The film Great Getaway, about his flight from the disastrous battle of Culloden to Skye has also had its up and downs with false starts. Through it's facebook site many members of the public have supported the project with fan comments and requests to get involved. As a result of this support, we are continuing to seek funding for the project and have not totally abandoned it. However the film industry must decide on how best to create the means for this film to happen.
As well as that we are planning a film called Noturn about the composer Chopin set in Scotland and France, which will not be directed by Robbie Moffat, but by the Oscar nominated film director Frederick Thor Fredericksson, who has been attached since the inception of the idea and remains fully committed. Frederick joked in Cannes Film Festival 2016 that he wanted to make this film for a long time and definitely before he died! Bless him. I worked on a long development period with this film (10 years) and I would like to see Frederick's vision realised.
Speculation about what I am doing?
However, I would like to add just one more thing, which is about my work with Palm Tree Films and the manner in which I have worked with Robbie Moffat. Since divorcing him in 2008 we have worked together on a few projects, but the majority of the time he has worked with other people. I don't regard myself as working exclusively with him. Indeed I would like to work with other film directors and writers to build collaborative working relationships with them. Whilst Robbie and I remain friends, we are neither now a couple, nor do we share the same film slate in its entirety. I have embarked on my own small slate of films, which are all in development for the time being. The projects with Robbie recently are Great Getaway and Nocturn.
My Own Slate.
Last month I announced one of them, I am doing on my own slate, which is the life story of the Scottish documentary film maker, Jenny Gilbertson, who was part of the early days of John Grierson's Documentary Movement in the 1930's. I am currently writing the drama script about her life while collaborating with it's film Director, Yvonne Deutchman, known for her producing of 'One Love' movie in 2003 and 'The Power of Three' in 2011.
Another potential film script I am researching about is called Heathens Battle, which is set in 5th Century Scotland, during the time of the expulsion of Saint Kentigern from Strathclyde. It follows the complicated life of Laisren, the son of the famous Warrior King Aiden Gibran of Ireland and Dalriada, Scotland, who was to become Saint Molaise of the Holy Isle.
I am also working on a number of documentary projects.
Firstly a speculative pilot for a series on the secret codes contained within the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci. This project is helmed by the US based writer and academic sculptor Sharron Connelly, who has also written movie script about it.
The long waited Women in Rodeo (USA) documentary I began in 2006, which was abandoned during my divorce years is getting taken out of the storage vault to be re-visited with a view to completion next year.
And a partially made documentary called 'Jamaica sings Robert Burns' about the poets unravelled plans to move to Jamaica, begs the question of what his songs would have sounded like if he had made that journey. It is helmed by Global/Tribal Records producer and soon to launch a crowdfunding campaign. More on that later.
Long Awaited Hollywood Film??
But something is missing isn't it? That long awaited Hollywood blockbuster I should be helping to make? Well I am open to suggestions, of scripts and possible collaborations with other people so I'm happy to look at possibilities. Nothing is set in stone. I remain flexible, to take opportunities when they arise.
On a personal level I think I'm doing Ok. I'm hanging on in there. One thing for sure is I am not exclusively in any one camp or stuck in only one way of doing things.
Writer Director, Robbie Moffat pondering the Monument to Bonne Prince Charlie on the Moidart skyline.
