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.