Film shows it's educational potential

I was surprised when I was asked to teach classes about the poet Robert Burns. But I suppose I should not under estimate the amount of research I put into the screenplay, called, Red Rose about the life of the poet. After five years of research it was finally made in 2003 and then it was distributed across Europe by HBO who translated the script into 11 different languages for their TV channels. It was also screened on TV in China where it was translated into Manderin. At home in Scotland the Sun Newspaper distributed the film with 500,000 DVD's in its daily news circulation. The film therefore reached a mass audience. The fact that a Heritage Course can emerge from this shows that films are part of popular culture, effective in education and stimulate the economy.

Above is the Alloway Church made famous by the Robert Burns poem Tam O'Shanter. Today, the film will help create the basis of a six week course on the life of the poet. Im flattered to be a 'Visting Lecturer'. However I must say it wont stop me from producing films because it is only for a few hours a week and I have plenty other films to be getting on with namely another bio pic on the Life of the little known documentary maker Jenny Gilbertson, who made films about the Shetland Islands in Scotland and the life of the Inuit Indians in Canada. (Seriously worthy cultural stuff) But it doesnt stop there because Im developing an array of different script ideas and possiblities...but I must say the Templar script is langishing unfinished. Something to do for those wintery dark nights I suppose.

Alloway Church again with that famous bell tower image. Photos taken by Mairi Sutherland. Sadly the documentaries have alluded me for now, but it is difficult to make them the prime focus with so much else going on. One has to cast ones seeds as it were on all types of ground to see which ones grows first. In the meantime it seems Robert Burns is the focus again at least for the time being. I still await the sound mix of Going Green Movie........

Red Rose Trailer.mov