Cannes 2016 Bare foot to the Ball?

The Cannes 2016 Marche du Film, the commercial film market of the Film Festival got off to a very slow start. Buyers and sellers complained in the first 3 days about the lack of numbers. Despite the festival claims that it had registered around 1000 people more than last year it was possible to walk down La Croisette the main street, with out too much trouble because there were not the people to block the way. Things picked up by the weekend as sellers and buyers released that they better make deals no matter what and to whoever because things were so slow, there was no question of leaving without a done deal. The coming weeks will see how these deals hold out, as the dust settles.

Film Producer, Director Mairi Sutherland enjoying the sunshine in Cannes 2016

The market was down from last year indicated by what seemed the final clear our out of sellers in the Carlton Hotel, which was only left with 3 main distributers in it suites 20th Century Fox, Sony and Focus Pictures. The rest had cleared out for the cheaper booths in the Palais bunker but despite claims most of the sellers were in the same place with very few new distributers or sellers in the market. The knock on effect of the internet streaming and downloads of films was still making an impact on sales, in that the recoup was low for the market share. Amazon joined the hype by launching a new cinema release studio.

However something didn't seem quite right. Buyers agreed, while they trawled through Independent catalogues, and eyed the films in Competition directed by the same old male film Directors in the festival.

For us, (Palm Tree helmed by Robbie Moffat), with 2 high concept historical costume dramas on offer we were able to garner 2 sensible finance deals for them. At least this is how it looks today, as the final film closes the festival tonight, with Mel Gibson starring in Blood Father.

Women featured highly with the hard won 3 films directed by Women in the Competition, although that number fell far shoot of the more reasonable 50 percent that it should be. Everyone cheered Julia Roberts protest when she went onto the Red carpet bare foot to highlight a ridiculous rule that had some how been arbitrarily applied by security guards last year, that women could not enter the red carpet despite having tickets unless they wore high heels. I like to think that my blog 3 years ago about the  state of the films on offer and the treatment of women in the festival has contributed to industry aware ness of the problems. In my blog back then I told the story of a girl I met who had been working on a boat as a waitress where she was under constant pressure to give in to sexual advances  by her employers and guests. She told them to stuff their job and moved on out of Cannes in disgust.  Much more needs to be done before Women will be emancipated in Cannes, where women still have a long way to go, not least via the A List Actresses who seemed to be the only women to have access to the Red Carpet.

Mairi Sutherland with Yvonne Deutchman, both film producers are
working on a project together about a female film pioneer from 1930's

The lack of access to the Red Carpet by Market buyers and sellers was a big issue since they had paid, like myself, for Marche du Film market badges that cost £250 to £300 per company participant, which claim to allow  tickets to the Competition films. Not so this year because each day I would run to the ticketing booths to see if I had been allocated anything and no tickets were on offer. I wondered if this was because they might have been reallocated these tickets to other organisations like this one at the link here

They sell Red Carpet tickets and after party packages for £10000 from such ticket sellers. Gone are the days of a level playing field for film makers and audiences alike. Cannes has retreated into an old order of elitism where only those with wealth have access to the Red carpet and the recognition that goes with it. Meanwhile the Independent film makers wait for the few scraps of money that the Big Studio throw down on La Croissette when they smell a project that will do better to attract audiences than their own.

In such an atmosphere Women will not flourish and the campaign started by Hollywood A List actors, like Susan Sarandon and Gina Davis this Cannes called Women in Motion must really step up the pressure on the Movie Moguls to be fair in their decision making processes, casting , paying, treatment and presentation of women in films during the making and selling of them at all stages including the Cannes Film festival.

I assume I didn't get allocated tickets for speaking out about it all or worse because they were allocated to ticket sellers behind the scenes. Never mind we can now all survive the Red Carpet without high heeled shoes, abandoned in favour of bare feet.  If we, women are bare foot to the ball, then Hollywood must find the money to get Female Film Director representation up to 50% as has been suggested by the UK organisation Women in Film and Television this week, who have lobbied the BBC to make access for Female Directors up to a 50% quota. Hollywood must follow this move.

Having directed two Independent feature films made at Palm Tree Films, Photoshoot and Going Green, I would hope that this move toward equality actually works in practise. For now Robbie Moffat should be given thanks for supporting me to achieve it at a time when it was rarely possible for women. So listen up I am available and a capable female film Director. In the meantime here are the high heel shoes I would have worn if I had got a ticket. Now thankfully abandoned, at least for now.

Charlie is my Darling

I have been so busy doing pre-production for the film about Bonnie Prince Charlie, I have not blogged about it since October 2015. So it is time to fix that and post some photos of our wonderful location reccies, which just make you love the Scottish countryside and coast all the more.

Last year there was the visit to the Glenfinnan Monument, which is where Charlie raised his Royal Standard on his way into Scotland at the commencement of his attempt to claim the Scottish throne. Aside from enjoying the loch and the mild weather I learned that the films of Harry Potter had made a great impact on the area, because of the thousands of visits there to see the steam train from the film. I was amazed at all the young people from all over the world making this pilgrimage to the station at Glenfinnan to see the steam train travel across the now famous viaduct.
It shows how important film making and commercial creations like Harry Potter are to the local tourist economy, which contributes millions of pounds to the places associated with the movie. All the more reason for the Great Getaway to contribute by creating local employment during the film making process and to the community in the afterwards.



Here are 2 pipers Adelade and Peter, who headed for the 'Harry Potter place' after the World piping championship last year.
 

 Films really do contribute to the economy and help to re invent the identities of places associated with them. The Bonnie Prince Charlie trail gets reflected glory from Harry Potter because the visitor centre now has over 62,000 visitors in summer.

On the trains buses, roads and hotels everyone in hospitality works very hard to make it a pleasurable experience for the tourists. So lets take a moment to think about how finance is created and how communities keep themselves alive and excited about their own heritage.
Charlie is their Darling in this tourist area.




Moving on to Moidart

Moidart was the place Charlie arrived and departed from after his rebellion failed to gain support in the resounding defeat of the battle of Culloden in 1745.

Writer and Director of Great Getaway looks on a plaque to Bonnie Prince Charlie on the coast of Arisaig on the road to Malaig.

 

Robbie checking out the scenery in preparation for Charlie's escape to the Isle of Skye.

 

From Glenuig to the Isle of Rhum

 

 

Boy climbing the rocks with his stick. Let's hope he is imagining characters like Harry Potter and Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Landscape? What's for sure in any film set in Scotland the Landscape is very much one of the character's in the film and so it should be.

Europe's History

A note for Europe as it bows to the weight of a new influx of people, whose protests have seen their lands laid waste. Both Refugees and Europeans must work together to stop a political vacuum, which may be filled by those who wish to see European culture destroyed in a wave of violence, at least this is the fear of many. Let not anger be misused for evil intent, but rather to feed the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. In the history of mankind Europe has been the power of invention, science, and enlightenment through battling with the forces of nature to create cities of refuge from the cold and wind. As refugees await at its gates, let them not allow the power of hate enter their hearts or worse let those who have made hate their home in their hearts to lead us all to a perdition of destruction. Violence in any form is not the way. Certainly if anyone can learn anything from the battle of Culloden it is that one thing. If not we are all lost.

Still looking for Bonnie Prince Charlie

Inspired by my visit to the battle of Culloden Museum I travelled on to Fort William, which has another Museum with many of the personal belongings of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Once inside the Museum, it is a treasure trove of items left behind by Charlie in the houses along  his escape route to the Isle of Skye. The fact he had to leave such valuable belongings shows the extent of the his pursuit by the Hanoverian redcoat army.

Here a scarf made of light Italian material that showed he was not prepared for the cold conditions of Scottish Highland weather.

Here also is a fragment of a kilt reputedly to have been worn by Charlie. Note it is a far cry from the garish red design promoted by the Sobieski Stuart brothers almost a hundred years later, in their scam to create a Scottish tartan tradition that was not authentic.

The detailed nature of Charlie's belongings even includes the buckles on his shoes.

However we are brought back to the outcome of his visit to Scotland, with a battle map of Culloden. 

In the corner of the map is the list of number of dead - over 2000 along with 1200 prisoners. It says total taken is 3200.

The Museum is well worth a visit for its authentic exhibits and its well kept old world atmosphere.

Next time I will be visiting the Glenfinnan Monument.

Meanwhile Europe groans under the continuing refugee crisis with new statistics saying that this month alone some 170,000 have entered according to this Reuters article here

On the Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail

This week one could not fail to comment on the European Refugee Crisis but I reserve that for an after blog Opinion below. It provides one simple fact, which I believe puts the whole thing into perspective.

In the meantime, I have been on the Bonnie Prince Charlie trail continuing the research, which has up till now been hard to find. I took a trip to the site and Museum of the battle of Culloden with the help of some American site seers attending and participating in the World Piping Championships. (Below me in the photo.)

Culloden Moor and Museum

It takes about two and a half hours to drive to Culloden from Glasgow on the modern M9 Motorway. It was interesting to see that the present M9 follows the path of General Wades Old Military road which was made to help quash the first Jacobite risings of 1715. Wade pointed out to his bosses that to defeat the rebelling Highlanders, the roads must be improved and so he set about building 4 main roads in the Highlands, which were used to great effect 30 years later in the second Jacobite rising by Charles Edward Stuart.

In a swift right turn off the M90/A9 just before Inverness the battle of Culloden site can found nestling on some low lying marshy fields. Today after a refurbishment in 2009, the Museum now hosts a Visitor Centre, Restaurant and fully equipped audio visual experience. The displays and particularly the film are well worth the hefty £11 to £15 entry fee.

The 360 degree film which has four screens in one room, is quite an achievement - it succeeds in creating a feeling of immersion in the battle. A clever special effect sees a cannon ball going from one wall to the other. As well as the film there is also a table top computer display of the battle which explains how the Highlands came to be defeated within a very short time span.

Once you are outside in the actual battle field it becomes obvious why the Highlanders suffered such a resounding defeat. Cumberland the Chief Major in Command of the Government forces researched new tactics against the Highlanders, who only deployed one strategy - the Highland charge of men right into the line of fire. But it was n't the musket balls that defeated them it was a new deployment of the bayonet in which the Redcoats pieced their opponents on the right hand side of them.When the Highlanders were charging face on, the Redcoats used the right hand bayonet attack in a synchronised line of men. It resulted in the killing of 700 Highlanders within 2 minutes of the start of the battle,  The introduction of musket fire after the first assault then lead to over 1500 Scottish Highlanders being killed. Bonnie Prince Charlie was taken off the field by Irish/French Guard and whisked away avoiding any of the Old Wade Military Roads. He made it to the Scottish coastal island of Skye, then onto France, where he spent most of his time reflecting on what might have been.

It was a catastrophe for the Highland Clans because many of their leaders were killed and their economy was laid waste. The massacre began the first wave of 'clearances' - a swift killing of whole families and burning out of properties. The Redcoats swept through the villages and towns of the Highlands routing out any Jacobite supporters.

It was a moment of reflection for me when I came across the burial site of the Fraser Clan, where a stone marks their resting place. My second name Fraser, was given to me to reflect our family's connection to many Fraser cousins from the coast, near Ullapool.  My Surname Sutherland as a clan was more connected to the Government side, but due to a quarrel with the Duke of Sutherland my Sutherland ancestors found themselves 'cleared' from their jobs at  the Dunroblin Castle, the seat of the Duke of Sutherland, They were all moved on and their properties were burnt out leaving only one black ruined croft near Achiltiltbuie. It had been burnt out so many times, the stones are still vitrified. Successive generations of my Sutherland relatives left Scotland to go to the USA, Canada and Argentina. Firstly they left Scotland after the 1745 and then again  in the 1880's and 1900's. There are now Sutherland cousins in New York, Portland, Oregon, Canada, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Chile and Argentina. Traditionally as well as Fraser's, our cousin ancestors were connected to the MacClaey and Mackenzie Clan who were also Sutherland's. Due to the clearances and destruction of records in many cases I have only met a few of my cousins but they do exist and are doing very well!

Pictured below is me at Culloden at the Fraser burial site.

Like the present Refugee Crisis in Europe history before this juncture, shows that when one group of human beings try to exert power and tyranny over another, the only choice for the oppressed humans is remove themselves and flee from the violence.

Week's Comment

The facts speak for themselves #Syrian Refugees #Europe

Europe has lost it's moral compass on the Refugee Crisis because it has failed to notice that all Middle Eastern refugee camps have suffered severe cuts in the food provision for Refugees. The World Food programme cut its food voucher system by 50% from January 2015 and failed to receive vital funds to provide basic subsistence requirements. The World Food Programme Video helps to explain some of the problems that caused Refugees to come to Europe at this link here

Sony EX3 Workflow Part 1

This stuff really bamboozles me, but I have to get my head round these data storage issues so I thought I would share this with you. I will be watching this one until I understand it. I think I have to watch the whole series to become a more confident data loader and keeper. Ex 3 is an old Sony camera format but it was widely used around 2009 before the Red and so many folks still have them around.

I hope you stay with this as it will help you in your film making on HD.

Cannes Film Festival 2015 - the Sweet Smell of Success

This year was a very orderly Cannes Film Festival with lots of activity in the under belly of the Marche Du Film (Commerical Film Market) for industry professionals.

I spent most of it down in the bunker where the booths of the worlds most active sales agents and distributors hang out. Having attended over 15 years of Cannes Film Festivals I can almost sense its tone from the smell of the Cannes street when you touch down in La Croisette in the white hot heat of the summer. This year the heat blast, smelt of the usual spicy food, engine oil, sweat and expensive perfume. In the molecules of the sweat that hits your nostrils on the street you can perceive fear or optimism. This year the smell indicated that people were in the mode of optimism that was tinged with a high streak of professionalism. The smell of wine wafting from the cafes was drowned out by strong coffee amid the flavour of the month aftershave and Eau de Cologne. The coffee and perfume said we are up for business despite the recession in the downturn that had had 5 years of dead DVD sales and where TV companies indicated their success by the number of pirated downloads the shows had had rather than the actual numbers of worldwide territorial sales.

One sales agent summed it up when he boosted that he had just purchased the most pirated download on the planet. He was joking, but he was making the point that the public desire had changed to downloading from illegal websites, so the money never reached the sales agent or the producer for that matter. The challenge for film maker is how to recoup in an atmosphere where the current Joe public chooses to download the TV shows and films from pirate sites rather than by purchasing them from legitimate Streaming and Video on Demand Platforms. The knock on effect is that recoup must be arranged  in a way to avoid the pirate's penchant for making film available on downloads before they are officially released.  So secrecy is the name of the game and a short lead in to theatrical releases that are available on all mediums at once, which avoids windows of opportunity for the pirate.

Distributors had grappled with the effect of You Tube and figured out that quality 3 D and 4 D was the way to beat the pirate who just could not replicate this pleasurable viewing experience. Therefore animation was really the safest option and many of the big companies were investing in Animation lead releases. The upshot of that was it was good news for the Independent film makers because hardly any of the Studios were coming out with story lead films with human narrative like for example the historical, action , drama about Bonnie Prince Charlie called The Great Getaway penned by writer Robbie Moffat. Indeed there were very few traditional historical human stories being touted this year, so a gap in the market, and we finally filled it. The good news for The Great Getaway there.

The serious discussions on La Croisette were about maximizing recoup on legitimate download sites and tuning into the new public who streamed a movie from their computer onto their home TV screens.

Already some Film festivals like Toronto have made an adjustment to their programming by accepting that there is a new stream of TV viewing habits that they have to take account of now. For the first time this year they will feature a TV section that reflects the public fan base for watching and downloading whole TV series like Game of Thrones and Outlander straight from downloads on Amazon and or direct from TV website and or ignored pirate sites. This year the Festival professionals had accepted they had to get to grips with it and embrace new viewer habits, which dictate that audiences want complicated human narratives that reflect the challenges of human history and try to grapple with the Universal stories of Love, Passion, Suffering, War, Revenge and Heartache.

Business as usual, then at Cannes 2015, of a no nonsense variety, where if the expensive aftershave was anything to go by most Executives were up for lunch dates.

Enter the Great Getaway then................

Quote from a Russian sales agent ' I love Cannes, the smell of the Red Carpet is the smell of success.

As for the flat shoes debate it was laughed off by the film professionals, who were making the deals, because there was no way they were abandoning their expensive comfortable shoes, which for them marked the sweet smell of success.

Bonnie Prince Charlie Film commences Location Scouting

We are continuing our Location scouting in Dumfries and Galloway and this week I had the great surprise of visiting a hilltop where a large wall had been built in World War 2 for the Dam-buster pilots to practise their missions. A fascinating artefact that remains as a monument to their work. At a time when V Day celebrations are occurring it seemed apt. The first of film workshops in Jacobite film fighting techniques, run by Seoras Wallace, will begin at the end of the month. In the meantime here is an article from the Telegraph, as a way of welcoming our composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who has joined the team.

Article from the Telegraph in Full below

The Queen's former composer has been tempted back to write his first film score in 40 years, for a new drama about Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who has recently retired from the post of Master of the Queen’s Music, is to write the music for a film about Bonnie Prince Charlie, which will include the biggest battle scene ever shot in Scotland.

It is the first movie music Sir Peter, who lives on Orkney, has composed since he worked on Ken Russell's 1971s films The Devils and The Boyfriend ,which between them starred Oliver Reed, Vanessa Redgrave and Twiggy.

Sir Peter is currently working on a new children's opera for the London Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic, to be conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, based on an Orcadian sea monster.

He will also write the movie soundtrack for The Great Getaway.

The film will be set in part in Dumfries and Galloway, where the Battle of Culloden will be shot for the new £6.5m film.

It will star Peter Mullan, who previously appeared in My Name is Joe, War Horse and Neds, and Brendan Gleeson, who starred in Braveheart, Gangs of New York and the Harry Potter films.

^{Bonnie Prince Charlie}

The part of Flora MacDonald, who helped the Young Pretender escape to Skye, is rumoured to have been offered to Kristen Stewart, who played Bella Swan in the internationally successful Twilight films.

The prince has not yet been cast.

Sir Peter, who is now 80, said: "I have been offered the chance to write several film scores over the years since The Devils and The Boyfriend, but this is the first one since then that I have been inspired to accept.

"I just loved the script - its authenticity, passion and honesty. Bonnie Prince Charlie is an iconic figure surrounded by myth and to have the chance to capture his character and seminal events in music for the big screen was too good a chance to pass up."

Director Robbie Moffat met Sir Peter - known as 'Max' - in London to seal the deal.

^{Peter Mullan in Channel 4’s ‘The Fear’ (Channel 4)}

"To have one of the world's greatest composers on board is a real coup. I think Max's music is the perfect match for the film and its atmospheric and honest portryal.

"Max has a real sense of the themes of inextricably people caught up in history - of time and place - of events that have shaped today and the future. His music is made for this movie and we cannot wait to hear the results - we are sure the score will be memorable, evocative and moving."

Filming on The Great Getaway will begin in the summer with the battle scene involving more than 500 extras.

The battle will be constructed by Seoras Wallace, who shot to fame when he directed the fight scenes in Braveheart. He has worked on more than 100 major films including Gladiator and Saving Private Ryan.

The new film is the first major movie about Charles Edward Stuart since Bonnie Prince Charlie, the 1948 production starring David Niven and Margaret Leighton.