Published: Wednesday, 2nd July, 2008 12:00
Lights, camera, action – making a movie in Menstrie
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Movie maker Ross Malley checks a camera angle.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
THE bright lights of ‘Hollywood’ shone briefly on the Hillfoots as the cameras rolled on a new short film.
Written and produced by student Ross Malley (21), ‘The Hill’ tells a local story of a man wishing to climb Dumyat one last time after he discovers he has a terminal illness.
Starring Stewart Preston, a well-known face from Scottish television and film, the picture was shot in Menstrie and on the hillside over five days.
The film features another local student, John Young, who also worked on the crew as a runner and stills photographer.
Funded by Cardonald College, the 10-minute film was Ross’ first foray into fictional film-making having completed various documentaries during his HND in Creative Industries: Television.
At the end of the course students can pitch to a panel of judges, including industry experts and lecturers, to develop a project with a £1000 budget.
The former Lornshill Academy pupil’s script was picked by the panel which included High Times writer John Rooney.
He then had to pitch for his chance to be the producer, as the writer couldn’t also be the director to avoid the shoot turning into a vanity project.
With award-winning fellow student Kenneth Parker directing, the crew of 17 and cast of five began filming last week.
Ross told the Advertiser, “I had completed college projects but nothing as long or as professional as this.
“I’ve learned a lot. From the original script we had to re-jig a few things.
“We were filming up on the hill when the shepherd moved the sheep in to be sheared that day and so we had to shorten a scene – but the weather was the biggest problem.”
“It’s been a bit stressful at some points but generally it went okay.
“The biggest headaches has been the travel and the catering.
“I’m fine because I live in Menstrie but I had to bring the whole crew over from Glasgow and back again.”
Ross hopes the film, once completed, will become a springboard for work as a professional producer and writer in the film industry.
He is currently working on a documentary idea with Kenneth which has caught the attention of the BBC.
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