. 22 Jump Street - Release Date: 6 June 2014

Hey, it may not be the best film in the world, but it gives you a good laugh. 21 Jump Street released in 2012 proved to be funnier than I thought it would be, with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum returning to high school as undercover cops in order to stop the spread of a lethal drug. However, this time Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) go undercover in a local college. A great combination. To be honest the plot and story are a bit same-same as the first movie but oh well. Hopefully, even though the movie is not an Oscar winning masterpiece, it will still provide a good mindless laugh to cheer you up.
Here's the trailer, YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rvPK8ydZo

So there you go, a couple of this years upcoming films. Fair enough they may not be the best this year, but nonetheless I'm still looking forward to them. A few other movies out this year are the Fault in our Stars, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, The Hobbit: There and Back Again etc. This years movie selection is looking pretty hopeful so far. If you have any movies you're looking forward to this year, then feel free to put them in the comments. :)
 

Why do I love the cinema again?

Whether you are a regular to the cinema or not, I'm sure we all have that moment where we ask ourselves if what we spend at the cinema is actually worth it. Countless times when I've went to the cinema I've been taken aback when I realise how much a three hour trip to the cinema has actually cost me. So today I'm ranting about the cinema itself and how a trip we look so forward to can turn sour as soon as we walk in the building.

1. Ticket Prices

Last year at a cinema in Glasgow, I won't use any names (*cough* Cineworld *cough*) I was happily going to see a movie with my friends before I had a student card which gets you a significant discount because we students can't afford anything. I went to the desk to buy a ticket and had to pay over £10, WHAT?! Purely because it had entered peak time by 3 minutes!

Effie in shock at the price of her cinema ticket.

It's hard not to notice this. Ticket Prices at the cinema have become extravagant.  We all feel Effie's pain (from Hunger Games - seen right) when we go to the cinema approach the ticket desk and ask for a ticket, only to be asked for an obscene amount of money. We begrudgingly pay, giving a death stare to the cashier, and leave the desk in shock  whilst staring at our ticket in disbelief, and looking/feeling a bit like this -->



2. Food

Nothing completes the cinema experience quite like cinema food, mmmmmm. The popcorn, the nachos, the sweets... I admit it, I've been prone to buying it all and not even considering how expensive it actually is.

Now that I'm a student, I've kind of realised that this amazing food is a luxury I just cannot afford. So 15 minutes before a movie you'll find me in the local Pound shop clearing the shelves. Then, I don't know if it's the same in other cinemas but I know (from experience) that Glasgow cinemas don't really appreciate people bringing in their own food, so you have to stuff all the food in your bag. Which can be difficult if your a girl and stupidly only take a tiny bag anywhere you go. Cinema foods brilliant but does it really need to cost an arm and a leg to eat a handful of popcorn!

3. What you get for your money

What do we actually get for our money? I mean obviously we're paying to actually watch a movie but apart from that, what else? Many cinemas in Glasgow are in overdue need of renovation.
One cinema I recently went to didn't have one seat in the theatre that wasn't either ripped to shreds or broken.

 Also, obviously the turnover between films has to be quick in order to allow the next set of customers in to view the film. That means a quick tidy up of the popcorn that always somehow manages to find it's way to the floor, or onto the seat I'm about to sit on. So this often leads to that embarrassing moment when you have to ask someone if you've sat on something and, yep, you've sat in nacho cheese which was left over by the previous audience. *sigh*


Don't get me wrong I love going to the cinema but the price today for a regular trip to watch a movie is unbelievably expensive. The movie going experience is genuinely quite enjoyable but a few cinemas in Glasgow I have noticed seem to be lacking, I'm in no way criticising employees, but they just seem to be loosing their spark that once was and are unsure how to regain it. I don't know if this is the same in other cinemas anywhere else but if so we could see the future of the movie going experience hanging in the balance.

Choice, Is there one?

In Glasgow there are only two main cinemas, the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) and Cineworld. That's it. So do we have a choice when we decide to go to the cinema. Don't get me wrong there are other cinemas in Glasgow like Odeon but this is less well known and hasn't been established as long. With Glasgow losing cinemas like the previous cinema that is now the O2 ABC (a music venue) is it only a matter of time before we lose cinema from Glasgow all together? I hope not.

Glasgow's Cineworld Multiplex.

Location

The two major cinemas in Glasgow are almost right next to each other just off of Sauchiehall street. For me these two cinemas are quite a walk away from any main train station, I mean it's not that far but it's not that close either, so this is a major disadvantage as train and bus travel are the two main means of transport to get into central Glasgow at ease.

This is especially annoying when you go to see a late night movie and don't actually live in central Glasgow. By "late night" movie I mean 8 o'clock, due to the location of the cinemas in Glasgow I need to have enough time after the movie to walk to the train station and catch the last train home. By walk I mean run, and by catch I mean miss the train completely and having to embarrassingly end the night by begging my parents to pick me up. So, yeah that kind of leaves a lasting impression running through the Glasgow streets at night and now having your friends refuse to go to the cinema if it's not during daylight... Whit?!


Choice

The GFT, the Glasgow Film Theatre

The lack of choice of cinema in Glasgow also impacts the type of movies that are shown in Glasgow. We have cineworld, a gigantic multiplex showing all the latest blockbusters and then we have the Glasgow Film Theatre, which is really appealing to a much smaller market, showing from art house films to classics to independents. 

Fair enough this means a lot of film is covered between the two cinemas but with cineworld being a kind of like a faceless organisation and the GFT really only appealing to a small market, is there no balance? Is there no in between the two where we get a mixture of film all in the one place?


So with living in Glasgow must we travel to the outskirts of the city in order to go to the cinema? The answer should be no, but with the poor location of all cinemas in Glasgow and the choice of film we'll actually see, it makes the outskirts look more and more appealing. By no means am I stomping on Glasgow's cinemas but I feel the placing and choice of cinema could be greatly improved in the future.

The Top 3 Sins of Cinema Audiences

Whilst at the cinema we all look forward and embrace the atmosphere of the whole movie going experience. However, on several occasions this has been ruined, resulting in the movie forever reminding you of that one time you were at the cinema and the big guy next to you fell asleep and continually kept falling on to your seat. So I thought I would write the top 3 sins of those who go to the cinema and ruin it for the rest of us.

  1. People eating too loudly

Without fail this happens every time I go to the cinema. It's understandable that when it's dark people may think that suddenly because people can't see them that they can't hear them, but that's not how it works! If that's not bad enough they might even sit next to you and end up hitting you with the food shrapnel. For someone that already has an issue with loud eaters, for me, this is one of the worst sins to commit whilst at the cinema.

   2. The Seat Kicker

You sit down. Feeling quite pleased with your seat selection skills. Then you see them. You don't know them but you just know where they're going to sit... yes, right behind YOU. Now that's fine until you feel a sudden pressure on the back of your seat, but it's when the movie starts and you feel two feet sitting at the top of your seat and now your going to be put through hell for the next two hours.

 You confront the person, and trust me I've done it before and it's never turned out well. Especially when your sitting quite happily in a quiet Glasgow cinema, until some child starts purposefully kicking your chair (with extreme force) so you turn around to give them "the look" and then eventually you find the courage to ask them to stop. Not realising the child's mother is five times the size of you and threatens to, I quote, "batter me" if I don't stop disturbing them during the film (Obviously I'm putting it more politely!), only to be faced with the smug look from her child and quite extreme abuse after the film. Ugh.

  3. The Talker

We've all been there, that irritating whisper you can just hear under the movie. "Shhhhh!" coming from the rest of the theatre. I was unlucky enough to have "the Talker's" sit right behind me when I went to see the hobbit last year in Glasgow. Non-stop throughout the film all I heard was shrieking and "OMG! IT'S FRODO!!!" even though it was not Frodo but in fact Bilbo (I know *facepalm*). Even though both me and my sister both, more than ten times, asked them to politely shut up, it didn't stop. I think that has to be the worst cinema experience I've ever had. Fair to say the death stares they got after that film were, well, let's just say if looks could kill.
Here is a perfect example from Scottish comedy 'Still Game' of how annoying "the talker" can be. The full YouTube clip can be found here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PvB8NrCRPk





So there you are, the 3 sins of cinema that I believe are the most common and the worst that we have to deal with today. 
If you have any funny stories or any sins from the cinema that I haven't mentioned, feel free to put it in the comments!

A Funny Thing Called Film

We often feel like J-Law
when at the cinema - shocked

Film is a very funny thing. It's odd how we get so emotionally connected to a movie... Don't lie we've all been there, sitting at the cinema, trying to hide the fact we've "got something in our eye". Well this connection we get is the main reason that film is so successful today, from feeling sympathy to grief to happiness, going to the cinema can be an emotional roller-coaster. 

Well this funny thing we call film is a big deal today, everyone has a connection with it, as everyone has a favourite film whether it be a classic or a modern sci-fi blockbuster, even if you "ain't a big fan" or "you have better things to do in your life", we are all influenced by the film industry (we are, don't deny it). 

So if you are a super fan of film or a film novice, it doesn't matter! Welcome to my blog! I'll be focusing on the Glasgow film scene and how Glasgow itself has influenced the world of film... "How has Glasgow influenced film?" 

Well stay tuned to my blog " Rebecca's Rants" to see how the Glasgow film scene has definitely had an influence on global film, and how Glasgow can improve it's film scene. Also, I'll be ranting about the things that happen to us in cinema... you know, people talking, eating loud, expensive food etc. 


So sit back, keep your arms and legs in the vehicle at all times, and let's get ready to RANT!

About Me

Hello! My name is Rebecca MacPhail and I am an 18 year old media and communication student from Glasgow. First of all thank you so much for even considering to view my blog!

I guess I should tell you a bit about myself, I like music, I like art and I love films (obviously) even though my favourite films may not be the so called "legends" of cinema like Psycho, I have no shame in the fact I love the Hunger Games (books & films) and the Lord of the Rings and so many more. I also love video games, games like Assassins Creed and Red Dead Redemption are just masterpieces.

The main reason I've actually started writing this blog is for my University course but apart from that if the blog gets enough interest I'll probably keep adding to it! "Rebecca's Rants" focuses on the Glasgow film scene at the moment but in future I will probably seek to include other things apart from the Glasgow film scene alone. Mainly my blog will feature rants about cinema/film and Glasgow based film info etc.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my blog, I hope you enjoy it! :D

Rebecca x